Pyrodex and 209ml primers

[Charlie Horse]

A friend is cleaning out his supply of pyrodex, both pellets and powder, as well as some 209ml primers and musket caps.
Can pyrodex be used in place of smokeless powder? Can those primers be used to load smokeless shot shells?
I could grab some of this but I don't shoot muzzle loaders and I'm wondering if any of it could be put to use in modern firearms.
Thanks in advance.

[Gofaaast]

The Pyrodex could be used as a black powder replacement. Crush pellets between 2 pieces of hardwood. The ml primers are hotter so load according (I’m thinking light trap loads).
Trading fodder for what ya really need is my suggestion.

[Charlie Horse]

I was thinking trading fodder but for the relatively small quantities involved it wouldn't be worth it.

Oh, and those are percussion caps, not musket caps. It was late when I posted that.

[JRD]

You can load cartridges with Pyrodex- but only as a black powder substitute. If you like smoke and soot great, but if you are looking to replace Unique, you'll be disappointed.

On the primers, my understanding is that muzzleloader 209 primers are actually WEAKER than a standard primer to prevent the primer brisance from pushing the bullet forward off the powder before powder combustion happens.

If you don't play with muzzleloaders it may be best to pass because neither of these items can be swapped directly for your normal components.

You probably could load shotshells with them, but ignition characteristics will differ somewhat and I doubt there will be much for published shotshell data using ML primers.

[crandall crank]

I've heard the same thing about the ML 209 primers that JRD stated, as to being slightly "less hot".

[K43]

Charlie Horse, you might want to take a look at the Cowboy Action Shooting (CAS) and Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) forum for using the Pyrodex in shotshells. Also there is data for Pyrodex in some rifle and pistol cartridges available online from Hodgdon. For using those components in modern cartridges, just take a pass.

[Charlie Horse]

I did have one idea. I've heard of people drilling out 22 Hornet cases so they would accept a 209 primer, then shooting 22 Caliber pellets out of Contenders. I have a 10" Contender, 22 Hornet.
If my math is correct they would be cheaper than 22 CB's.
But then I would have to sacrifice some Hornet cases.

[K43]

That's cool. Sounds like a good thing to try. In the 1980s I drilled out 38 Special cases for 209 primers and I shot wax and rubber bullets in my basement.

[sharkey]

That's cool. Sounds like a good thing to try. In the 1980s I drilled out 38 Special cases for 209 primers and I shot wax and rubber bullets in my basement.

Sounds like alot of fun! I remember shooting down the cellar with My Dad. Heck, this was 60 some years ago. One of the welders at their shop made us a trap. It was made out of plate and it works well. I still use it occasionally with .22 pellets. This was back in the 70's, and alot of families shot into traps.