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What is the REAL DIFFERENCE between Pyrodex, Triple Seven,
and Smokeless?
This is a question that often comes up this time of
year, and understandably so. Though classified by the DOT as smokeless propellants,
most muzzleloaders can be safely fired with Pyrodex, Triple Seven, Black Mag3,
or Pyrodex pellets, or Triple Seven Pellets. Only the Savage 10ML-II is designed
to be used with all this propellants, just like other muzzleloaders-- PLUS you
can safely use Savage recommended nitrocellulose-based smokeless powders as
well that are non-corrosive, offer less recoil, and leave very little residue.
Here is a quick look at the basics, starting with black powder.
BLACKPOWDER is an old propellant, formed from a blend of natural ingredients: Sulfur, Potassium
Nitrate, and Charcoal. Classified as an explosive,
few muzzleloaders use true blackpowder these days because of generally poor
availability. The energy produced by black powder in small arms use varies by
manufacturer. "Swiss" black powder, for example, is considered a hotter
propellant than "Goex" brand. Blackpowder, Pyrodex, Black Mag3, and
Triple Seven loose powder are all in the category of deflagrating powders. "Deflagrating"
is just a fancy way of saying "fast-burning." These powders burn just
as fast as they can as long as they can. Their grain size controls the burn
rate. FFFF blackpowder is very, very easy to ignite; that is why the common
application is as pan powder for flintlocks. FFF blackpowder is used often in
.45 caliber or smaller bore muzzleloaders and sidelocks, FF is the standard
for .50 caliber inline muzzleloaders. The "F" designation is just
the screen size used in manufacture and the resultant grain size (coarseness).
The more "F's," the finer the grain size-- and the faster burning
it is. So, FFg is the common blackpowder used today in .50 caliber inline hunting
muzzleloaders. In blackpowder, the fuel is carbon-- we are just burning charcoal.
Blackpowder is horribly inefficient, as only about 50% of its mass ever turns
into gas. The rest is solid residue that is forced out the muzzle as white smoke
or left in the bore as corrosive fouling crud.
PYRODEX is the most common "blackpowder substitute." It really is the only synthetic black powder "performance" substitute for blackpowder in
common use. By performance substitute, I refer to a charge of loose powder
measure by volume. A 100 grain volumetric charge of Pyrodex RS (Rife/Shotgun)
is very close in performance to Goex FFg blackpowder. There are differences,
though, and this is where things get a bit convoluted. Pyrodex is bulkier, another
way of saying "less dense." By weight, it is more powerful than Goex
blackpowder. But, the traditional method of measuring blackpowder is indeed
by volume, not weight-- so in that sense it is a blackpowder performance substitute.
By actual weight, it certainly is NOT the same. 100 grains measured by volume
of Goex FFg is about 101.3 grains by weight. 100 grains measured by volume of
Pyrodex RS is about 72.5 grains by weight. Pyrodex is where confusion can start
to set in, as the standard "F" designations of powder coarseness start
to go out the window. Pyrodex "Select," formulated for use in muzzleloading
rifles, is touted as an "extremely consistent" grade of Pyrodex, and
has the largest grain size of them all. It is even farther away from blackpowder
by actual weight, 100 grains volumetric equals about 63.9 grains by actual weight.
Pyrodex, though man-made and with a variety of additives, still has sulfur in
it, is corrosive, and though in actual volumetric use is the only true "blackpowder
performance substitute," it is classified as a smokeless
powder by the DOT, and bears little semblance to traditional blackpowder
in actual weight or grain size. It is a bit harder to ignite than blackpowder,
and is safer to handle, use, and store due to this fact. It is also not as impact-sensitive
as is true blackpowder. Pyrodex is not classified as an explosive as is blackpowder,
and is very easy to find at chain stores due to this fact. Pyrodex was marketed
as "smokeless propellant for muzzleloaders," labeled as such right
on the bottle, and has also been used as blasting compound in mining operations.
Pyrodex has as one of its components are
the bags of "dicyanamide". The large bright red warning labels on
all sides of the bags say "avoid heat or flame, when heated to decomposition
emits highly toxic fumes of cyanide".
