Powder choice

[Red leaf 67]

 I have always used real black powder( been shooting ml 20 + years) . I'm shooting percussion guns. Any thoughts on replica blackpowders like 777 or pyrodex or others. I know the modern powders burn cleaner with less residue, I have heard the 777 may give slightly higher muzzle velocity.... any thoughts?  That's why I Like the forum      When I was active in a club I bought a lot of powder(a lot) when I could get it for $5.50 a pound. Those were the days my friend! I'm running out of powder.

[MountainDevil54]

Stick with real black powder, theres no comparison between it and the sub powders.

If you want a hotter powder like t7 or even swiss, Olde Eynsford is the way to go and its cheaper than swiss or even triple 7.

[jrebel]

Pyrodex Select has always worked real well for me.  Never used real black powder so I have no comparison.   

[Sabotloader]

I have always used real black powder( been shooting ml 20 + years) . I'm shooting percussion guns. Any thoughts on replica blackpowders like 777 or pyrodex or others. I know the modern powders burn cleaner with less residue, I have heard the 777 may give slightly higher muzzle velocity.... any thoughts?  That's why I Like the forum      When I was active in a club I bought a lot of powder(a lot) when I could get it for $5.50 a pound. Those were the days my friend! I'm running out of powder.

I shoot T7-3f in all of my percussion rifles.  The velocity of equal volume loads T7 is much great than the real BP's other than Swiss.

I just shot these loads through a chrono awhile back.  I do not have the comparison with real BP but from what I have read from other forum members is the 60 grain T7 load is close to a 90/100 grain load of BP or the pyros.



Finding powder today for $5.50 is probably not going to happen, actually finding real BP locally is even getting more difficult.

Good luck in your search..

[MountainDevil54]

You could make it and get it down to around $6 a lb but its a big learning curve lol

[oneshot12]

 :yeah:have always used BP myslef all these years  but I am beginning to be impressed but the velocities  that Sabotloader has  posted with regards to the amount of powder he is using and his velocities achieved  .I know that with about 80 grns of 3 f most times you get around 1490 to 1500 v  but if hes getting that kind of consistent 1700 plus , well its well worth looking in to and seeing what it might do to improver anyones  round ball shooting all together , but that's just my  worth .  like I said nothing wrong with BP works pretty good , but the new stuff on the market might just be getting a little bit better as time goes on . triple 7 seems to be the way to go if it works out for you

[MountainDevil54]

its bulkier and takes a hotter flame to set off. Introduce foul weather to it and its a dud due to it needing around 800* to light up VS blackpowder at around 450* and im being generous with the black powder number.

olde eynsford is the newest black powder on the market as of last year. In my 58cal hawken i am using 110 grains 1 1/2fg and with the .570" round ball and .018" patch muzzle velocity is right at 1620 fps. Which is fast for a big bore like that using chunkier powder.

Most of the time even real stuff costs less than triple 7 which has a shelf life and melts when it comes into contact with water. Black powder you can set it off to dry and then crush it up and screen it, shoot it again.

[Sabotloader]

oneshot12

Jon is correct about the fact that T7 takes more heat to ignite.  That is why I am using 3F in my percussion guns.  The granules are so fine they ignite with less heat and burn cleaner.  Hunting, especially in sub freezing weather I use RWS 1075+ or CCI #11 Mag caps. Also loading 3f it is very easy to tap the powder out under the nipple - that stuff is so small it will move very easily.

Shelf life, I have heard this one also but if the powder is stored correctly with the lid tight I have never seen a problem.  I am still shooting my supply of T7 powder, both 2f and 3f that I bought in 2008.  The chrono test the other day was with 2008 T7-3f purchased from Wal-Mart on a Christmas close out for $10 a bottle.

Water does play havoc with T7 - guess that is why the old timers are always suggesting 'keep your powder dry'  Also I have had a powder load in a rifle for very long extended periods of time and once again no problem with ignition - If ya keep the powder dry.  A long time ago I could probably find it on one site or another, I conducted and posted an experiment.. I loaded a Remington Model 700 ML - left it outside on the deck for days in the rain, snow, and even decent but cold days.  Capped and shot it without a loss of accuracy or velocity.

While T7 may not be the best powder for some - it is a good powder.  But... I just bought 7 bottles of it as I do most every year and this year it did cost me more than I have ever paid for it before - $23 for the last several years I have been getting it from Black Sheep and White Elephant for $20 a pound.

[oneshot12]

Sabotloader
oh i agree it will take the hotter caps no doubt .some of the boys didn't seem to have to much trouble this past hunting season using the t -7 in 2 f and # 11 mag caps  . Its  like i said  right now  i am using BP 3 f and like the velocities you have been getting using the T-7   shows some  real promise.
 yea I have also heard its a bit more spend y and has a few draw backs .  so dose BP if your using it also in bad weather .  Haven't shot a lot of the T-7  but sounds like it could be the next best thing. just wounder how bad it is to clean up after?   I  know it don't take to long to clean the rifle after a days shooting BP  and dont have to swab in between shots.    just wounder what the T-7  is like on the range and clean up afterwards ?? again its the person shooting that makes the final decision on what they wish to shoot in there gun   . Best to take in as much good information one can get and then try to make the best guess to which is going to work best for them and use it .Right

[Red leaf 67]

Thank you Gentlemen, very, very good info. Exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for( field tested & even chronagraphed by you!!!!) Thanks again. Hey mountaindevil.. the rifles you work over look & shoot great, oneshot 12..hope you do well on your spring turkey hunt, sabotloader.. thanks for posting the chrono info/charts, & jrebel.. nice looking gundog ( I have a 1/2 brittany,1/2 english setter)        Regards,  Red leaf   

[Sabotloader]

Sabotloader
oh i agree it will take the hotter caps no doubt .some of the boys didn't seem to have to much trouble this past hunting season using the t -7 in 2 f and # 11 mag caps.

I really believe that 2f will work just fine also, but in sub-zero weather that we get into sometimes I have great faith in 3f.  The biggest reason is that it has such fine granulations it is really easy to tap and move it under the nipple in a side hammer.  In a inline with the correct style of BP the powder drops right on to the face of the nipple - really makes for good ignition.

Its  like i said  right now  i am using BP 3 f and like the velocities you have been getting using the T-7   shows some  real promise.

That truly is the real reason that I rely on T7 - I have always preferred velocity when I can get it.  Even though I know slow moving heavy freight train style lead bullets can and do significant damage also.

yea I have also heard its a bit more spend y and has a few draw backs .  so dose BP if your using it also in bad weather .  Haven't shot a lot of the T-7  but sounds like it could be the next best thing. just wounder how bad it is to clean up after?

For myself cleanup is a breeze now days.  I run two wet Windex (original blue windex) - run each patch several strokes both sides - then 2-3 dry patches.  Then repeat the process with 2 patches of BCasey 2-in-1 Bore Cleaner followed with a couple of dry patches - that is it basically you are done with the bore.

   I  know it don't take to long to clean the rifle after a days shooting BP  and dont have to swab in between shots.

Shooting T7-3f with caps really does not require patching after each shot or actually several shots.

  just wounder what the T-7  is like on the range and clean up afterwards ?? again its the person shooting that makes the final decision on what they wish to shoot in there gun   .

It truly is!

Best to take in as much good information one can get and then try to make the best guess to which is going to work best for them and use it .Right

correctomundo!