crushing pyrodex rs into fine particles
 

i could not get my new .50cal cablela's hawken percussion to shoot (damn scary when to decide to peer down the muzzle hoping it's a misfire & not a hangfire). i think it was because it was new & i didn't clean it thoroughly, leaving some oil in the breech/nipple area. though the patches were coming out clean. i did the usual of pointing the muzzle at some dirt & popping a cap to see the dirt moves. #11 caps seem to pop on the 2nd hammer strike, never the 1st (fixed it by filing down the nipple to seat the cap & also got #11 magnum caps - they seem to fit better).

experiment 1: pyrodex rs, regular nipple, #11 regular caps
result: tested - cap pops on 2nd hammer strike but fails to ignite powder charge

experiment 2: pyrodex rs, regular nipple, #11 magnum caps
result: not tested - i think it will ignite charge b/c of the magnum caps

experiment 2: crushed pyrodex rs, regular nipple, #11 regular caps
result: not tested - i think it will ignite charge b/c of the crushed pyrodex

experiment 3: pyrodex rs, modified/filed down nipple, #11 regular caps
result: not tested - i think it will ignite charge b/c of the modified/filed down nipple

my thought is that the pyrodex rs is too coarse. i've measured by volume 60gr of powder & crushed it into smaller, more fine particles - maybe it will go deeper into the breech/nipple area than the non-crushed pyrodex?

lol, maybe i'm over-thinking this & just stick with experiment #2 since i could not get #1 to work.

RE: crushing pyrodex rs into fine particles
 

Ahhhhh you will have a love/hate relationship with that rifle!! We have 2 of them in our family and they do the same damn thing. After you dump the powder down the barrel turn the gun over to the lock side and smack the side of the stock with the palm of your hand to shift the powder under the nipple.

these 50cals are a PITA for some reason. My .45 hawken gives me no trouble at all.

If its loaded now, just remove the nipple and dribble some powder into there. Its possible that you did not pump water through the breech area when you cleaned it and there is oil down there that gummed up the powder, therefore, not allowing the powder to shift under the nipple.

RE: crushing pyrodex rs into fine particles
 

Another thing you can do is order a stainless steel hot shot nipple. RMC Sports sell them.. Also like MD said, turn that rifle to the side and slap the lock. This knocks powder into the drum so that when the cap is ignitied it fires. Normally once they fire they are pretty good.

BUT a friend had once of the Hawkins from Traditions and his would not shoot Pyrodex RS. So I loaded it with Goex 3f and all his problems were solved.

RE: crushing pyrodex rs into fine particles
 

You could try some 3F powder. I think it ignites better when using #11 caps.

RE: crushing pyrodex rs into fine particles
 

One other thing about your post that has me scratching my head...

you're not trying to shoot pellets are you. You talk about non crushed and crushed.. If you are trying to shoot pellets, that is your problem. The tradtional rifles normally are not made to shoot pellets. You need to get loose powder.

But I am sure that is not the case... is it? :eek:

RE: crushing pyrodex rs into fine particles
 

lol, sorry i should have been more clear - using pyrodex rs ffg powder.

truth be told, experiment #0 - i used blackhorn 209 powder first & that did not work (duh, it's called 209 for a reason). hmmm, maybe crush the bh 209 into fine particles (that didn't work well either). that's when i decided to crush the pyrodex rs ffg powder.

i have triple 7 pellets (for the t/c encore) but i just keep those in the possibles bag just in case.

RE: crushing pyrodex rs into fine particles
 

Check carefully for a shaving or a drill flange at the end of the channel that goes into the barrel. I have had a bunch of CVA and Traditions brought into the shop that had that problem. There are several out there that have design or tolerance problems. If you don't resolve the problem post where you live and if one of the more experienced people here are near by they will usually help you it is very difficult to cope with problems when you cannot see them. Lee

RE: crushing pyrodex rs into fine particles
 

thanks gang for all the great tips.

another tip i got was to leave the hammer at 1/2 cock. when i dump the powder, it has a chance to get to the nipple area. if the hammer is fully seated, it might create an air pocket so the powder will never get all the way down.

i used a spray gun cleaner that kinda smells & turns everything it touches white when it dries (kinda like acetone). it really got all the gunk out of the nipple/breech area. i tried to shine a light into the nipple threading & peered down the muzzle but i didn't see any light shining through. popping off a few caps did move a piece of tissue paper i hung up (actually blasted it into pieces) - i'm sure all is clear with no obstructions.

i'm off to the range before the snow storm hits, i'll post results when i return.

RE: crushing pyrodex rs into fine particles
 

My side lock allways had trouble with any thing but good old black.
when I got a miss-fire I had an old sent bottle filled with 4f primer powder, I would puff a small amt thru the nipple and cap it then shoot it then clean it really well. Works nicely for those balls seated with no powder in the hole first, just tap the lock and blow 4f in the nipple till full. Makes a small pop and the ball pushes out just point it in a safe direction it still is a moving bullet. joe

RE: crushing pyrodex rs into fine particles
 

just got back from the range, 13 rounds all on paper. out or the box, windage was spot on. i only had to adjust the elevation. used the dremel/modified nipple.

hornady 177gr .50cal/.490 ball
prelubed .015 patch (tight, a little effort to load)
prelubed .010 patch (not so tight, very little effort to load)
pyrodex rs - 60gr/70gr/80gr
cci #11 caps (sometimes needed a 2nd hammer strike)
cci #11 magnum caps (always ignited on 1st hammer strike)
stock iron sights

i have now developed the habit of poking the nipple hole with a pick, keeping it 1/2 cocked while loading the charge & also slapping the nipple side to insure the powder gets where it needs to (all very quiet-like, shhh...)

25yds/1.5" = tried different powder grains/patch/cap combinations, spit & dry patch when i felt like it (not every shot) - didn't affect the shot placement on the target. got the shot in the same hole a couple of times.

50yds/3" = wow, i can just see the target at this range (maybe in need a better type target image or more light to see it better). i should mount the peep sight but the tang needs a hole drilled. i'm having so much fun shooting this thing i don't want to wait for the gunsmith. i put a peep on the henry golden boy, it took 3 weeks.

btw - the crushed powder pyrodex rs didn't matter at all.

question: at say 50yds, what would be best powder grains for deer?