Black powder is less corrosive than substitutes

[appleorangefish]

Found this scientific article about forensic analysis of black powder and black powder substitute residues

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.analchem.8b04624

From this chart (table 1 on the article): https://i.imgur.com/L82ZGdh.png
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It turns out that real black powder is the ONLY thing that does not have potassium perchlorate. When burned, potassium perchlorate produces potassium chloride, AKA salt. This is the same stuff that makes eastern block berdan primers corrosive.
Black powder (and Pyrodex) still produces sulfur compounds, which is mildly corrosive since they turn into sulfuric acid with humidity

Also explains why goex is a lot easier to clean than pyrodex in my experience. Figured this might be helpful for you other muzzleloader folks

 

[wr.sainsbury]

Good to know! Thank you. Shows why cleaning with water will neutralize any acid content by dilution.

 

[lone ranger]

I always toss my BP revolver in a soapy bucket of water after shooting.
Then I blow it out with my Air chuck....then spray a heavy coat of WD 40 all over it to dispel the water.
Then use synthetic gun oil on it,.....looks like New !

 

[appleorangefish]

Good to know! Thank you. Shows why cleaning with water will neutralize any acid content by dilution.

Close but it's not exactly neutralizaing the acid by dilution!

The salt from chlorates and perchlorates (found in pyrodex, BP subs, and corrosive berdan-primed ammo) acts as an electrolyte to accelerate rust. So to get rid of it you have to rinse it away with water. Same reason if you drive in canada you have to wash the salt off your car otherwise it turns into a rust bucket, while in alberta where they don't salt the roads you're fine.

On the other hand sulfur fouling from real black powder eats away at metal because it turns into sulfuric acid. So you can neutralize the acid by using something alkaline, which is why ballistol is so great for black powder fouling. Also why some folks use windex, because it has ammonia which makes it basic.

This is actually why ballistol's faq recommends two different dilutions depending on if you're trying to get rid of black powder fouling (75% water, 25% ballistol) or corrosive primer fouling (90% water, 10% ballistol)

Personally I stick with real black powder because it's always been easier to clean. Also makes me feel more comfortable knowing that for BP fouling all you have to do is neutralize the sulfuric acid with ballistol, while with BP substitutes you have to neutralize the sulfuric acid, plus also rinse out the salts like when shooting corrosive surplus ammo.