Powder has definitely been LIGHT these past 2+ years!

For pistol practice I've resorted to pyrodex in 38 special for plinking. It's my new 22LR!


Cheap & available at Walmart, and it works fine in revolvers.


I'm also thinking of getting a Remington New Model Army 44 in 5.5" barrel (cap n ball), a few cylinders, and a conversion cylinder to shoot BP cowboy loads this summer. If pyrodex and cast lead are all that's plentiful, I'll shoot it if I get more trigger time than I do with my 45's & 9's.


I have about 8# of pistol powder but I'm saving that like gold. I will check a couple places in Fargo this week, so who knows what I'll find.


In the meantime, I agree with RN - you have to be flexible. Maybe you can't get your favorite powder, but there is likely something out there that will still get the job done...

Scheels in Fargo got a big shipment of various powders in last week, but as of yesterday, most of it is already gone.  Managed to snag a little bit more Re15, but most the other popular stuff is gone.

Good point. I should probably take apart the trigger / hammer area of a detailed cleaning soon.

 

It's a stainless gun but it can still rust if not cared for...

Good advice!

I don't use real black powder because it's not as commonly available at wallyworld, and I'd have to drive 65 miles just to get any - assuming they have it in stock.

It has been a bitch to clean the pyrodex residue, but soaking the whole gun (minus the CT Laser Grips), pulling out the hammer spring assembly, and popping open the trigger assembly helped.

Blasting with an air can to speed up drying process, then lube.  I'll probably keep blasting with pyrodex since I've built up a pretty good supply of it so far, but once it's gone, I'll try real BP.  I've been saving what little Unique, H Univ, and Win231 for use in semi-auto calibers.  I have about 500rds of 38 & 357 loaded in smokeless, and another ~200 in Pyrodex now...

Perhaps I'll get a cheap-ass Taurus and shoot exclusively BP & Pyrodex in it.  Just beat that P.O.S. to hell, and see how it holds up.  Hey, at least I'm reloading and shooting when other people can't seem to ever get their hands on their favorite powder du jour.

Waiting for Varget, or whatever, when there are acceptable substitutes available for many calibers doesn't make sense to me - keep shooting however you can, so you're still keeping up your skills.  If it means Pyrodex in a wheel gun, or RE15 / H335 or an IMR-whatevernumber instead of Varget, etc...  Keep on shooting!

People complain about ammo & componenet shortages - I view it like a learning opportunity.  Heck, even IF ammo is ever completely banned from sales in a totalitarian / opperssive government, it gives you practice in learning to make "scavenged" scrap-component ammo.  Cast lead bullets, pyrodex / BP propellant, and even reloaded primers, in a simple wheel gun or a 30-30 lever or -06 bolt gun --- Very educational.