Black Powder

[bobcat]

Any opinions on the best black powder? I need to get out and do some shooting in preparation for my Toutle elk hunt, and my newest muzzleloader that I've only had for a couple years, has only burned "Black Mag." That being a very difficult, if not impossible powder to find locally, and with mail order being way too expensive after  adding in the hazardous materials charge, I want to go with something different. I'm mostly considering either Triple 7 or Pyrodex, either FF or FFF versions. Which one of those is more reliable in a humid environment? I don't really care which one burns cleaner, or gets more velocity, I want to use the one that will be the most reliable while hunting in the rain.

[bobcat]

No opinions huh? OK, I guess I'll just stop at Sportsman's Warehouse tomorrow and pick up some Triple 7 and give that a try.

[280ackley]

I have used Triple 7 and it seems to shoot better then Prodex in my gun (Knight MK85).  Good luck on the Toutle tag.  Did you get a bull tag or cow tag?

[bobcat]

Mine's a T/C Black Diamond XR with the 26 inch barrel, if that makes a difference. I guess the Triple 7 is cleaner than the Pyrodex so it at least has that going for it. Do you use the FF or FFF?

I have a cow tag. Hopefully will have lots of opportunities. I may need it, 100 yards is my absolute maximum shot I feel comfortable with.

[jackelope]

shank?? i know you been messing around with loads...

[280ackley]

I used the FFg.  Your tag should be a lot of fun, I drew the Margaret cow tag back in 05.  It was a blast.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

Bobcat, i use pyrodex pellets. Brother made his shot last year at 100 yards. We use 110 grains with the knight 310 saboted bullet. That load has attributed to 6 bulls (for our party) in 4 years. No lost animals. Closest shot was mine at about 75 yards. All took one shot except for our first ML bull it took 4. All good shots, wiley little 3 point...

[bobcat]

Pellets huh? I never really considered them. What about keeping the rain out? I know you hunt late season a lot, do you tape the end of the barrel? What about the nipple?

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

We use the musket caps... I also use balloons over the end of the barrel. I have never not had one go off... And we hunt the wettest nasties reprod you could immagine.

[Ray]

use balloons over the end of the barrel.

Good tip. I've been using the fingertips on the surgical gloves. I think a balloon would be much better.

[Shank]

I've been messing around for some time now and the best load I've got so far is 100 grains of triples seven in double f , behind a 410gr hornady great plains bullet, being capped off by a musket cap.  I'm using a Winchester x150 (cva) rifle.  I've not yet had the chance at taking an elk with the smoke pole, but have gotten a few deer.  I've used pyrodex in the past, which worked great, then switched to triple seven about 2 years ago and love it.  As far as weather goes I've hunted lots of different places in this state in all forms of weather, and my rifle(s) have always gone off regardless of powder. Good luck on the tag

[actionshooter]

I stick with the old Goex FFg and I converted my Knight to musket caps also. Works for me.

[280ackley]

I just put a piece of electrical tape over the end of the barrel.  Never had it not go off.

[Ray]

I just put a piece of electrical tape over the end of the barrel.  Never had it not go off.

I think that would be great for some situations. I was out this past weekend and would be hard to convince it would have done the job (staying on in the rain).

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

Balloon over muzzle, 88 tape over the cap, depends on how hard it is raining.... I use 110 grains of pyrodex pellets, with the 310 grain bullet.