I heard another trick on getting hard powders to ignite is to put 10gr of blackpowder in at the bottom as it ignites at a lower temperature and will then fire up the Pyrodex.

I shoot a CVA .45 magbolt with Deadcenter sabots from Cabelas with 100 grains of American Pioneer powder. Seems to be real accurate and hard hitting. With this powder you don't need lube and cleanup is easy.

I like MY version of a front stuffer smoke pole better... Dad-burn young whipper snappers anyway...

Bushy, the Encore is a muzzle loader. Also I spent about 20+ years doing Civil War reenactments. There is absolutely no telling how many blank (and live) cartridges have passed through my repro P1853 Enfield. I did carry it hunting some but never had a shot with it. However, if I'm hunting these days I'll stick with the scoped Encore. At least I can see the sights on it!

Gettin' old are ya?

Bushy, I just spent over $600 on glasses LENSES! I used my old frames. One pair for everyday and another for shooting and hunting. Without them I can't read 0.5" printing 6' away! Insurance sucks by the way!

Yeah...So far all I need is store bought 2.5 to 3.0 magnifacation. Still can't see my sights as well as I used to. Had to put a white dot on my Kimber front sight so I could see it in an emergency...

A few weeks ago a friend let me shoot his Glock with the XS Sights "Big Dot Express" sights and I really liked it! I can see those going on some of my defensive handguns. Another thing I'd like to try is the fiber optic front sights, again with an "express" style rear sight.

www.xssights.com/store/handgun.html

Have you looked at the installation of laser grips by Crimson Trace? I have those on my new Kimber Ultra Crimson Carry II. Talk about fast aquisition of the target without having to use glasses. Takes some "gettin' used to" , but they do work. When my eyes were 20/20 I had no use for the laser, but now I "see" them going on all my carry handguns...

That is another good solution. Another friend has the Crimson Trace grips on a S&W snubby and I liked that too. I think I have a bit of prejudice against something with batteries in it though.

If all you had was the laser I would agree with you, but you still have the handgun's installed or fixed sights to fall back on...Crimson Trace are saying the batteries (2) are good for 4 continuous use. They recommend that you change them out once a year...

Getting way of the front stuffer thread but since youstarted it Bushy, What distance did you zero the Crimson trace at? I would imagine it is not real critical for short range defensive work but I am curious where they say to sight in at.

Crimson trace says 15 to 25 feet. I set mine at 25 feet. I was using it a 25 yards during breakin...This kimber will put ten rounds inside a 2 1/2" dot at 25 yards. A 3" red dot will cover the holes. An impressive combination for SD. By the way. I have shined the beam across the valley from my deck and it will reach and can be seen at 100 yards (after dark of course).

Yer right...We should have Mr Dallan move this to the other thread...

I have a custom Ruger Bisley with the XS Express front sight and really like it.

I know that Pyrodex won't light as easily as black powder so when I first tried Hodgdon 777 I tried some blank loads. It lit off fine. Years back a reenactor was having trouble with his blanks not going off at all. I checked his powder and asked him "What the h#*& is that stuff?" It was Pyrodex. It would only ignite if it was sufficiently compressed.