Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Muzzleloader Hunting => Topic started by: huntnfmly on February 05, 2013, 09:15:32 AM

Title: loose or pellets
Post by: huntnfmly on February 05, 2013, 09:15:32 AM: I couldn't find the other topic on this . What do you use and why? I'm curious to what's best. Thanks
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: CP on February 05, 2013, 09:24:16 AM: This has been discussed a few times but why not again.

IMHO – pellets are for the lazy, they are harder to light than loose and they are more expensive. They offer no advantage other than you don’t have measure the load.
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: washelkhunter on February 05, 2013, 09:29:11 AM: Loose - because Shockeys premier gold doesnt come in pellets.
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: duckmen1 on February 05, 2013, 09:33:21 AM: I have tried both. I use only loose powder now. The reason is when I switched from pelletized powder when i tried it was I had a hard time getting the gun to go off without adding a couple of grains of loose powder to the nipple. Then it would go off. Loose always went bang.
I also like the fact that I can get loose for much cheaper. My buddy also had the same problem when he bought a muzzleloader and the black powder shop recommended it to him to use the pellets. Gun would not go off every time. He used the triple seven pellets which usually say for 209 ignition. That is what the guy told him works great out of his gun. I told him not to buy the pellets before he went. He soon changed.
The black powder shop also said never put pyrodex through your gun it will ruin it because it is such a fowl powder. All I use is pyrodex loose. My gun cleans up fast and easy and looks spiffy. People will tell you anything at a shop to get more money out of you. Not saying triple 7 loose isn't good because I have been using it out of my new gun but have seen no difference between the two. Pyrodex loose is cheap and effective.
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: PolarBear on February 05, 2013, 09:38:09 AM: Loose seems to be more reliable. :twocents:
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: LiveandLearn on February 05, 2013, 09:43:54 AM: Loose for me. I find it more consistent, more accurate, works much better with this state's ignition laws. :twocents:
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: huntnfmly on February 05, 2013, 09:49:59 AM: Thanks guys I've been leaning towards loose for reliability and just needed a little push
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: jrebel on February 05, 2013, 09:50:28 AM: Loose...never used pellets but also have not heard a lot good about them.
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: pat2bear on February 05, 2013, 04:35:35 PM: Sounds like the overwhelming consensus is loose powder. Not to jack a thread but what type do you prefer?
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: bobcat on February 05, 2013, 04:40:18 PM: 777
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: norsepeak on February 05, 2013, 04:43:13 PM: have only ever used pellets and never had a problem. Good accuracy and always go of when I want them to. :dunno:
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: mtman on February 05, 2013, 06:45:44 PM: Switched to loose for the 2012 season after reading a post like this one. Hands down loose powder more accurate, and faster reaction when you pull the trigger. Wont be going back to pellets.
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on February 05, 2013, 07:10:01 PM: Pellets are made for Inline guns. Use loose poeder if you shoot a sidelock gun. I've always used loose powder in my Hawken-type guns. Never owned an inline, so I have no experience with pellets. :twocents:
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: HntnFsh on February 05, 2013, 07:22:46 PM: I always use loose powder in my Bighorn. Had good luck with Pyrodex and 777. It also helps you fine tune your loads better for more accuracy.
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: PolarBear on February 05, 2013, 11:57:53 PM: 777 fffg!
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: Jburke on February 07, 2013, 12:08:01 AM: I have used both and switched to loose last year. Pellets worked for me everytime. I have seen others that have had less reliable ignition with it though. Loose will ignite more reliably. That was the biggest reason for me. :twocents:
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: dawhunt on February 07, 2013, 05:33:27 AM: I had to many misfires with pellets went back to loose will never go back to pellets !!
Bob
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: Jellymon on February 07, 2013, 05:45:52 AM: Pellets are for 209 primers only. Says right on the box. There are way to many misfires using pellets with musket caps or #11. And I completely clean my gun every three shots.
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: trophyhunt on February 07, 2013, 06:52:25 AM: Quote from: norsepeak on February 05, 2013, 04:43:13 PM
have only ever used pellets and never had a problem. Good accuracy and always go of when I want them to. :dunno:
:yeah:I've never had a misfire out of my T/C xr, don't plan on switching. And I use a musket cap, works just fine.
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: Jburke on February 07, 2013, 09:05:17 AM: Quote from: Jellymon on February 07, 2013, 05:45:52 AM
Pellets are for 209 primers only. Says right on the box. There are way to many misfires using pellets with musket caps or #11. And I completely clean my gun every three shots.
Not true. They make some that are designed to be used without the 209 primers. Some are meant for the 209, and yes they do say it on the box.
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: Jellymon on February 07, 2013, 09:17:38 AM: Oh, Ive never seen any of those, wasnt aware they existed. :o
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: duckmen1 on February 07, 2013, 09:33:41 AM: The triple 7 pellets are for 209 as well as some of the pyrodex. Pyrodex does make a pellet form with an excellerant ignition added at the tip to work with musket caps since they are not as hot burning as 209. More often then not they are used for 209. Plus why pay for expensive powder pellets when you can get a pound of loose for cheaper and get a whole bunch more shots out of it. And from what ive heard be more reliable out of all guns for accuracy. loose powder is More reliable in my opinion. But yes most people that use these pellets end up using the 209 pellets because that is more available. It may work at the range out of your gun but do you want to risk it on the buck/bull of your life.
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: muzbuster on March 05, 2013, 07:15:43 PM: Loose, because I feel ignition is easier. No hard core facts other then if I'm trying to start a fire it is much easier to get the fire started using kindling (loose powder) rather then putting a match to a log (pellets). :twocents:
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: Dan-o on March 05, 2013, 07:19:53 PM: Pellets, because they're easy and the elk are still just as dead afterward.
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: Kioti on March 08, 2013, 07:30:34 AM: Quote from: Dan-o on March 05, 2013, 07:19:53 PM
Pellets, because they're easy and the elk are still just as dead afterward.