TRIPLE SEVEN, BLACK
MAG3, GOEX CLEAR SHOT
Now we get into an area where the muzzleloading
industry has drifted into a mess of double-talk, sidestepping, and confusion.
These propellants have nothing in common with true
blackpowder at all chemically; no sulfur is present. Nor is charcoal present.
They are still carbon-burning propellants, though, of the deflagrating (fast-burning)
type. They are measured volumetrically, but only Goex Clear Shot can be considered
a black powder performance substitute. Triple Seven and Black Mag3 are far hotter
(or more energetic) than good old blackpowder, and produce higher velocities
and pressures than blackpowder can. Still burning carbon, the carbon-based fuel
burned here is from the sugar family-not from wood (charcoal). These
propellants are actually far more modern than nitrocellulose based powders. In the case of Triple Seven and Black Mag3, they have only become available
within the last couple of years.
Referring to Triple Seven and Black Mag3, the
only thing that they have in common with blackpowder is they can be volumetrically
measured with old blackpowder powder measures. They are not as corrosive as
blackpowder (Black Mag3 claims to be non-corrosive), have little in common
chemically, and produce more pressure, heat, and velocity than black powder.
They are considered smokeless powder by the DOT, and should be used with caution
in older muzzleloaders-- as there is no way that 100 grains volumetric charge
of Triple Seven or Black Mag3 can be considered "the same" as traditional
blackpowder. They are still relatively inefficient propellants, leaving behind
close to 50% of their mass as non-combusted, solid residue. Referring to Triple
Seven, that 50% unburned material is substantially less fouling than blackpowder
for the simple reason that a 100 grain volumetric charge of Triple Seven, though
it produces more energy than blackpowder, is far less by actual weight. More
directly stated, you still have about 50% of the garbage left, but you start
with less garbage to burn in the beginning.
Sources
confirm that "Triple Se7en is hopped up with a little
Nitro." Well, that is the case according to the United State's
most respected forensic lab dealing with bomb residue identification. The lab
analyzed Triple Se7en, and found what other chemists already had suspected:
sodium dinitrobenzoate sulfonate. To ship sodium dinitrobenzoate sulfonate as
a dry powder you must ship it as an explosive. It is sensitive to impact and
friction. Made into a paste with water, 20% water, it can then ship as a flammable
solid-- see the D.O.T. for details. It is well-documented that the "dinitros"
are used in low explosives while "trinitros" are employed in high
explosives. Likely you have already guessed the most well-known of these, "TNT"--
or, trinitrotoluene.
PYRODEX and TRIPLE
SEVEN PELLETS
Now, this is the area where the snake oil sales
pitch starts to sizzle. Sold as "black powder equivalents" of pelletized
powder, they just have nothing at all to do with traditional
blackpowder. The pelletized powder lingo is wishful thinking, as pellets
are just pellets. This type of tortured language adds more confusion to the
mix. If you take two tablets of aspirin and call me in the morning, you have
taken two aspirin tablets, not "tabletized acetylsalicylic acid."
Sometimes pellets are just pellets, ask any rabbit, and a cigar is just a cigar.
Let's talk about what they really are, and what
they do.
Pyrodex pellets are a sophisticated rocket fuel
type propellant, more related to an Estes rocket engine than blackpowder. They
consist of a black igniter portion on one side of the base, though called an
"ignition accelerant" is nothing more than good old black powder.
They are of course not volumetrically measured, and they do not burn like loose
powder at all. A Pyrodex pellet burns progressively down the bore, from the
base in, from the outside in, and, due to the hole in the center-from the inside
out. Though Hodgdon does not allow it, most inline manufacturers currently allow
and promote the use of "three pellet loads"-allowing velocities far
in excess of what loose blackpowder or Pyrodex can possibly achieve. How fast?
One load out of the 2004 Knight catalog shows a muzzle velocity of 2417 fps,
another is 2639 fps. These velocities can actually be bettered in a bit longer
barreled gun, like the Thompson / Center Omega. I sure wish that game
departments would take the time to understand that NO Savage 10ML-II
approved load appraches these velocities. In fact, it does not stop there: the
BP Express muzzleloader, made in Michigan, is designed for use with FOUR 50
gr. equiv. Pyrodex pellets and is legal in places where smokeless powder is
not-- like Michigan!
