Pellets vs Powder HELP!!!!!!!!

[Alaskan]

Hey guys,
Trying to decide between pellets and powder. I have heard pellets are easier to manage but powder is much more accurate. I am looking at buying some BH209 to get zero'd in, but had a friend that uses pellets and said go with that. Thoughts?

[teanawayslayer]

I used the pellets for years. I liked them because of the convenience.  I switched to loose powder last year and am glad I did.  The pellets foul out your bore much quicker.  The pellets are also designed for the 209 system.  I use 100 grains of 777 3f.  Wish I would have switched a long time ago.

[trophyhunt]

I shoot a t/c xr 50 cal, I've used 100gr of pellets for the past 5 or so years. I've killed 2 elk and 1 deer without fouling up, it does get dirty but I've never had it clog up. The elk I got last year was on my 4th shot, yup I missed 3 times. but luckily that 3 point was retarded and stayed around. I also was wondering which was better pellets or powder, so far the powder hasn't let me down but I do wonder if the speed would be better with the powder?

[Bigtine96]

Pellets have never let me down and there great for quick reloads

[Sabotloader]

Hey guys,
Trying to decide between pellets and powder. I have heard pellets are easier to manage but powder is much more accurate.

yep you are pretty much right on in your assesment.  If you do choose pellets??? and you are hunting in the PacNorthwest (except Idaho - you have to use loose during ML season) you will need to get Pyrodex pellets so that you can ignite them with a cap.  T7 pellets will ignite most of the time with a cap but not really a reliable ingnition source for T7.

Personally I would suggest you go to loose powder... and speed loaders for hunting.

I am looking at buying some BH209 to get zero'd in, but had a friend that uses pellets and said go with that. Thoughts?

Again if you are in the PAC Northwest you will not be able to use BH, but if you are located somewhere else - then you can go with the scope, 209 ignition, and BH powder.  BH is a great powder, but way to expensive for my shooting habits.  T7 will mimick most everything that BH can do until you get to the heavier bullets, then BH will give you about a velocity boost of about 150' at the muzzle.

 

[CP]

What’s so difficult about managing powder?

Powder is cheaper than pellets
Powder allows for more precise loading
Powder ignites easier

[WonkyWapiti]

I shoot 100 grains of 777 pellets using the German musket caps.  I hunt in Eastern WA in often windy conditions.  For my situation, I like the 777 pellets when using speedloaders in the windy conditions.  They are easy to load for me and I have had great results using them in my Knight Bighorn.  I have never had a problem with 777 pellets but others have.

My buddy shoots a CVA and his rifles does not like 777 pellets at all.  He goes with Pyrodex pellets and has no problems.

[dawhunt]

Go with powder!!! I switched from pellets a few yrs ago and will NOT go back !!!
Bob

[Chesapeake]

My issues with pellets:

Price
They can be damp and you cant tell.
If you crush them in your bore you mess up the channel in the middle and affect ignition rate.
They have an ignitor end that should go in first.
If you drop one loading you've lost maybe half your load.
They dont come in a watertight container.
They dont fit well in some speed loaders, and get ruined bouncing around in some speed loaders.

Powder:
Cheaper.
You can tell if its damp.
Crushing is fine, and somewhat expected.
No worries about what end first.
If you spill a little your still probably close enough to your load to get the job done.
It comes in a watertight container.
It fits in pretty well all speed loaders and doesnt seem to degrade noticable from bouncing around in them.

I gave pellets an honest try years back, but quickly discovered the downsides and went back to powder.

I live and hunt on the wet side.

[Russ McDonald]

I have a CVA Elkhorn Pro.  Went out and shot it this last weekend.  I have 777 pellets and tried it with #11 cap no go 3 times.  Cleard load out took out the #11 cap breach plug and put in the 209 breach plug and bam first time everytime.  Got it on paper and kinda zeroed. 3" high and 50 yards.  I also have 777 3f powder I was going to try but ran out of time because I was shooting other toys too.  Think I am staying with powder while hunting but when I am playing around and target shooting I will go with the 209 and pellets.  Oh yeah I had the same exact question when I got my muzzy in December.

[Sabotloader]

My issues with pellets:

Price
They can be damp and you cant tell.
If you crush them in your bore you mess up the channel in the middle and affect ignition rate.
They have an ignitor end that should go in first.
If you drop one loading you've lost maybe half your load.
They dont come in a watertight container.
They dont fit well in some speed loaders, and get ruined bouncing around in some speed loaders.

Powder:
Cheaper.
You can tell if its damp.
Crushing is fine, and somewhat expected.
No worries about what end first.
If you spill a little your still probably close enough to your load to get the job done.
It comes in a watertight container.
It fits in pretty well all speed loaders and doesnt seem to degrade noticable from bouncing around in them.

I gave pellets an honest try years back, but quickly discovered the downsides and went back to powder.

I live and hunt on the wet side.

Yep! that is pretty much the straight tale...

[Sabotloader]

I have a CVA Elkhorn Pro.  Went out and shot it this last weekend.  I have 777 pellets and tried it with #11 cap no go 3 times.  Cleard load out took out the #11 cap breach plug and put in the 209 breach plug and bam first time everytime.  Got it on paper and kinda zeroed. 3" high and 50 yards.  I also have 777 3f powder I was going to try but ran out of time because I was shooting other toys too.  Think I am staying with powder while hunting but when I am playing around and target shooting I will go with the 209 and pellets.  Oh yeah I had the same exact question when I got my muzzy in December.

Remember that CVA/Traditions have metric system nipples and the channel and flash hole are smaller than the American 1/4x28 nipple.  If you are using #11 Mag caps and you open the flash channel things should boom with the pellets but I would still use T7-3f in a cap gun...

[Russ McDonald]

I have a CVA Elkhorn Pro.  Went out and shot it this last weekend.  I have 777 pellets and tried it with #11 cap no go 3 times.  Cleard load out took out the #11 cap breach plug and put in the 209 breach plug and bam first time everytime.  Got it on paper and kinda zeroed. 3" high and 50 yards.  I also have 777 3f powder I was going to try but ran out of time because I was shooting other toys too.  Think I am staying with powder while hunting but when I am playing around and target shooting I will go with the 209 and pellets.  Oh yeah I had the same exact question when I got my muzzy in December.

Remember that CVA/Traditions have metric system nipples and the channel and flash hole are smaller than the American 1/4x28 nipple.  If you are using #11 Mag caps and you open the flash channel things should boom with the pellets but I would still use T7-3f in a cap gun...

I remeber you saying this on another thread.  I think I will use the powder for hunting.  Plus they have speed loader that work with powder too.  I think people don't realize that.

[Kowsrule30]

I use Pyrodex Pellets and have never had a problem with musket caps....

[Dan-o]

I shoot pyrodex pellets with musket caps.    Have for years.

The elk keep falling over dead.     

I guess if it works like that for me I'm just too lazy for loose powder, but I do agree that if a guy really wanted to tune up accuracy, loose powder would be the way to go.

I shoot less than 2" groups at 50 yards, and I suspect most of that is my eyes and shaky hands, and not the rifle.