Quote:Starting in 2003, the NRA has ruled that Silhouette and target Rifle matches must use only 100% black powder or Pyrodex. No duplex loads or substitute powders will be allowed.
The reason the NRA allows the antiquated use of Pyrodex is because it is made with sulfur and the Committee wanted to keep BPCR competition powders close to real BP. It was introduced in 1978 and Hodgen wanted to induce more ML shooters who had and still have the stigma about shooting & cleaning with the real deal
The basic formula used in Pyrodex is:
45 parts of potassium nitrate
9 parts of charcoal
6 parts of sulfur
19 parts of potassium perchlorate
11 parts of sodium benzoate
6 parts of dicyanamide
1 to 4 parts of water
The basic formula has undergone several modifications over the years and still is produced in pellet form, again for the ML shooters who sight in their rifles a day before the deer season and spend less than a week in the field shooting their rifles
Looking at the equipment lists of BPCR matches over the years, I have seen only one participant listed using Pyrodex
Also, Federal law prohibits a retailer from displaying containers of black powder to the public. The containers of powder must be stored out of view of the customers, usually in a ATF approved magazine with limits on the amount that may be stored in the store. With Pyrodex being classified as a flammable solid it is not unusual to see 10 to 30 containers lined up on a store shelf in full view of the customers. Pyrodex has allowed individuals to shoot muzzleloading, or “black powder firearms”, who would otherwise not been able to do so because of a lack of readily available propellent powder. But in subsequent years, other substitute powders have been developed and Pyrodex is currently not the substitute powder of choice
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Black Powder Substitute for Silhouette? (Read 6538 times)
