In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Options
Black Powder Substitute
SpringCreekTradeCo
Member Posts: 38 ✭✭
Is there any other Black Powder substitute like SHOCKEY'S GOLD out there? Anybody have experience using this in a 209/50 encore?
Bullet brand/weight experience/preference with SHOCKEY'S GOLD?
Bullet brand/weight experience/preference with SHOCKEY'S GOLD?
Comments
As far as BP substitutes, there is Pyrodex, 777, any of the American Pioneer Powders (including the Shockey line), GOEX makes one, and I am sure there are others that I am forgetting.
I have not read good things about Shockey's Gold, but like everything else that you read, it is only the opinion of the author.
I am using 777 in my Encore, but I am sick of the "crud ring" and will be switching back to regular Pyrodex when my 777 runs out.
http://www.chuckhawks.com/blackpowder_breakthrough.htm
Supposedly it is non corrosive. We shall see.
Sorry I wasn't clearer. I'm looking for info on any available substitutes that have the same "freedom from cleaning immediately" that SHOCKEY'S GOLD talks about. I'd also like to hear from anybody that has experience using it in a TC Encore.
There is no such thing. Shockey's Gold and 777 both state that they are non-corrosive and eliminate the need for cleaning right away. The problem is that they also state that they can easily be cleaned up "using just hot water". Therein lies the problem. To be able to be cleaned using just water means that it soaks up water very easily. So, what happens is Joe Schmuckitelly shoots his muzzleloader, puts it up and forgets about it for a while. While he is busy completing his honey-do list, the powder residue in his nice new muzzleloader is soaking up every available water molecule out of the air like a sailor sucking down longnecks. And, as we all know water is not good for metal. The next thing you know, Joe's new muzzleloader is a pitted out tent pole, and a short one at that.
So, technically, the powder itself isn't corrosive, but it will still be a corrosion facilitator if not cleaned out of the barrel relatively quickly.
I saw it in the Cabelas catalog, and I noticed that Cabelas did not call it "non corrosive."
Good ole Cabelas.
I bought a pound, cost $53 with hazmat fee plus shipping from Cabelas.
To test it out I fired one shot with my cap and ball revolver. I put it up without cleaning.
Thank God, I ran a patch down the bore before I put it up.
I went to look at my pistol two weeks later and the cylinder and hammer were covered with red rust! What a nightmare.
I spent 3 hours cleaning my pistol and it still isn't quite right.
So much for BlackMag3, although it was good powder and very easy to clean up. Also gave good velocity.
Anyway BlackMag3 has pretty much disappeared these days.
But, as the eternal optimist, I have high hopes for Blackhorn. But, you can't use it in cap and ball pistols because it requires the 209 primer.
Sorry I wasn't clearer. I'm looking for info on any available substitutes that have the same "freedom from cleaning immediately" that SHOCKEY'S GOLD talks about. I'd also like to hear from anybody that has experience using it in a TC Encore.
Season your barrel, it shouldn't take you more than 30 minutes to do a good job on the entire gun, have all the correct tools at hand and use a high quality lube like the tca 1000 plus, great stuff.
It does clean up with just water very easily. As far as leaving the gun without cleaning for extended periods of time, a person has to consider the conditions in which it will be.
I have left my Ruger Old Army's for several weeks after firing without any problems. All my guns are kept in a room with a dehumidifier running set at 45% relative humidity. Rust can't form at humidity below 50%.
If you conditions are more humid, then I wouldn't leave the gun dirty more than a couple of days after firing American Pioneer.
As I said (or already admitted!) I have been using the Triple 7 substitute and I'm fairly pleased with it, but the new Blackhorn stuff ... if it works (ie shoots good with less clean up hassle) and when it is available ... it could be VERY interesting ... to me anyway! [:p]