21-Year-Old Pyrodex: Will It Even Shoot?

[@GunsOfTheWest]

Check out the Guns of the West store here: gunsoftheweststore.com

[@j.p.9522]

It inspires confidence that Pyrodex can remain functional after decades on the shelf.

[@ArizonaGhostriders]

That was fun. 21 year old powder still a-workin'

[@dalehammond1749]

I've never been a Pyrodex fan but this is interesting. A side note, a friend in Michigan brought me a partial can of GOEX he kept in some outbuilding. He said he purchased it back 40+ years ago. It fired perfectly! Anyway, as usual...great video.

[@The_Disgruntled_Vet]

I’ve had a can of GOEX FFFFG for my flintlock for over 30 years. You don’t use a lot so it lasts a long time. I’ve never had an issue with it.

[@anangryranger]

Interesting. I still have some Pyrodex P from 1976 that still works. I can only presume that storage does play into its function.

[@davidarsell93]

I’ve had Pyro decks for rifles and pistols. It’s over 40 years old and it’s still shoots fine if you keep it tight and dry.

[@charleslange7619]

I recently tried using some 50 cal 50 grain Pyrodex pellets from the late 90's. They went boom but also turned my muzzleloader into a freakish flammenwerfer shooting bits of still burning debris down range.

[@raysheppard8040]

That silica gel for dry storage, throw a couple packets in containers, thus negating the hang fire

[@ward5821]

It depends on the storage. I store my Pyrodex, in a ice chest, and in a cool dry area.

[@JoeSyxpack]

This is a well timed video. I was just wondering about old Pyrodex and how long its shelf life is. My first experience with Pyrodex was back in the 80s. I built a rifle (CVA Frontiersman) from a kit and took it out to shoot it. Didn't have my own powder at the time so I borrowed my dad's, which was probably 10+ years old since he almost never shot his BP rifle. I recall a very clear click/bang with every shot. I thought it was just part of the experience of shooting a muzzle loader. So I put that rifle away and didn't look at it for many years. 30 years later I decide to rebuild the rifle since it looked like it was put together by an impatient 13 year old kid (because it was). Made it pretty and figured I have to shoot it again to christen it. This time I had to buy new powder and the only thing the store had was Pyrodex. Huge difference. Zero hang when pulling the trigger. It felt like any modern ammunition discharge speed (of course, 30 years later my ability to perceive a difference might be lacking). Also discovered that rifle shoots AMAZING and was sad I let it collect dust for 3 decades.

[@cal9064]

Sure it will. If stored properly/ I have cans of Pyrodex dating back to the early 1980's. Still goes bang, every time.

[@humphrey212]

I call the company a few years ago. They said that pyrodex has no expire date. It can last forever like black powder. The only difference is between pyrodex and black powder is if pyrodex get wet it becomes useless. If black powder gets wet just wait for it to dry and you can still use it. Pyrodox is black powder with additives to make it harder to ignite for safer transportation. That is why some black powder guns like the Sharps and flintlocks recommend using true black powder only because pyrodex will give more misfires in those guns.

[@GustavoRubioGSR]

If properly stored, gun powder has no issue. Perhaps you should try it with different percussion caps or same caps with a new lot of the same powder to see if there´s a difference. Cool vid as usual

[@kirkboswell2575]

Many moons ago, I became less than enamored of Pyrodex. We were shooting our rifles across a large pond at a target on the far bank. No lasers in those ancient days, so no real distance available. Two rifles, same maker, same caliber, same load out except one Pyrodex and one black. The black hit dirt just under the target. The Pyrodex splashed water a good 15 feet lower. Several repeats with the same results. Now, this wasn't a new can of Pyrodex. It had been opened a good 6 months prior. Since then, I've seen a number of tests that show Pyrodex as "more powerful" (including yours Guns of the West), and I've commented a couple of times suggesting that maybe Pyrodex "loses" some power over time. I've also thought about a possible formula change. What you've shown today makes me believe once again that the shelf life of Pyrodex is a factor somehow. HOWEVER, the REAL takeaway today is that regardless of age, It Still Works!!!

