ORIGINAL: cayugad
American Pioneer Powder has good velocity, and is a clean powder to shoot. I personally have shot a lot of Clean Shot which was APP before the name change and really like the powder. I had excellent accuracy and very little fowling. Also the recoil of APP is not as sharp as that of Triple Se7en. Some posters I have read had moisture problems with the APP. I can not say I ever noticed that it was a moisture absorbing powder but then I never hunted with it in wet conditions. I personally would stay away from APP in stick form. I would get the powder in FFFg grade loose form. APP is a very course powder. The sticks because of the way they are packaged, have been described as missing chunks from the main body of the stick. With chunks missing you can not get consistencyIMO. Besides, loose powder is morecost effective and you can custom make a load better. Also the dreaded crud ring we read so much aboutdoes not seem to be a problem with this powder. Whether you will experience a moisture problem I guess only a try with the powder will tell. APP is a very popular powder around here with the local gun clubs. I note that of the two clubs in the area, that is the powder they sell and recommend.
Triple Se7en in pellet form is expensive when you compare it to loose. There is the issue of the crud ring, but I believe a good swabbing will control that. I shoot three inlines and although I do not shoot pellets in any form have never experienced a crud ring that I could not handle. Also be it noted, I shoot Triple Se7en, Clean Shot, and Pyrodex on occassion. I am personally a Goex shooter for the most part. Other then that, Triple Se7en is a clean burning, excellent power, and well respected powder. People get good accuracy with it. I like it in FFg form but have never had my oppertunity to try the FFFg grade.
If I were you, I'd get a pound of each and make my own evaluation. After all that means you can shoot more..
The BEST substitute powder I've used is GOEX ClearShot in the FFFg form. It gives adequate velocities, is not only very clean, it is NON-CORROSIVE, as I proved by leaving a fired rifle uncleaned for two weeks one August here in the heat and humidity of the Mason-Dixon Line. GOEX ClearShot FFg gives such low vewlocities that it is pretty worthless as a hunting powder.
The next best for me has been Pyrodex, as I can shootall afternoon using it without swabbing, which I CANNOT DO with 777. With 777, I might as well be shooting Swiss BP, since both require swabbing after about three shots (depending on how much you use! The bigger the charge, the more often you must swab!!)
Clean Shot (APP) is OK as long as it has not had time to absorb moisture, which it will do if the lid is not on tight. It still requires swabbing once in a while, but not nearly as much as with BP or 777. It also gives very good velocities if it has not gotten moist!
ClearShot FFFg has given me some very accurate performance!
