Black powder VS black powder substitute?

[Curly]

My vote is for loose 777

[sisu]

Black powder is for traditional patched ball shooters because that’s the way it should be, 777 for inline shooting because it is the best and cleanest option.

This may have solved my problem...thanks.

[robodad]

Best advice I can give is to stick with one powder and one charge of 100gr and change the bullet until you get good results and at least eliminate one variable at a time, There are just too many combinations of powder types and volumes and bullet shapes and sizes that one could go on and on for several days and get completely frustrated and give up.

By sticking with a powder and charge you can determine what bullet your gun likes best then work on tweeking the charge to get great results !!!

Poineer powder has been known to absorb moisture much more quiclky then other substitutes from what I have read. I don't think I will try it on the west side !!!

I'd still like to hear what works best for you though !!!

[colockumelk]

whacker 110 grains might be too much powder.  My first inline I had to back all the way down to 90 grains because anything above that my bullets were tumbling and my accuracy sucked.  What type of ML do you have?

I have a .50cal T/C Black Diamond and I shoot 100grains of Pyrodex Pellets and shoot a .44cal Precision Q/T ballistic tip.  I have 1-2 inch groups at 100yds and 4-5 inch groups at 150yds.

My dad has a .50cal Knight Bighorn and shoots 100grains of Pyrodex Pellets and shoots a 295 grain PowerBelt and also has 1-2 inch groups at 100yds. 

  So again try backing down ten grains and that might help out a bit.  The bigger bullets from what I've read and seen tend to tumble at the higher velocities and with the bigger powder charges.  The 150 grain powder charges were designed to shoot 180-250grain long jacketed bullets.  Not 300grains of fat lead.  I hope this helps out.

[whacker1]

Remington Model 700 ML in .54.  I had tried backing down to 90 grains and the situation didn't improve.  Thanks for the hlep, but I think this will be a summer full of trial and error.

Neil

[colockumelk]

Well in that case how old is your ML.  Did you buy it from someone else that might not have taken care of it?  The reason I ask is that if it's old or sat uncleaned for too long the rifling can become either worn down if it's old (in this case you can't really do much about it) or what happened to my first inline is I left it uncleaned for way too long.  When this happens rust and other junk can permanently seal up your rifling basically giving you a smooth bore.  If this might be the case then let it sit in some anti-rust chemicals for awhile punch the barrell using a stiff wire brush a bunch and then let it sit in some of that anti-blackpowder stuff for awhile and then punch it again with the wire brush and then run boiling water down your barrell and punch it agian with the wire brush alot.  Like use a whole pot. 

You'll know it's useless if after doing all this and youve gone through a whole pot of water and each time there's still a bunch of crud coming out each time (like me I went through two or three pots) and you shoot it and it's still not accurate then I'd sell that sucker to some other person.  That's about all I can think of.

[whacker1]

I'll start with the scope and bench rest and see what the accuracy and rule me out as the shooter.  Then I will try the same bullets with some different powder variations.  Then play with bullet options.

I bought it from a respectable small gun shop used.  The guy they bought it from was one of their regular customers, and had used it for a few seasons, and switched when the Remington came out with the 26 inch barrel version of the .50 cal. 

[colockumelk]

I like that idea of using a scope and a rest.  That is a really good idea.  As for the prior owner etc I wasn't trying to imply negligence on anyone I was just giving out advice on what I've done wrong and why my first inline had horrible groups.  Good luck and let us know how it works out for you. 

[whacker1]

I understand on the used muzzleloader comments.

[muzzleman]

I use 777 loose grain.  I made the switch from pyrodex,  and my BD never skipped a beat.  I love how it cleans up.

[rasbo]

I use 777 loose grain.  I made the switch from pyrodex,  and my BD never skipped a beat.  I love how it cleans up.

Im going to make the switch to 777 also loose for my bd