150gr Powder Max Load Question

[reelamin]

Great, thanks for the info.  What were your charge weight increases and their velocities?  My bud shooting an optima had the same results as me in regards to velocity/pressure increase but his rifle averages 80fps slower with exact same loads. 

Thus you gets lots of unburnt powder.

That's what I've found; once you hit a certain point adding more powder only makes more smoke and flame and actually slows down the bullet as the mass of unburnt powder adds to the weight on the bullet.  I don't know what is happening with pressures but my SWAG is pressures are limited as well to well below safe levels with modern muzzle loaders.

Good thought, I have heard the same thing and agree in theory but disagree in experience.  My experience over the years....(very limited with muzzle loader) is I have never found that point where I don't continue to gain velocity and pressure before I run out of case capacity or parts start coming apart regardless of the powder choice (center fire).   I have experienced the same with muzzle loader even if it is not burning all the powder.   The average velocity gain per 10gr powder increase is less and less but where is it? 

You have reached that point so what was your data just before and after that point?  Super interested in knowing where that is.   I dont want to load any more powder to find out where that is with a muzzle loader.  I have loaded well past "maximum loads" and continued to gain velocity.  Sure it is less efficient not as accurate...but it is still gaining velocity.

This may be one answer that is hidden in the vaults of who knows where and why.   Enjoyable discussion as usual.

In my rifle using triple seven, 300gr bullets and musket caps - that point is between 110 - 120 gains (vol) depending on temperature.  I back off to 100g with no noticeable loss in vel.  That's my load:  100g 777, 300gr  .429 bullet, green sabot.  Maybe there is something better and faster but I haven't found it.

[The Gobble-stopper]

Also the fact that the powder burns at a much slower rate than smoke!ess, allows the bullet to begin moving forward. Thus increasing the space needed to decrease pressure as the powder burns. Using most of the barrel to burn the powder,wherein the smokeless powder is more of less instantanious. Centered closer to the bolt, huge expansion of pressure in a tighter space.

[reelamin]

Also the fact that the powder burns at a much slower rate than smoke!ess, allows the bullet to begin moving forward. Thus increasing the space needed to decrease pressure as the powder burns. Using most of the barrel to burn the powder,wherein the smokeless powder is more of less instantanious. Centered closer to the bolt, huge expansion of pressure in a tighter space.

Not to be argumentative, only to get this corrected so bad information does not continue and someone gets hurt.   Unfortunately you have it 100% backwards on powder burn rates.  Smokeless powder burns and black powder and substitutes explode.