Shooting and cleaning 1860 Army

[Dryball]

Went out today to do some shooting. I'm out of Pyrodex, keeping my black for flinter  only....so the only powder I had was American Pioneer Powder or APP. Now, this stuff I don't normally use because it has some problems...namely it draws moister, cakes up, and has no wonderful smell like black or even Pyrodex. I was shooting my 1860 .44 Army only today, as I don't like cleaning more then one gun when that one is a cap and ball sixgun...they are the most time consuming gun to clean of them all...at least to me. Anyway, I found that the APP is a very consistent and reliable powder in this pistol, and unlike black or Pyrodex did not blow the spent caps off of the nipples at all so not one jam all day! Power seemed to be at the same level as black, a little less then Pyrodex. And when I got home and started cleaning the pistola, she cleaned up perfectly with only 4 patches! Took about 5 minutes! Now to me this is outstanding, and well worth the problems that APP has. I'll be using this powder exclusively in cap and ball sixguns from now on!

Ned

[Smokin_Gun]

Sounds good Ned, but were you trying to groups or tightly groups shots with the APP?  ;) I jus have a hard time shootin' anything but the Holy Black I guess...haven't found anything that shoots as accurate or consistant as FFFG Black Powder in a C&B Rev. An' I told ya how ta clean um up purdy too :D
I do wanna know how many Wild Desert Bush's Bean cans Ya kilt? And see their Top Notches...HeeHee!


SG

[Dryball]

I don't brag about how many scalps I've taken Smokin...bad luck to do that. The APP was shooting very consistently and keeping all shots on a large beer can at about 60 feet. That's about as well as I can see anymore, so I'm happy. And the cleanup was unbelievably fast. I like black better myself for everything as well....except now for cap and ball.

Ned

[Razor]

APP do run better in my C&B's than PYRO P 
and the foulin is less...but...I still prefer Holy Black..
'sides APP seems to have a nasty & eye-stinging flavor to the smoke.
To me, cleanup is still cleanup..
Glad you're happy with it..

[Dryball]

Razor, I agree with you that cleanup is still cleanup, BUT...when I go shootin I spend all day at it cause all my shootin is in the mountains...closest place is 40 miles away....so when you include the travel time both ways, a usual mid morning start, and mountain terrain, by the time I get home it's late at night. All I want is a hot meal, a hotter bath, and bed. So if I can save 5 minutes on gun cleaning...that really helps! :)

Ned

[Razor]

You present an excellent case, Ned.
I am guilty of occasionally not cleaning my guns til the next morning because I'm cranky.   I know that an extra few minutes can be a deciding factor.
It completely escaped me     that not everyone is 70 yds from their backyard range and shooting shelter.

Ray

[Smokin_Gun]

I do understand Ned ... I travel 12 miles to the Club Range(one way) and usually put at least 30 rounds thru 4 Revolvers. and usually 60 trhu a favored one. I can't seem to get out of the house with less than three of um...I'm workin' on that. Takes me a good two hours to to clean up four of um. And I'm tired after that. Bein' a single Old Coot I get to deversify with 2 in a sink tote when feelin'' rushed...HeeHee!

Where  you mention you go to shoot sounds alot like the Club down toward San Diego where the Rondy's are sometimes covered in snow...I know the name a the place but CRS has kicked in, you probly been there. It's way up top of a mountain.

(what did you pay for the APP?)

SG

[BossHoss]

Razor, I agree with you that cleanup is still cleanup, BUT...when I go shootin I spend all day at it cause all my shootin is in the mountains...closest place is 40 miles away....so when you include the travel time both ways, a usual mid morning start, and mountain terrain, by the time I get home it's late at night. All I want is a hot meal, a hotter bath, and bed. So if I can save 5 minutes on gun cleaning...that really helps! :)

Ned

I feel for ya 
My range is generaly my backyard but still - cleanin is work work work