Vintage Pyrodex

Howdy all,

I have a 1lb fiber board "bottle" of Pyrodex dated that same year it hit the market (can't remember exactly, early 70's I believe), opened it up and powder is still loose, no clumps or wierd colors, smells just as wierd as a new bottle of Pyrodex.

So, do you think this stuff is still worthy? Not a front stuffer shooter per se, but I do own a couple ML rifles in .50 and .54, had thought about trying this out, or should I leave it be from a collectors/oddity standpoint being that it survived all these years?

Any insight greatly appreciated!

Jeff

If properly stored, I have never heard of any aging problem with Pyrodex. Load a few and shoot 'em.

I still have some from the late 1980s that performs as it should.

Shoot it, just may have lost some of its power, save the container, someone may want for there collection ??

I’m older than Pyrodex, so it can’t be THAT old….


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I also have some of those older containers of Pyrodex in P and CTG grade. If it isn't clumpy it shoots fine.

You'll shoot your eye out kid.

Better let one of us older guys dispose of it safely.

Just took another peek at the canister. Its for pistols of which I have none, unless it will work in .45acp? JK! Guess its gonna sit on the shelf a few more years...

Pyrodex P is considered the 3F equivalent. It’ll work just fine in the .50 and .54 rifles.


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Thanks TBG!

Early Pyrodex was either slightly corrosive or left a lot of stuff in the barrel that attracted moisture. I lightly pitted a ML barrel by not cleaning it for two or three days after firing a hunting load out of it. If cleaned immediately after firing, as you should with black powder, you should have no problems. BTW, accuracy in my rifle was good.

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Originally Posted by higgins

Early Pyrodex was either slightly corrosive or left a lot of stuff in the barrel that attracted moisture. I lightly pitted a ML barrel by not cleaning it for two or three days after firing a hunting load out of it. If cleaned immediately after firing, as you should with black powder, you should have no problems. BTW, accuracy in my rifle was good.

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I thought you had to treat all black powder substitutes the same as black powder as far as cleaning.

I still use Pyrodex out of the cardboard cans. Heck yes it still works fine. I specifically try to use up the old stuff first before moving onto newer bottles. Use the powder and then keep the old can as a decorative piece.

Have a 1860 Colt style revolver on the way, should be a good home for this Pyrodex P ��