[@elliothuh669]

I've never used blackpowder but I am willing to bet it is better than pyrodex. Hard to come by though. I don't use pyrodex because of preference.

[@stevedickhaut7607]

I've got some Pyrodex RS that is 30 years old. I shot it out of my CVA Mountain Rifle and it does hangfire. Will try it out of one of my Walkers next time.

[@jefflang6271]

I had some Pyrodex P that was 20 years old and it ignited just fine. Maybe the smaller granules helped to offset the age.

[@451whitworth4]

I had a can of Pyrodex P that I bought in 1990 and had until 2004. I tried the 'P' in a White muzzleloader and it didn't hang fire but sounded hollow upon firing with notably mild recoil. I shot it though the chrony and it was 350 fps slower than the same charge of 3Fg black powder of the same vintage.

[@ward5821]

Pyrodex does have the small benefit of being less likely to result in a chain fire, "if you forget the correct steps".

[@ralphperez4862]

I just harvested a javelina with at least a 35 year old paper container of Pyrodex. It shot fine and worked beautifully. I did have some misfires with my rifle but it was CVA breech plug that needed boiled. Once I boiled the breech plug. It worked flawlessly.

[@michaelheiss4456]

I knew it would work , try it in a flintlock and the hangfire will seem natural and a lot of fun ! I love muzzleloaders . 😊

[@vehdynam]

Interesting as always. Thank you.

[@snappers_antique_firearms]

I love that 12 cap capper dustin. It's become my favorite

[@jimwiskus8862]

Hi Dustin, I’m uneducated in many areas, this one is no different. It sure look good to me from my kitchen. Kind of like honey, that they find in the pharaohs tombs. Still edible.

[@AstanaxKnight]

Making me feel old. In late 2002 I was at San Antonio, Texas for basic training.

[@WhatIfBrigade]

Good to know!

[@PicoPistolero]

I don't know what you're doing for audio, but I have a pro tip for you: You probably are using the mic in the camera or a wireless lav mic. The camera mic will have an auto gain on it and the lav is a 'condenser' mic, which will attenuate peaks. That's why your gun shots aren't recording very well. If you can come up with a 'dynamic element' mic and record into a devise with manual gain control, you'll get a fuller recording of gun shots.

[@darkwriter77]

Was it an unopened-from-the-factory container? Or had it been opened previously at some point within those 21 years? I've heard the shelf life of Pyrodex and black powder goes downhill FAST (within months) once it's opened.

[@GunsOfTheWest]

I used some of it back when I bought it.

[@Squib1911]

It worked. Great slo-mo.

[@davidgunter7162]

there did you get that caper. Thanks David

[@GunsOfTheWest]

Here’s the link: gunsoftheweststore.com/products/12-cap-capper-pack-of-3

[@greenbroccolistudios1275]

Good ol revolvers ;) *Spins revolver and shoots it at the sky* Whooo-Wheeee!!

[@GenderSkins]

I had to laugh knowing that can of Pyrodex RS would still work after 22 years. Now I will explain how I knew it would still shoot. You see I got into black powder shooting with an old CVA .45 Kentucky Long Rifle, that I shot Pyrodex out of back in 1988. Had some in a real powder horn, and some still in the jar, up until about two years ago. That stuff will still shoot even after getting wet and hardening for 30 years, but shoots better if it remains in an air tight sealed container. Hence the old saying: Keep your powder dry!

[@woodrowbrimm2805]

Dustin. I have you Paper Cartridge Kit. I tried Pyrodex when it first came out before they came out with the "P" Pistol FFF version. Even though it was new my .36 Cal Navy wouln't light reliably. These days I use Pyrodex P in both my .44's but prefer Real Black Powder . Magnum caps are best with Pyrodex P, Iwould never use the RS version in my Revolvers, Maybe in 12 Gauge Reloads if someone gave me some free. I tried Pyrodex P with DIY Percussion Caps but almost never got reliable ignition. Real Black Powder will usually work with most DIY Caps. I still can't find # 10 caps and my prefered RWS 1075 or 1075+ are no longer available so I have to settle for #11 caps and resize them a little so they don't fall off. DIY caps take a lot of work yo make so I save them for last resorts.

