American Pioneer Powder

[Lowedog]

Anyone using this?  I just picked up some of their "sticks" compressed charges for my Bighorn.  Supposed to be super clean and clean up with just water.  I have read and been told that you can shoot and shoot without swabbing your barrel.  One of the guys on their website is going for 10,000 shots without cleaning his muzzleloader. 

Can't wait to try it. 

-Lowedog

[Bubba]

I have been using their loose powder for the last 5 years with no problems. Yes and clean-up is easy with water.  I have shot 18 rounds without cleaning and had no problems. It seems that after the first shot the bullet loads a lot easier.

[Karl Blanchard]

the sticks are made for 209 primers only.  #11 and musket caps will not ignite them.  My german musket caps would only ignite the first one and the second would burn about 20 yards out of the barrel.  Very inconsistant in size also.  Stick with the fffg and you can't go wrong, but stay away from the sticks.

[Lowedog]

the sticks are made for 209 primers only.  #11 and musket caps will not ignite them.  My german musket caps would only ignite the first one and the second would burn about 20 yards out of the barrel.  Very inconsistant in size also.  Stick with the fffg and you can't go wrong, but stay away from the sticks.

Interesting, I can't find anywhere on the container or in APP's literature that says that the sticks are made for 209 primers only.  Says right on the container "for all 50 cal muzzloaders including sidelocks".

[Karl Blanchard]

It doesn't say it on the container but that is the only logical explanation as to why they don't ignite. give them a try who knows maybe I just got a bad batch or something.   Every other muzzleloading product made is catered to the east coast encore shooters so I just assumed these were too.

[Lowedog]

I'll give them a try.  After looking around online a little more it sounds like some have had great results and others have had problems.  Supposedly they have a shelf life and after sitting around for awhile they can go bad.

I'll report back my findings.

-Lowedog

[CJ-5]

I am curious to know also what your results are with those sticks.  I have a bighorn also, but havent had a chance to get out and shoot it.  The guy at the gun store gave those pellets a good recommendation, but who knows.  Sounds like some havent had very good luck. 

[colockumelk]

I have a T/C Blackdiamond.  I use 209 primers.  I shot them 6 times and with a bench rest had about a 1 foot group at 100 yds.  Two of those shots felt like not all of it ignited and indeed hit very low.  One of those shots only ignited one of the pellets and got to witness the other pellet ignite about 20 yards in front of my face. 

BTW I did not count those three shots in my one foot group.  The three "good shots" were scattered all over.  If you look at the sticks they have absolutely no quality control.  Weigh them and you'll see what I mean.  They are packed loosely in a plastic bottle and rub on each other and thus some have more powder than others do.  I recommend gettting something else.  But then again who knows maybe somehow they will work for you.  If you want to use pellets use Pyrodex or 777.  Yeah they are dirtier but at least they are accurate loads.

Like others said let us know how it went. 

[Lowedog]

Still haven't made it out yet guys.  Maybe this evening. 

Not holding too high of hopes though after reading all this and some other stuff I have seen online.  I got this response from APP "on a good inline gun there should be no problem with #11 primers. ThanskWendell "

I have been using Hodgman Pyrodex pellets in my Knight and they work great.  Just thought I would give these a try.  A friend uses there loose stuff and really likes it.

-Lowedog

[Lowedog]

Finally made it out for a few quick shots tonight guys.  Only had time to take 4 shots before it got too dark but the 4 shots lit off just fine with #11 CCI primers.  Shot 50 yards with Knight 310 grain lead bullets and high pressure sabots.  Was just shooting off my bi-pod sitting.  My first shot was a major jerk!  Been awhile since I shot the Bighorn.   My other 3 were about a 2-1/2 inch group hitting 3 inches left and from about 3-5 inches low.  My load for this gun has been 2 Pyrodex 50 gr pellets behind the Extreme Elite 240 gr bullet.

Clean up was a breeze.  Used water just like they say and 2 wet patches followed by a couple dry and the bore was bright and shiny!

I will keep messing with it and let you guys know if anything changes.  So far I'm impressed.

-Lowedog

[MtnMuley]

I'm glad you posted this thread.  I've been wondering the same thing on their new compressed charges.  I use the pyrodex compressed charges and have been extremely happy with them.  I saw the new Pioneer ones and really thought about changing.   I've heard great things about the powder form of American Pioneer Powder.  Thanks.

[colockumelk]

Cool.  I hope it works out for you.  Don't take my negativity the wrong way.  I just wanted to let you know what happened to me personally.  If you have a Bighorn it might work alot better.  I tried the loose powder and it shot like crap as well.  But my brother uses the loose with a Bighorn and it shoots great.  So who knows.  Good luck and I hope that powder works great for you.  If it does let me know.  I have about 40 loads you can have. 

[Phil W]

A test report of the various powders in the American Rifleman last year indicated that H777 give better consistency than American Pioneer. I use 100 gr 777 loose, it shoots very well and cleans up real easy. 777 loose is known for consistent and high velocities. There's not much point in using much more than 100 gr because of diminishing returns.

Phil

[Lowedog]

Colockumelk, it could be you got a bottle of the stuff that had been on the shelf awhile.  From my searching around on the wed it sounds like this stuff has a shelf life.  At least early on it did. 

I wish this weather would cool off!  I want to get out and do some more shooting with the sticks but I hate shooting when it 95 friggun degrees.

-Lowedog

[Lowedog]

Did some more shooting today with the APP sticks.  Every shot lit of fine and accuracy was great.  Was shooting 2 50gr equivalent sticks, CCI #11 magnum primers and Extreme HP 240gr bullets.  I have some Barnes T-MZ bullets coming so I will see how it does with them.

-Lowedog