Shot real Black powder for first time, I'm unimpressed

[TTv2]

Last year I bought a lb of 2 and 3 Fg Goex and wanted to see how it felt compared to my current go to substitute in Triple 7 and uh... it didn't really make me feel real black was anything special. It had the same recoil and feel, I know it's less energetic than T7, and even the smell of the smoke didn't smell much different or better.

That said I liked shooting the Goex more than Pyrodex, it smells much better and is less of a mess to clean and less corrosive. I did not shoot any paper with the Goex, that will be the next time I go shooting, but I know Pyrodex is very accurate out of my percussion revolvers. If the Goex shoots as well as Pyrodex, I think I will keep a couple pounds on hand and give my remaining Pyrodex away, but I will not be replacing Triple 7 as my primary powder for muzzleloaders.

 

[Jimster]

Good. That’s more for me.

 

[Blackpowderwarrior]

Last year I bought a lb of 2 and 3 Fg Goex and wanted to see how it felt compared to my current go to substitute in Triple 7 and uh... it didn't really make me feel real black was anything special. It had the same recoil and feel, I know it's less energetic than T7, and even the smell of the smoke didn't smell much different or better.

That said I liked shooting the Goex more than Pyrodex, it smells much better and is less of a mess to clean and less corrosive. I did not shoot any paper with the Goex, that will be the next time I go shooting, but I know Pyrodex is very accurate out of my percussion revolvers. If the Goex shoots as well as Pyrodex, I think I will keep a couple pounds on hand and give my remaining Pyrodex away, but I will not be replacing Triple 7 as my primary powder for muzzleloaders.

I say find what works best for you and your guns and use it. At least you gave the ol' holy black a shot. Its not everyones cup of tea but for me its the bees knees! 3f Goex or 3f Goex OE! Conversely I do not like triple 7 and have 3 lbs of it laying from when i tried it around in case i ever need it its there. If i need to squeeze a little more oomph outta my sixshooter i load OE.

Good Job trying it out though

 

[TTv2]

I say find what works best for you and your guns and use it. At least you gave the ol' holy black a shot. Its not everyones cup of tea but for me its the bees knees! 3f Goex or 3f Goex OE! Conversely I do not like triple 7 and have 3 lbs of it laying from when i tried it around in case i ever need it its there. If i need to squeeze a little more oomph outta my sixshooter i load OE.

Good Job trying it out though

I've always wanted to try real bp, but no stores near me sell it cuz of all those regulations they complain about, so when I was ordering powder from Midway last year and saw they had Goex, I threw a pound of 2f and 3f in the order. I figure I'll keep it and try it out in all the bp guns I buy in the future.

 

[twarr1]

I shoot Pyrodex in my revolvers because it’s relatively easy to find. But I don’t like the fact it burns very dirty and cleanup is a chore.

 

[Blackpowderwarrior]

I respect that brother.

 

[rodwha]

Last year I bought a lb of 2 and 3 Fg Goex and wanted to see how it felt compared to my current go to substitute in Triple 7 and uh... it didn't really make me feel real black was anything special. It had the same recoil and feel, I know it's less energetic than T7, and even the smell of the smoke didn't smell much different or better.

That said I liked shooting the Goex more than Pyrodex, it smells much better and is less of a mess to clean and less corrosive. I did not shoot any paper with the Goex, that will be the next time I go shooting, but I know Pyrodex is very accurate out of my percussion revolvers. If the Goex shoots as well as Pyrodex, I think I will keep a couple pounds on hand and give my remaining Pyrodex away, but I will not be replacing Triple 7 as my primary powder for muzzleloaders.

You used the wrong version. If you try again try Olde Eynsford by Goex or Swiss. I use T7 but mostly shoot Olde E since it’s much cheaper and I do like the smell. It’s also a little more potent than T7.

 

[TTv2]

You used the wrong version. If you try again try Olde Eynsford by Goex or Swiss. I use T7 but mostly shoot Olde E since it’s much cheaper and I do like the smell. It’s also a little more potent than T7.

Next time I make a hazmat order I'll grab a pound of Eynsford, I have seen others speak well of that.

The only Swiss I might buy in the future is 4F to use in .36 calibers and smaller.

 

[TTv2]

I shoot Pyrodex in my revolvers because it’s relatively easy to find. But I don’t like the fact it burns very dirty and cleanup is a chore.

Every lgs I go to has one sub on their shelves: Pyrodex. I figure that has to do with it being the cheapest substitute available, I rarely I'll see Triple 7 and have never seen anything else.

 

[BullRunBear]

I've never used T7 but have shot up my share of Pyrodex. However, I long ago went to real black powder only for a few reasons. First, I started shooting flintlocks more and more and the real thing is more reliable. Second, when I began loading BP cartridge, especially for 45-70, I got more consistent results with Goex than with Pyrodex. Third, the lower price and easier availability of Pyrodex isn't a factor since I now get real BP in bulk. Finally, using real BP makes me feel closer to the historical aspects of shooting traditional BP guns. (I have no interest in in-line style weapons.) This last one is, of course, strictly personal and has no practical benefits. It only matters to me.

If I only used a percussion revolver, Pyrodex or T7 would be fine. But as I get older I'm shooting more black powder guns and real black powder is more versatile and a bit easier with maintenance.

Jeff

 

[dave951]

IF I was stuck with a sub, it'd be T7. However, I shoot BP competition so hazmat fees aren't an issue. It's easy to amortize a hazmat fee across 20+lbs of powder and 5k of caps. In normal times, I don't even pay a hazmat fee since there is a great powder supplier right next door to the main N-SSA range in Winchester. I just pay him a visit on the way out.

