Is there a big difference in these black powder substitutes with regard to how easy they ignite? Reason I ask is I tried some Triple 7 powder in my percussion rifle and seemed to have a few more misfires than usual. I used number 11 caps.
Triple 7 or Pyrodex
- Thread starter Bluffton Bill
- Start date
I read an article a few years back about a man that took 4 cans of Pyrodex and tested them about 6 months apart. The cans were tested for velocity and accuracy every 6 months. He found that the powder deteriorated over a very short time and both velocity and accuracy degraded. If I remember he said after a year it had the ignition qualities of dirt. I stopped using Pyrodex as I found that newly opened cans were very good, accuracy wise, however I experienced frequent misfires/hangfires and poor accuracy from powder that was over 1 year old. Keep in mind I was using it in a side lock, not an inline. I'd think that an inline would have better ignition qualities and perhaps not have the same poor results I was getting. In newly opened cans of Pyrodex accuracy was very good.
I have had issues with FFG T7 and #11 caps in my TC Hawken. I switched to FFFG and musket caps and am now getting very reliable ignition. Pyrodex RS is indeed a bit easier to ignite, but produces more fouling than T7. I suggest trying T7 FFFG. It is significantly easier to ignite than FFG. If you do, you may want to reduce your charge by about 10%, relative to FFG.
