BP Observations

[Sagedawg]

 HawkenBob, I really like the Dead Centers, very accurate out of my Bighorn. The PB's were all over the place, but I have a buddy that uses them with good results. Dont know where your located but the Sportsmans Whse, have their name on some of the Dead Center, and are the same just not as spendy. I have some at home, Ill look and send you the name and load Im using. Might give you a starting point.


  Sage

[Intruder]

I was checking out some forums on BP stuff and there was quite abit out there on 777, Goex Pinnacle, and American Pioneer.  Here as summary of what I was able to gather(for what it is worth):
1. Shockey's powder and the Goex Pinnacle are essentially the same thing. American Pioneer supposedly makes both. 
2. Both of those powders are cleaner than anything out there but not quite as hot.
3. The standard American Pioneer has very mixed reviews (more than you'd expect).  Some luv some hate.... virtually no in between.   
4.  Shockey and Goex Pinnacle are generally well liked although the grain size makes volume measuring harder w/ them.  FFFg is more like FFg in other things.  I believe this is true for all Am Pio stuff.
5.  All of the American Pioneer stuff seems to be a little overhyped.  The technology employeed has been around for awhile and marketed under different names over the years.  Overall it appears to be good stuff but not quite what is advertised (big shock there  ).   
6. T7 has by far the widest following.  Though not quite as clean as the others mentioned the concensus is that it is the most consistant and definitely hottest.     

[HawkenBob]

Im gonna shoot T7 and American Friday morn. T7 being hotter, would certainly explain the sharp crack as compared to the Ba-boom of my TC. I only shot the T7 once and so Ill start to compare accuracy this friday.

Sage, as far as storage, Ive never had an issue. I went thru 3 cans this year so far. And now have a can of T7. I probably go thru it more than most, but I shoot my TC all year long.

Ill also review the cleaning of the rifle. I know American is a breeze to clean. Im very impressed after a year of use. as far as the crud ring, its more attributed to the T7. The American seems very clean. (burns slower?) I know Pyrodex also is very good at no crud ring. It seems the hotter the primer, the less crud ring. And these are HOT 209's. Washington law requires less, so crud rings from T7 are very likely Id suspect with 11's and musket caps.

[CP]

Yep, no 209 = a crude ring with T7 but it is still better than Pyrodex.  Hodgdons doesn’t recommend using T7 without 209 primers but then we don’t have much choice. 

I was shooting up the last of my pyrodex last week, I had forgotten how dirty and stinky it is.  Also had a couple hang-fires.  I don’t remember ever having a hang-fire with T7. 

I’ve never tried American, I’ll have to give it try.

[HawkenBob]

FYI, American is also almost a white in color. Actually light grey. So it dosent have that black dusty mess. Its very clean even to handle.

[Intruder]

Im gonna shoot T7 and American Friday morn. T7 being hotter, would certainly explain the sharp crack as compared to the Ba-boom of my TC. I only shot the T7 once and so Ill start to compare accuracy this friday.
Ill also review the cleaning of the rifle. I know American is a breeze to clean. Im very impressed after a year of use. as far as the crud ring, its more attributed to the T7.

Cool.  I'll be really interested to hear your experience.

What's a crud ring?

[Sagedawg]

Unburnt powder . It collects down at the breechplug area, and a real PITA to get clean. Not supposed to happen with 209, but I havent been able to confirm that.



  Sage

[Intruder]

Unburnt powder . It collects down at the breechplug area, and a real PITA to get clean. Not supposed to happen with 209, but I havent been able to confirm that.
  Sage

On guns w/ interchangeable nipples couldn't just change out to a 209 nipple and fire a couple through it.  Still kinda a PITA though I guess.

[HawkenBob]

Actually it even happens with 209's. Guys are using the hotter 209's and its cutting it down more.

[Sagedawg]

Didnt someone bring out a 209 primer just for the T7? I think I saw something about that a year or so ago.



  Sage

[CP]

The crude ring is easy to remove with a damp patch if you don’t let it get grow too big.

I find that I need to clean my inline after two shots or it will affect the accuracy.  I can shoot my sidelock with round balls all day without cleaning because the patch on the new round knocks off the fouling from the last round. 

[Intruder]

HBob.... did you get out and shoot last Fri?

[HawkenBob]

I did, but I have to be honest, the urge to hit the mountains for the last weekend of Deer hit me harder. So instead of shooting at the range I went hunting Friday morn. Then drove a few miles out of the area and proceeded to shoot. I had limited number of shots though because I was not going to be able to clean the gun for the evening bite. I didn’t want to gum it up too bad.
 
So from limited shots I do have this to say so far. T7 is a way faster shooting powder! My Hawken sounded like a rifle. The first shot actually startled me it was so quick. I only shot 3 shots of T7 and two of the American. From what I saw, accuracy was about even. But nothing really to compare.
I also will add that I did change my rear sight again last week before hunting/shooting so Im about 4” high and rt @100 yards. And still need to dial it in before I can really produce a apples to apples comparison.

On another note one thing I do notice is the power belts seem to stray once in a while. Again, I need more time to tell for sure but Im pretty darn confident it aint me. I’ve heard others say this as well.

Im gonna get her dialed, then shoot some PB’s too. But right now a saboted 260 grainer has been the most accurate…so I guess, stay tuned for more. I want to get out to the range Friday morn. With hunting over for me, Ill definitely be shooting now on Fridays until I get something really good worked up. Unless the rivers are in steelhead shape.
Anybody else shoot Gig harbor Sportsman club?

[deaddog]

Get rid of the "Black powder" and use 777 od American. I use american and absolutely love it. Its waterproof too.

I shoot my loader about 200 to 400 times a year. I just replaced the sites for th 3rd time. Just cant find one Im happy with for those 100 yrd shots.

Mines a traditional so not as many options. I like the Williams but also have to have a rear with a click adjust. The set screw *censored* is for the birds IMO.

I just put on a T/C fiber optic set up. I had a tru glo and like I said, the set screws were *censored*ty to deal with. Also the back was too brite IMO. The TC has a wrap around so its allot dimmer. More like a soft green glo. Way better. It dosent eat up the front post with its briteness.

Finally, Bullet/powder load size is something you just have to go thru to figure out what works best for you. If the PB"s arnt cutting it try lessning the charge, or increasing it.

Havent used a peep but it may be my next option.

Pain, yes, Ive had the gun for about 15 years now and seem never totally satisfied. But love it still and the challenge.

Hey HawkenBob  could you explain how the american is water proof? I have never used it, always been a triple-7 guy. A waterproof powder would be too cool. thanks

[bobcat]

Hey HawkenBob  could you explain how the american is water proof? I have never used it, always been a triple-7 guy. A waterproof powder would be too cool. thanks

I'm not sure waterproof would be the correct term. American Pioneer does claim it cleans up easily with nothing but water, maybe that's what HawkenBob meant to say. I have never tried AP and don't plan to because of the many bad reviews I've read. Here is one for you all to read:

http://www.chuckhawks.com/american_pioneer_powder.htm