Triple Seven pellets, when used in three pellet
configuration, actually produce a bit more muzzle velocity. Where Pyrodex pellets
are pressed into shape from blackpowder and Pyrodex RS, Triple Seven pellets
are made from straight Triple Seven, and are harder to ignite. For what it is
worth, I've personally found Pyrodex pellet loads to more consistent, and more
accurate.
A word of caution is in order. Hodgdon does
not allow use of more than 100 grains of their Pyrodex or Triple Seven pellets
in .45 or .50 caliber muzzleloaders, and they clearly, loudly proclaim that
warning with every box of pellets sold. Several people have asked, "What
pressures do three pellets produce?" Well, there is no finite answer. Much
is necessarily contingent on projectile weight, type, and caliber of rifle.
I shoot a few flaming pellets into the air on the 4th of July. The kids get
a kick out of it, but as there is no projectile-there is little pressure. Lyman
Ballistic Laboratories has published three Pyrodex pellet-powered saboted bullet
loads that develop 27,000 PSI out of a 22" test barrel; Triple Seven pellets
can produce more pressure than that. Not all inline muzzleloaders have been
tested with Triple Seven pellets, and it is a matter of public record that the
casual take "three pellets and call me in the morning" approach can
lead to an immediate trip to the emergency room. There are a few makes and models
of inline muzzleloaders that have been extensively tested with three pellet
loads, and I'll mention them right here: current production Knight Disc Rifles,
Thompson Omega and Encore rifles, and the Savage 10ML-II.
ACCURATE ARMS 5744
Smokeless Powder
As you've read above, the path to "black
powder substitutes" is a convoluted, twisty one. It is also very much a
self-serving one. What is a "black powder substitute" has very little
to do with the actual and factual, but a lot more to do with precisely who has
what to sell.
Only the Savage 10ML-II has been proven safe
with nitrocellulose based smokeless powder as opposed to solid fuel or deflagrating
style DOT classified smokeless blackpowder substitutes like Triple 7 or Black
Mag3 mentioned above. Folks are a bit confused about smokeless powder use in
the Savage 10ML-II, but not nearly as bewildered as they are about the blackpowder
/ pellet / synthetic blackpowder substitute mess already described.
Service Pressures
The following numbers represent the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers
Institute (SAAMI) service pressures used in the manufacture of shotshell ammunition
to ensure that pressures remain within the safe limits of each particular gauge.
These guidelines are used by each ammunition manufacturer to ensure that pressures
remain below these parameters. These are NOT proof pressures, which run 30 to
50 percent higher. These pressures are the very top of allowable pressure for
any round, and while some ammunition approaches these service pressures, they
never exceed them.
Gauge/bore Chamber length
(in.) Maximum service pressure
10 3 1/2 11,000 psi
12 3 1/2 14,000 psi
12 3 11,500 psi
12 2 3/4 11,500 psi
16 2 3/4 11,500 psi
20 3 12,000 psi
20 2 3/4 12,000 psi
28 2 3/4 12,500 psi
.410 3 13,500 psi
.410 2 1/2 12,500 psi
There is a myth that "smokeless powder
means high pressure." That statement is sheer nonsense, borne out of complete
ignorance. Most all shotshells today are powered by nitrocellulose based smokeless
powder, of course. Shotshells are mentioned as the current plastic wads used
in today's shotshell ammo serve the same function as a sabot in a muzzleloader,
that being of taking up windage in the bore and providing an effective gas seal.
Note that these pressures, all nitrocellulose smokeless powder generated, are
but a small fraction of the pressures found in today's inline muzzleloaders.
For comparison, please note that Lyman Ballistic
Laboratories independent data shows that just 100 grains of Pyrodex RS fired
by a CCI #11 cap produces 22,600 PSI when pushing a saboted 240 gr. Hornady
XTP through a 22" test barrel.
