I've tried substitutes in my caplock rifles and 1858 Remingtons, both Pyrodex and Triple 7 and I believed all the rumors and hear say about real black powder being messy, hard to find, needs special cleanup, etc. In my experience, none of that turned out to be true. Traditional black such as Goex has a lower ignition point than all subs rendering the need for magnum caps, musket caps and even 409 shotgun primers mute. Always a softer recoil when using black compared to equivalent amount of substitutes; a push versus a sharp rap. I find black powder easier to measure into one grain levels like 23 grains in my Remingtons, their favorite load. I don't know why that is either. Cleanup; I find that cleanup after or while shooting Goex very easy to do, as is T-7. Pyrodex however, needs more effort and tended to hold more liquid cleaner, oil or water and stick to the metal than just wipe away, leading to misfires and jamming. Yes,I found Pyrodex to be more corrosive over time than Goex.
Last, that real black is hard to find and Goex is everywhere. Traditional black powder is considered by the Feds to be an explosive although it is a low power explosive. Due to that it must be kept locked away in a fireproof container. It also cannot be advertised, so there may only be one employee at the gun sales counter, the manger, that even knows that the store even sells it. I've had sales associates point at the smokeless powder after asking for black powder, to saying "We don't got nuthin' like that!" even after I say that I've bought it there before. Only the manger has a key and you must present an ID and state what you'll be using it for. Just say Muzzleloading and don't get cute or you will wind up on a government list that you cannot see or have a means of getting off of or challenge. It just is, so take my word for it. Anyway, the prices you'll find in stores for any brand of traditional black powder, if they have any, will floor you. It's outrageous, I know, so here's how to buy at better prices. Find a place like Powder Inc. or another black powder dealer and order at least five pounds as the Hazmat fee is the same for shipping one pound or twenty five pounds of powder.