Black Powder .50 cal rifle feels like 0 recoil, am I crazy?

[cowboycraig]

So used to shooting my 308 for hunting. Got a .50 cal Night Bighorn recently and finally made it to the range.

With 2 black powder pellets and like a 245 grain bullet feels like only a slight "push" shooting.

Also really interesting minding to hold the rifle on target longer and the shooting process is slower, "click, pop, swoooosh". lol

Craig
 

[carpsniperg2]

Slow burning powder will give more of push then a quick shock like with a rifle powder. Also bullet weight and powder charge will make a good difference.

So no not crazy

[Sabotloader]

So used to shooting my 308 for hunting. Got a .50 cal Night Bighorn recently and finally made it to the range.

With 2 black powder pellets and like a 245 grain bullet feels like only a slight "push" shooting.

Also really interesting minding to hold the rifle on target longer and the shooting process is slower, "click, pop, swoooosh". lol

Craig

From your description - I think you might be having a problem...  You really should not be able to distinguish all of those sounds - especially the 'swoosh' part.  It really should sound and feel much like your 308...  I am thinking you might have some bad pellets.  It doesn't take much for them to absorb moisture.  If you can make the switch to loose powder you would be far ahead of the game.

 

[Griiz]

Black powder kick is slower velocity so it feels less violent compared to a high velocity rifle.

[Duckslayer89]

My 50 feels like a light 12 gauge with a 3.5 inch turkey load. I'm not recoil sensitive but last time I dialed in holy smokies I was hurting bad after 12 shots.
100 grains GOEX 3F
290 Grain Barnes T-EZ

[Westside88]

The delay and swoosh you describe sounds like it felt to shoot my dads bighorn with pellets. When we went to try my disc extreme wit 777 loose he switched to my combo because "it was just like shooting a center fire rifle "

[Jonathan_S]

What "pellets"?

Also, might want to add a "D" to your thread title.

[Jonathan_S]

So used to shooting my 308 for hunting. Got a .50 cal Night Bighorn recently and finally made it to the range.

With 2 black powder pellets and like a 245 grain bullet feels like only a slight "push" shooting.

Also really interesting minding to hold the rifle on target longer and the shooting process is slower, "click, pop, swoooosh". lol

Craig

From your description - I think you might be having a problem...  You really should not be able to distinguish all of those sounds - especially the 'swoosh' part.  It really should sound and feel much like your 308...  I am thinking you might have some bad pellets.  It doesn't take much for them to absorb moisture.  If you can make the switch to loose powder you would be far ahead of the game.

and  a perfectly functioning muzzleloading setup will sound like, "Ka-Boom!" not "Click-Pop-Swoosh"

[cowboycraig]

What "pellets"?

Also, might want to add a "D" to your thread title.

These Pellets



https://www.hodgdon.com/tripleseven.html

[cowboycraig]

Sounds like pellets don't get a lot of love from the Blackpowder enthusiasts. Started with those to make it a little easier while getting the hang of things.

Sounds like I will stop on the way home and get some Hodgdon Triple 7 Blackpowder that isn't in pellet form and see how shooting compares. Will be shooting this weekend, and will report back.

Thanks for the help/tips. Now I must ponder FFG or FFFG!

Also are pellets really "that bad" 100% of the time, or just volatile and easy to go bad?

Thanks!
Craig

[Sabotloader]

Sounds like pellets don't get a lot of love from the Blackpowder enthusiasts. Started with those to make it a little easier while getting the hang of things.

There are a lot of pellets used by a small group of people that normally work very well for them and actually they could work for you also.  Another thought you should know. T7 pellets are harder to ignite and normally need a 209 primer to get them to ignite correctly.  On the other hand Pyrodex pellets if the are loaded in the correct orientation can be ignited by caps.  Still I would not use them or trust them.

Sounds like I will stop on the way home and get some Hodgdon Triple 7 Blackpowder that isn't in pellet form and see how shooting compares. Will be shooting this weekend, and will report back.

Thanks for the help/tips. Now I must ponder FFG or FFFG! 

When using cap igition I really prefer T7-3f powder it ignites easier and burns cleaner.  I shoot 110 grs. with a 300 grain bullet for elk.

Also are pellets really "that bad" 100% of the time, or just volatile and easy to go bad?

Thanks!
Craig

No, they are not all that bad... they are just not the most trustworthy over a period of time.  The biggest problem is that you probably made a questionable decision choosing T7 pellets.

It is pretty much explains why you heard the sounds that you heard... get some good powder or pellets and try again - bet it goes much better.... I do encourage you to try loose powder with a volume measure....

mike

[cowboycraig]

Sounds like pellets don't get a lot of love from the Blackpowder enthusiasts. Started with those to make it a little easier while getting the hang of things.

There are a lot of pellets used by a small group of people that normally work very well for them and actually they could work for you also.  Another thought you should know. T7 pellets are harder to ignite and normally need a 209 primer to get them to ignite correctly.  On the other hand Pyrodex pellets if the are loaded in the correct orientation can be ignited by caps.  Still I would not use them or trust them.

Sounds like I will stop on the way home and get some Hodgdon Triple 7 Blackpowder that isn't in pellet form and see how shooting compares. Will be shooting this weekend, and will report back.

