Black powder and pyrodex

Whatever kind of powder you choose (black powder or Pyrodex), it is very important and even imperative to clean your weapon after each shooting session. Both types are highly corrosive and could damage the chamber and barrel of your weapon, affecting its performance.

It is also important to know that these two powders are not waterproof. You must therefore make sure that they are stored in a dry place to preserve their efficiency. However, once out on a hunting trip we no longer have a choice. Obviously, we can't do miracles to protect our load, but a good starting point is always keeping the muzzle pointed toward the ground. By doing so, we avoid moisture accumulation in the barrel. Another thing you can do is to leave your firearm outdoors, even overnight. This will keep your load at the right temperature. Normally, unless your load was soaked in water, the odds of your shot being fired is very high, even after a week of hunting without having made a single shot.

Another fact to note is that Pyrodex powder is always measured by volume and not by weight like traditional black powder. You will therefore get a greater number of loads with one pound of Pyrodex than with one pound of black powder.

It is important to understand that this does not apply to a closed cartridge weapon and that the difficulty level is much higher. The difference is in the skill of the hunter!