ORIGINAL: eldeguello
Aren't APP and Piunnacle the same powder? I have heard that APP makes Pinnacle for GOEX...
GOEX did have their own BP substitute called ClearShot. It worked very well in all respects but one-it gave very low velocities, especially in FFg granulation. Th FFFg was not so bad, but it took 140 grains of ClearShot FFFg to give me the same MV with .50 Maxiballs that I used to get with 120 grains of Curtis & Harvey Musket powder (BP) with the same bullet. (However, ClearShot was the only BP substitute I have tried that was totally non-corrosive. I fired an old clunker ten times, no swabbing between shots,with ClearShotone fall, and then left it sitting in the corner of a room uncleaned for two weeks here in southern PA. At the end of the two weeks, I cleaned it, and there was no hint of rust or corrosion ion the bore of that rifle.
I don't think the Pinnacle and APP are the same. Pinnacle 3f is jet black in color and a nice fine grain. It shoots light projectiles and roundballs excellent. The heavy conicals for some reason it does not like in my rifles. The APP is gray colored and not as fine a grain and the Pinnacle. Of course they could have dyed the powder.
I did send Goex and APP a e-mail with this same question but they did not feel the need to answer me.. Oh well.
As for clean up, this picture tells it all. I had shot my Knight Wolverine 12 times in a row shooting, without swabbing, using240 grain T/C Mag Express XTP (and then ran out) and decided to swab the barrel and change projectiles. This picture shows the five patches I ran through the barrel. The red is Rusty Duck Black Off - Black Powder solvent.
I really like the powder. I just hate the price. I can get two pound of Goex Black Powder for the cost of one pound of Pinnacle.