As for types of BP past the "f", just like gasoline, there are grades. Goex is just a brand. The best stuff from Goex is Old E. Outside Goex, Swiss is a great powder. Schutzen is a competitor to Goex and is a good powder too.

 

[1KPerDay]

I’ve only tried pyrodex, pyrodex pellets, goex, and triple se7en but strongly prefer Goex. The stink and choke of pyrodex makes me stabby. From what I’ve seen triple seven is a great powder for making velocity though. If I had to buy more I would. I’m never using pyrodex again.

I recently bought some Swiss because it’s well regarded.

 

[Lyle]

I have used Pyrodex p and Schuetzen 3f in my ‘51 navy. I don’t see any difference between the two except the smell. Accuracy, cleaning, and measuring are all the same. Pyrodex smells bad! I will use both depending on which one I can find. My first choice is BP, my nose likes BP better.

 

[Fyrstyk]

Real Black powder is all I use because I only shoot flint locks now-a-days, and the substitute powders just don't work as well in a flint lock due to the higher ignition temperatures required to get it to burn.

 

[gtrgy888]

I like Goex, but I’ll be trying OE next week with the Navy. Hope the loading lever stays up this time.

 

[derek45]

 

[mjsdwash]

you wont feel a difference shooting. The difference comes 20% when you clean. Way easier. The 80% is when you delay clearing. Instead of a rusty antique boat ancor dragged up from the ocean, you have a basically unaffected, dirty gun that can still be cleaned a few weeks later. Also, powder degradation is not an issue, so your powder will be good in 100 years. The subs will reach the possibility of grenading in as little as 20.

 

[Armored farmer]

I'm just the opposite.
The 777 that I bought years ago is my reserve stash. I like black.
The pyrodex made a mess of my barrels

 

[paul harm]

The only thing I've ever shot [ started in 1972, or so ] is GOEX. I guess because I like shooting BP firearms, so BP is what I shoot in them. Other than my 58 Remingtons it's all flintlocks or my matchlock. When I hunt it's with a 54 or 62 flintlock, not a revolver, so a little extra velocity or energy doesn't mean anything to me. I only use the revolvers to punch paper and if I were to use one for small game plain ol BP can do all anyone could ask for. I can't justify the extra cost for OE. JMHO. To each their own.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

I think maybe the OP is looking at it all wrong.
It sound like the "unimpressed" part comes from Real Black Powder not being any more energetic, or have higher perceived performance that Triple Seven in the OP's outing.
In my opinion, whats' impressive is that Black Powder which was invented over 1000 years ago, can arguably still get the job done as well as any improvements since.
What's also impressive, is the the formula is so simple that the average Joe can make their own Black Powder for their use pretty simply.
The Shelf life is also pretty much infinite.

 

[rodwha]

When I hunt it's with a 54 or 62 flintlock, not a revolver, so a little extra velocity or energy doesn't mean anything to me. I only use the revolvers to punch paper and if I were to use one for small game plain ol BP can do all anyone could ask for. I can't justify the extra cost for OE. JMHO. To each their own.

Maybe, maybe not. Olde E used to cost just an additional $1 at Grafs. I think the difference is a bit more now, maybe $2. All too often I’ve read going to an energetic powder reduces the quantity needed to achieve the same thing, often accuracy included. Plus the more energetic powders seem to produce a considerable amount less fouling, coupled with a slightly lighter charge means less swabbing. To me that would make a very good reason, at least to try and see.

 

[.38 Special]

I really like OE. It is more energetic, and it is easier to clean. I rarely use plain grade Goex any more, and unless OE becomes significantly more expensive than Goex, I probably will not buy any more Goex.

Swiss still is the best powder I have used, but is expensive enough that I reserve it for my Pedersoli Gibbs, which is the only gun I've got which can show an accuracy difference between Swiss and OE anyway.

As far as the subs, well, they are adequate in some of my guns and inadequate in others. If I had nothing else I would make it work for cap guns, both long and short. The Gibbs and the flintlocks would become decorations, I suppose. Thankfully, blackpowder is easy to find online, so I really don't see any reason not to use it.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Black Powder residue is less corrosive than the residue from the BP substitutes which are good bullet propellants but less explosive and harder to ignite than true BP.

Since I am used to the routine of thoroughly cleaning military rifles fired with corrosive primed ammo within 7 or 8 hours of firing, my cleaning discipline is the same with my BP guns. Most of my rifle shooting was with BP subs and first act on arriving home was to thoroughly clean without delay. I am not sure I would be slack on cleaning them after shooting with true BP but my impression is that the residue from BP substitutes is almost as corrosive as corrosive primer residue.

While I will use BP substitutes in muzzleloading rifles and in rifle and pistol BP cartridges, I have learned I get best results in cap'n'ball revolver with real BP.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Holy black for me. I prefer the sulphur smell over dirty socks of pyrodex. But that's just me.

Black powder is more fun. It's a lot slower, but you still have a lot of fun.

 

[mjsdwash]

Holy black for me. I prefer the sulphur smell over dirty socks of pyrodex. But that's just me.

Black powder is more fun. It's a lot slower, but you still have a lot of fun.

weirdest thing, I bought some FFF Goex from Grafs (Thanks THR users for telling us!) and it produced LESS smoke, and LESS smell than the Pyrodex RS I had been using. The Goes was super clear and clean, and almost no sulpher smell. Not sure why.