[@PhantomObserver]

Since you didn’t use either a wad or lube the chambers, I have to ask: how was the fouling compared with newer Pyrodex when you cleaned the gun?

[@paulkopacz5051]

He did lube the chambers over the ball and that's clearly visible in the video.

[@usualsuspect5173]

What does the "f" in black powder grading stand for?

[@USAACbrat]

i tried some 10 year old Winchester magnum caps, They took 2 strikes, Pieta Stock nipples, all but 1 fired out of 12.

[@rpb1961]

I just found a 35 yr old bottle of pyrodex rs in the attic of my garage. 14.99 back then. Still good.

[@elliothuh669]

Those hang fires aren't so bad i've seen hang fires of up to several seconds. Using smokeless powder rounds fomr the 1930's

[@Bill23799]

Wow! Great CGI effects making it really look like you are firing black powder revolvers. Everyone knows you just can''t find any percussion caps anywhere.

[@davinci3259]

Make sure to check places you wouldn't always think to check. I found some Remington #11 last week at a gas station that is about 15 minutes from my house. Haven't found any anywhere else though.

[@davinci3259]

​@@jason60chev big money man. Good for you. Not wanting to pay $50 plus the $25 hazmat for a single can, when the msrp is between$8-$12 makes people cheapskates. I'll take being a cheapskate over a dumbass bragging about over paying any day.

[@jason60chev]

@@davinci3259 Yeah. I earn six figures plus, not to mention that I'm risking my life, in Syria. So, I order them and have them shipped to my FFL ,if I feel I will need them, When and IF I ever get home. You were talking about caps.....where does the $50 for a can come in? I have 8 pounds/cans of Goex at home, plus 1000 pistol and 2000 musket caps.

[@johnnydjiurkopff]

​​​@@davinci3259pick up some small pistol primers and some .170 ID vinyl tube. Cut the vinyl to a couple centimeters long and slip a primer in there. Poor man's percussion cap without pressing them out of aluminum. Don't spread this one around too much or we probably ain't gonna have primers to buy for too long.

[@davinci3259]

@@johnnydjiurkopff Thank you. I bought the punch to make them from aluminum and the priming powder, but if I need a lot of them it gets very tedious. I'm going to what you suggested.

[@wonder-bred]

Is it possible to dry it out and bring it back? Maybe chronograph the old powder and some thats been dried. Or is it something else that breaks down in the powder that weakens it?

[@lessage760]

EXCELLENT SIR THANK YOU

[@r669charger7]

Was it kept in a environmentally controlled environment, or just out in a shed? That could impact it effectiveness too.

[@jeffryrichardson9105]

Great test informative!👍🏽😀❤️🇺🇸

[@JUHEBLA1776]

Question I got a Uberti 1860 army .44, and wounder witch SLIXSHOT nipples to get and where to find the right ones for mine

[@usualsuspect5173]

Pyrodex will hang fire even when it's fresh...

[@sixshootertexan]

👍🇺🇲🤠 I've got a can that's even older. I wouldn't shoot it even if it was new. I hate Pyrodex nowadays. Use nothing but real black now.

[@DigitalPhreak765]

Go ahead make my day 😜😜😀😜

[@mkshffr4936]

I have some P from before the turn of the century.

[@rawa5457]

No nieźle! 👍

[@overthehill1958]

I have some 40 years old.

[@aftershock2222]

I have a forty year old can of Pyrodex. I wonder?

[@TK-wd7de]

I have bp from the 70s its still good theres nothing in bp that would expire

[@edmarmohr3611]

Muito.legal 👍👍👏👏🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@ColAuctioneer]

I am 62. Now I understand what the wife is talking about. I must be Hang Firing. LOL

[@vadi1967]

Am besten, diese Anlagen ignorieren und paar km zum nächsten Parkplatz weiterfahren bzw. die Autohöfe benutzen.

[@manyrounds5468]

Keep your powder dry.

[@AbundanceTribe]

I would buy your 12 cap capper if i could even find percussion caps... I still don't understand how you have caps for videos. If you were to buy caps and sell them I would buy them for double the price you paid. I'm getting tired of seeing you showing off and having fun with caps.. I'm jealous.