Though the Savage 10ML-II is the only significant
muzzleloader on the market that can use all the "black powder subs"
mentioned, it was designed from the inception to use nitrocellulose-based powders
from its inception. The benefits are easy enough for even me to understand:
a propellant such as Accurate Arms 5744 is economical, non-corrosive, and extremely
clean burning compared to all the other "substitutes" mentioned. It
offers far less recoil for a given saboted projectile and velocity than does
Pyrodex or Triple Seven powder or pellets. Many people have asked me, "Why
that is?" The reason is simple, and twofold: deflagrating propellants burn
just as fast as they can as quick as they can, resulting in a very sharp jolt
of a primary recoil pulse. Accurate Arms 5744 burns progressively, a far smoother
pressure curve. This results in a push to the shoulder, rather than a punch.
Also, we talked about roughly half of the carbon-based propellant mass left
behind as solid residue. This inert residue must necessarily be pushed out the
bore by gas. From a recoil standpoint, this solid unburned residue is considered
part of the "ejecta" in the shotgunning parlance. Approximately half
of the carbon-based powder charge can be added to the bullet and sabot weight
to calculate free recoil. With Accurate Arms 5744, there is no such mass of
fouling, as virtually all the propellant converts to gas. Therefore, no additional
ejecta to push out the barrel-and, less recoil as a result.
I'm taking the liberty of mentioning Accurate
Arms 5744 for a reason. It is the favorite propellant of the inventor
of the Savage 10ML-II, Henry Ball, and is currently my favorite as well. It
actually has more things in common with blackpowder from
a usage standpoint than Pyrodex or Triple Seven pellets do. It can easily
be volumetrically measured, using NOT a blackpowder measure, but a Lee 3.4 cc
smokeless powder measure with great accuracy. It also is a powder, not a solid
fuel.
The smokeless powder myth of "high pressure"
has been disproved, and the notion that smokeless powder cannot be volumetrically
measured is also misguided. All commercial smokeless ammunition is loaded by
volume, not by weight, and anyone that has ever seen or used any of the popular
MEC shotshell reloading presses knows that the powder is dropped by volume,
not by weight. Richard Lee, of course, has known the convenience of smokeless
powder volumetric loading for decades-- and has made it available to the masses
with his "Lee Dipper Set." Perhaps this a bit redundant, but I must
mention that the Savage 10ML-II is the only muzzleloader you can safely use
Accurate Arms 5744 with.
The fracas over smokeless in muzzleloading is
silly. Perhaps it is due to the hyperbole
driven marketing of smokepoles, but "smokeless" absolutely does not
mean ANY type of smokeless in the Savage, either, nor just ANY charge. There
are only four powders approved by Savage Arms of this writing for use in the
10ML-II, do not be confused just because some 200 different nitrocellulose powders
are currently available. You don't use just any powder in a shotshell application,
and you don't put diesel fuel into your car just because it is available-- unless
you have a diesel engine in your car, of course.
The message is simple-- merely use propellants
approved by a quality muzzleloading manufacturer, and you'll have no problems
provided you just follow the rules of good reloading practices. If you are a
muzzleloader, let there be mistake: you are a reloader. All the freedom and
all the responsibility that goes with reloading goes with muzzleloading.
IN CONCLUSION
I'll just mention what I've had the best personal
luck with in testing some fifty different muzzleloaders over the last couple
of years alone. 100 grains of Triple 7 FFg by volume more or less has been my
preferred load for most quality inlines to date including Austin & Halleck,
Knight, and Thompson rifles, and Pyrodex pellets have shown themselves to be
more accurate than their Triple 7 pellet counterparts. With the Savage 10ML-II,
it does well with both Hodgdon products, but Accurate Arms 5744 has been an
easy choice due to delightfully soft recoil, extreme accuracy, and no immediate
maintenance.
Whatever your choice, Pyrodex, Black Mag3, Triple
Seven, or Accurate Arms 5744 (in the Savage 10ML-II only)-- just listen to your
gun, and let it tell you what combination it likes. Hopefully, this article
has shed a little light on what today's inline muzzleloading propellants are
really all about. Congratulate yourself; if you've hung in there this long with
me you've expressed far more interest and caring about your sport than most
could possibly be bothered with-- and I thank you.
© 2004, 2005 by Randy Wakeman
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