Thanks for the help/tips. Now I must ponder FFG or FFFG! 

When using cap igition I really prefer T7-3f powder it ignites easier and burns cleaner.  I shoot 110 grs. with a 300 grain bullet for elk.

Also are pellets really "that bad" 100% of the time, or just volatile and easy to go bad?

Thanks!
Craig

No, they are not all that bad... they are just not the most trustworthy over a period of time.  The biggest problem is that you probably made a questionable decision choosing T7 pellets.

It is pretty much explains why you heard the sounds that you heard... get some good powder or pellets and try again - bet it goes much better.... I do encourage you to try loose powder with a volume measure....

mike

Got T7FFF powder and measuring device etc on way home! Looking forward to weekend.

Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk

[Westside88]

I think you're going to like that combo. Shooting mine last summer was some of he most fun I've had shooting in quite a while. Have fun

[bear hunter]

Sounds like pellets don't get a lot of love from the Blackpowder enthusiasts. Started with those to make it a little easier while getting the hang of things.

Sounds like I will stop on the way home and get some Hodgdon Triple 7 Blackpowder that isn't in pellet form and see how shooting compares. Will be shooting this weekend, and will report back.

Thanks for the help/tips. Now I must ponder FFG or FFFG!

Also are pellets really "that bad" 100% of the time, or just volatile and easy to go bad?

Thanks!
Craig

No there not bad some smoke shooters like them and some don't. You just have to test them out your self and deside for your self what you like. I love the pellets Pyrodex 50/50 in my Bighorn and yes I have shot both loose and pellets. I just find my rifle likes the Pyrodex more. I shoot the 250 shockwaves with 150gr's of Pyrodex pellets. Works great in my rifles.

[Duckslayer89]

Sounds like pellets don't get a lot of love from the Blackpowder enthusiasts. Started with those to make it a little easier while getting the hang of things.

There are a lot of pellets used by a small group of people that normally work very well for them and actually they could work for you also.  Another thought you should know. T7 pellets are harder to ignite and normally need a 209 primer to get them to ignite correctly.  On the other hand Pyrodex pellets if the are loaded in the correct orientation can be ignited by caps.  Still I would not use them or trust them.

Sounds like I will stop on the way home and get some Hodgdon Triple 7 Blackpowder that isn't in pellet form and see how shooting compares. Will be shooting this weekend, and will report back.

Thanks for the help/tips. Now I must ponder FFG or FFFG! 

When using cap igition I really prefer T7-3f powder it ignites easier and burns cleaner.  I shoot 110 grs. with a 300 grain bullet for elk.

Also are pellets really "that bad" 100% of the time, or just volatile and easy to go bad?

Thanks!
Craig

No, they are not all that bad... they are just not the most trustworthy over a period of time.  The biggest problem is that you probably made a questionable decision choosing T7 pellets.

It is pretty much explains why you heard the sounds that you heard... get some good powder or pellets and try again - bet it goes much better.... I do encourage you to try loose powder with a volume measure....

mike

Got T7FFF powder and measuring device etc on way home! Looking forward to weekend.

Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk

Cowboy I bought some of these Blackhorn 209 powder tubes online and they are sweet for carrying your pre weighed powder charges. Just measure however much powder you want for your charge and pour it into the little tubes. I bought 12 of them for going up to the range and stuff

[Duckslayer89]

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Blackhorn-Powder-Charge-Tubes-Per/1096214.uts

There is the link to them. It doesn't have to be Blackhorn 209 powder in them they just make them obviously!

[cowboycraig]

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Blackhorn-Powder-Charge-Tubes-Per/1096214.uts

There is the link to them. It doesn't have to be Blackhorn 209 powder in them they just make them obviously!

Those are GREAT, must get some!

Will have to do some blackpowder shooting sometime, maybe at Issaquah Sportsmans club.

[Duckslayer89]

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Blackhorn-Powder-Charge-Tubes-Per/1096214.uts

There is the link to them. It doesn't have to be Blackhorn 209 powder in them they just make them obviously!

Those are GREAT, must get some!

Will have to do some blackpowder shooting sometime, maybe at Issaquah Sportsmans club.

Are you a member up there? Have you ever been to Tacoma Sportsmans club? I have a membership there it's pretty cool. Not as nice as Paul Bunyan. But it's close only like 20 minutes from Orting on backroads to Tacoma Sportsmans club

BTW I was up in Hancock today mountain biking and saw 36 elk with no antlers. I did a lot of searching but didn't find any sheds. Hopefully tomorrow. Saw a herd of 22 up high, that's the biggest herd I've seen up there it was cool. All in a single file line.

[Chukarhead]

Also, might want to add a "D" to your thread title.

Aaaand there's coffee on my keyboard.   

[Chukarhead]

It sounds like you already have this all figured out, but just to echo others above, with a full-house elk load (>100gr powder, >240gr bullet), it shouldn't feel like a gentle push.  Ka-BOOM is what it sounds like from a distance, but I just hear a loud crack when I'm shooting.  You should feel like the recipient of the bullet is going to get hurt.

As an aside, a cheap 240gr bullet with a single pellet lit up by a musket cap is a great plinking/practice load.  It's really nice not to have to measure and pour powder when you're just sending some lead downrange.  Less charge also means easier swabbing between shots.