Great afternoon at range with Pyrodex
I decided to try pyrodex again because I couldn't get any BP and I was bummed out by the results with 777. Learned a couple things:
--Pyrodex did great. My 51 .36 Navy shot into great groups and functioned--well, like a '58 Remington.
--My 60 Colt also did great and it's still breaking in.
--My Pietta New Army Rem. shot into one big hole at 50'!
--My Urberti New Army.... not so good---but not bad at all 3".
I'll ad more details when I check my targets.
OK here's the crazy part. I shot some of the 777, but for the hell of it, I COMPRESSED it, just like the pyrodex. I know, compressing 777 should disrupt the time-space continuum. But it shot more accurately than than when I tried to just seat the ball on it--probably because the compression was consistent.
BTW, these were stout 777 loads in the Pietta 1858-- 34 grains of 777.
Conclusions: Pyrex is the best way for ME to go if BP isn't available. And (Pyrodex suffers from a bad rap--it cleaned up easy with soap and water, to boot.)
In my limited experiment, I compressed 777 with the underbarrel rammer and improved accuracy and didn't blow myself into next Tuesday.
I just want to say that I do NOT recommend anyone else compressing 34 grains of 777 in a '58 Remington. It might be that the saint that watches over fools and c&b shooters was working overtime.
Finally, my good day was likely a result of my becoming experienced with c/b revolvers, Treso cones, and my revs reaching optimum operational level after a bunch of tinkering and many rounds down range.
And I'd be remiss if I didn't thank the guys--which is everybody-- on this forum that helped me through the fog.
Have a good weekend, y'all--happy trails and keep your powder dry.
I'm going for the hike Saturday in a part of the Utah West Desert (Faust and west) near the Pony Express trail where the jack wabbits lurk. The Pietta '58 will be on my hip.