The black powder substitute thing.

[Nate]

My black powder experience began in the 60s with a plains rifle in 50cal. After all this time, I had hoped to see a substitute that was truly practical in my stuffers. I had good results with Clear Shot (not Clean Shot) and hoped to try Mag3 but both factories tragically burned down. The next hope was Alliant Black Dot and I found out today that it's release is in doubt. Having read about the hassles with Pyrodex,Triple 7 and the like, have any of you a recommendation of a particular sub?

[Teleoceras]

Nate:

I have to ask a question for ya. Are all your charcoal burners Percussion Locks? I only ask because Percussion guns are fine with a sub, but any of the earlier ignition systems (Flintlock, Wheellock, Matchlock, etc.) do very poorly with anything but the real stuff.

I know a few guys at my local range who swear by Pyrodex.

The only sub I ever used was Clean Shot which worked great with my Percussion guns. I use regular B.P. full time since I shoot Matchlocks\Flintlocks most of the time nowadays.

Good luck with your search!

[Nate]

Having shot BP for over 35 years (always percusion) in handguns from .31 to .45 and long guns from .41 to .69 I have enjoyed all of it, but tired of the cleaning. Being an old clod, I seriously worried about making just one mistake and ruining something. Clear Shot was perfect, but as I mentioned, the place burned down. My plains rifle is more a Dimmick than a Hawken, made by Ray Norden in 1965 or so and has a Bill Large barrel and a Bob Roller lock and set triggers. It won many shoots, even with me behind it. Other than the crud ring, Tripple 7 seems the most popular. I just may sweat this out a bit longer 'till I get more comfortable with the technology.

[Teleoceras]

Nate:

Gotcha...It was my bad on the previous pot. I meant I used Clean Shot, not Clear Shot. Other than needing to clean at the end of the day, I have to agree with you that I could go a whole day using Clean Shot without having to wipe the bore. The only down side I found with it was that the powder did degrade over time once the container was exposed to the air.

I don't know how that is with the other substitutes though. I'd double check about that.

Good luck with your search!

[Doug Ford]

First post here and I am no expert! In my Thompson .45 flint lock, I use fine BP in my frizzen and Triple 7 in the bore. I have tried putting a "kicker" of 10grs of BP down the barrel first and then my Triple 7. Never had a misfire. I also use power belts as they seem to fly the best. I did whack a deer at 265 yards using the above. I had the pleasure of watching the deer drop as I did not have to wait for the smoke to clear.

[da gimp]

For those who like the old lever & single shot cartridge guns, Clyde Snooky Williamson put out a huge book showing loadings for all the old Win cartidges. Snooky & a coupla budies test fired them in old Win model 73's, 86's, 85's, 76's 92's, 94's etc. I paid $65.00 for ours years ago, and figure it's one of the best buys I ever made.

We've never shot either of our old original percussion mountain rifles, but they remain my favorites, and I gotta say they both beg to be shot, both were .45's but both were freshened out to .47, but if I do shoot em, it'll be with a medium light load of FFFg with a patched ball.

da gimp

[dogtag]

I shoot a Great Plains in 50 cal plus a whole bunch of C&B revs.
Apart from substitutes being almost twice the cost of BP,
I've never found them any better and certainly not any easier to clean.
And, most importantly, they don't make Blue Smoke !

[JB White]

Clean Shot is on the market under the American Pioneer label. Grey-white smoke and no sulpher smell but it's easier to clean and I can eat BBQ after shooting having only to rinse my hands. I'm not a BP purist but I like to shoot both original and repro BP arms in cartridge and percussion.
I was out this past week and didn't have a chance to clean my guns until yesterday. Fouling was soft, rinsed away just as easily as a same day cleaning, and I had absolutely no rust whatsoever. I could never have gotten away with that when using Pyrodex.
My brass on the other hand goes into plastic peanut butter jars filled wih water and a little soap until I get home. Then I give them a vinegar/water wash and a rinse. By the time I finish cleaning the guns my brass is thoroughly dry and ready to be reloaded.

[smle-man]

I use Pyrodex RS in my Martini Henry 577/450 with no problems and Pyrodex pellets in my Old Army. Love the stuff!

[Oyaji]

I use Pyrodex RS in my Martini Henry 577/450 with no problems and Pyrodex pellets in my Old Army. Love the stuff!

Same here smle-man. I have a .50 Hawken percussion cap rifle and I use Pyrodex RS. Never any problems.