I am not a blackpowder expert, by any stretch, just looking for some help. I shoot a TC Thunderhawk in 50cal. I first used pyrodex granules, then pyrodex pellets, no problems. I got tired of so much trouble to clean it so I thought it might be good to switch to JSG Powder. I changed over from regular percussion cap to 209 primer 2 years ago. I got 2 cans of JSG in the 50 grain pellets for christmas. They have been stored in the house since then. I put a new scope on the gun and wanted to sight it in yesterday. I shot 2 primers thru the gun before I started. The first shot didn't sound right, kinda of a hollow thud and hit very low on target. I adjusted the scope and tried again. This shot went off okay and I was in the black of the target. The next 3 shots fizzled and I actually had some hits on the target, extremely low and to the right, looking like when a shotgun sabot is shot out of a barrel that isn't rifled and hits sideways. I was really getting frustrated. I ran some patches down the barrel and pulled out chunks of the JSG powder. I put the gun down and walked back to the shed and got my Pyrodex pellets. They fired perfectly in the gun and in 2 shots I was in the orange of the target. Just in case it was my gun, I also wanted to sight in the scope on my daughters 50cal Rossi inline I bought last year. The JSG powder would hardly go off. I could actually hear the impact downrange almost a full second or two after the smoke came out the barrel! I fired her gun with the Pyrodex pellets and in 3 shots, had her gun in the orange. Does anybody have a clue what is wrong with this powder? Thanks for taking the time to read this and any help would be appreciated.

I've read many post like this; didn't go off,,, smoldering Sticks flying down range,,, accuracy problems,,, so on and so on. Don't get me wrong, I'm notsaying these things didn't happen to you but the Sticks have always performed flawlessly in my Omega and now my Pro-Hunter. Here is my guess... when you fired the couple of 209s off to clear your breach plug you may have accually cloged it or if the powder was left unsealed in a high humidity area it could havehad some effect... it's really hard to say.
JSG Sticks are my favorite powder and unless I find a reason to change it will continue to be... don't give up on it, you could have a bad batch or something... did you try Sticks from both cans?

I tried sticks from both cans and only one of the cans had been opened, I looked at them on christmas eve. Believe me, I wanted them to work, I hate cleaning my guns, but how can I trust this powder if a big buck walks out? It's very humid in Md, maybe it just was a bad day for this powder, but the 3 year old Pyrodex pellets worked fine in both guns.

I understand exactly,,, I live in SC so I know all about the humidity... It's just puzzling to me. This summer when it was 110I shot several loads in my Omega... 110 grains of 2f 777 and a 300 Nosler,,, 120 grains of 3f JSG and the same bullet,,, 3 777 pellets and a 250 SW (this load shot damn good when it was cool but terrible in the heat). All of these shot like crap in the heat... so as a last resort, I loaded my Omega up with 3 JSG Sticks and the Nosler. I took a life sized deer target and set it at 100 yards just to see how it would act in the heat... two in the heart!

Well the problem with the APP and Jim Shockey powder is that it is sugar based. Have you ever left the lid off the sugar bowl on a humid day only to find the sugar in there hard as a rock later? Sugar absorbs moisture from any where it can. The problem was you opened one of the boxes. You stated it is humid where you live and I am guessing that once opened, you allowed it to do what sugar does, and thats absorb moisture from the air.

I do not know if you can dry that powder out some how. Send APP a email and ask them what to do with their powder that you purchased that is no good. Then describe the problems you encounterd. Maybe they would let you trade it in. I was also told that pellets are more prone to moisture then loose. Is this because there is more bearing surface on a pellet then a single grain of powder? Who knows.

I would hunt with the Pyrodex and play with the APP until I was certain I could control the moisture in a storage area or containerand then keep the powder in one of those areas until use.

Clean Shot, JSG and APP are all subject to deterioration due to moisture and probably something else. Next time you open a can put some dessicant in it and make sure the lid is on tight.If it starts smelling like brown suger, it is deteriorating.

My newly opened can of JSG has a dessicant pack in it and it is in a .50 caliber ammo can.

Every can I've ever opened smelled like brown sugar... that's part of the reason I like it... makes me kind of hungry...

Thanks so much for the tips, I will try to email them. I am not trying to bad mouth JSG powder, just trying to fix the problem.

I used APP and Gold for a long time then one day I got a brand new can the acted like that, I could make some guesses as to why but to me the real key to the matter is that I can not TRUST it for hunting now I use Pyrodex or 777[which I dont like but is dependable]. Lee

That's the question that would always be in the back of my mind. The only time the pyrodex messed up was my fault. I had to much oil in the bottom of the barrel and it got "soggy". I don't get that many chances at a nice deer and that would be a real bummer!