:yeah:
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: deadwoodbuck on March 08, 2013, 11:30:57 AM: pellets and musket caps cause its easy its effective its fast and they are just as dead
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: Kowsrule30 on March 13, 2013, 08:19:27 AM: Pellets here... Never had a misfire from using them with a #11 or musket cap...... I only shoot musket caps now... I only swithced to pellets from 777 loose because of ease and I got the same accuracy with a little more juice behind it....
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: redi on March 13, 2013, 09:12:02 AM: when shooting pellets there is a delay between pulling the trigger and ignition which affect accuracy, We switched to loose and have no delay and greatly improved accuracy.
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: teanawayslayer on March 15, 2013, 08:05:12 AM: I started with the pellets and used them for six years. I am now using 777 3f loose powder. I used to get hang fires and such with the pellets quite often. Since I have switched I haven't had one yet. it seems to burn hotter and cleaner. Yes it takes a little more time to prepare. But in my opinion well worth it.
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: Natas5150 on April 22, 2013, 07:06:28 AM: I have used both. For me I prefer the pellets because of the no mess. Thats not to say that powder is always messy, I am just lazy. 2 50 grain pellets down the barrel and im ready to go. Powder does have its advantages over pellets and that you can get very accurate with your shot meaning 110 grains of powder or 120 as where pellets come pre measured. Can't really say one is better than the other its what ever will ge the job done and what you want to use. :tup:
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: Jonathan_S on May 15, 2013, 01:45:10 PM: I've never had a hangfire with loose pyrodex but had regular hang-ups with pellets.

Musket caps in a CVA Buckhorn
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: BiggLuke on May 16, 2013, 12:43:46 PM: I own a KNight.
So pellets is the way to go.
They are super easy to load in a pinch for a second shot.... god forbid I miss on the first shot.
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: oneshot12 on May 18, 2013, 10:17:45 AM: loose powder has been a good for me for years also . pellets are good in some in lines but just hasn't been that good for my Remington , and pellets just don't work at all in any side lock that i have ever heard of
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: superdown on May 18, 2013, 10:46:43 AM: I have used both for 3yrs now and don't notice any huge difference in accuracy and i havent noticed any speed of ignition difference. I use 2 triple 7 pellets meant for 209 with my knight big horn and a musket cap and hornady 250grn sst and have never had any kind of issue. I have used jim shockey's gold loose it sucks it's dirty and inaccurate it seems like the only powder my bighorn doesn't like :dunno:. goex is kinda dirty but fine, swedish is dirty but accurate, pyrodex pellets meant for musket caps is good just not quite as accurate as triple 7 pellets or loose. So for me i get the convenience and no down side that's why i use them.
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: Nilehunter on May 19, 2013, 12:52:55 PM: Quote from: duckmen1 on February 05, 2013, 09:33:21 AM
I have tried both. I use only loose powder now. The reason is when I switched from pelletized powder when i tried it was I had a hard time getting the gun to go off without adding a couple of grains of loose powder to the nipple. Then it would go off. Loose always went bang.
I also like the fact that I can get loose for much cheaper. My buddy also had the same problem when he bought a muzzleloader and the black powder shop recommended it to him to use the pellets. Gun would not go off every time. He used the triple seven pellets which usually say for 209 ignition. That is what the guy told him works great out of his gun. I told him not to buy the pellets before he went. He soon changed.
The black powder shop also said never put pyrodex through your gun it will ruin it because it is such a fowl powder. All I use is pyrodex loose. My gun cleans up fast and easy and looks spiffy. People will tell you anything at a shop to get more money out of you. Not saying triple 7 loose isn't good because I have been using it out of my new gun but have seen no difference between the two. Pyrodex loose is cheap and effective.
:yeah: +1 Sighted in yesterday with 110g Pyrodex and bloodlines. Could not be happier... I have not had a miss fire since quitting pellets.
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: trophyhunt on May 19, 2013, 01:45:17 PM: Quote from: norsepeak on February 05, 2013, 04:43:13 PM
have only ever used pellets and never had a problem. Good accuracy and always go of when I want them to. :dunno:
Me too, I've never had a problem or misfire. I've killed one cow and one bull with my t/c xr 50 cal. 2 777 pellets with my traditions sst 300 grn bullets.
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: Pigfuz on May 19, 2013, 03:12:48 PM: Definitely Pellets and a musket caps. I will never use #11s again, especially water proof. My first year out hunting I had a shot at a 6x6 and the water proofing off of the number 11s plugged my nipple. Plus I have heard the musket caps are something like 10 times more powerful of a cap.
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: Dan-o on May 19, 2013, 03:50:28 PM: I don't experience any hangfires or delays with pellets, and accuracy is excellent.

I'm not sure why some of you have those issues with the pellets, but I'd go back to loose powder if that was my experience as well.
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: OnHoPr on May 28, 2013, 08:32:17 AM: Loose, because you can use various loading volumes besides 50 and 30 gr increments to find the best accuracy for your particular weapon and choice of projectile.
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: 6haase6 on June 09, 2013, 11:28:33 AM: I use pellets. As long as you put the pellet in right I have never had a hang up issue in my inlines. My side lock yes loose is the way to go. My dad wouldn't muzzle load because of hang up experiences years ago before inlines and pellet powder. A few years ago he got the multi season and used one of my inlines with pellets and was shocked at how fast they went off and how accurate tey were. Follow up shots a quick and easy. No having to make sure powder is packed, just drop pellets in seat the sabot and let her buck. All these are rookie front stuffer deer. I would have never had the switch to muzzle loading if it was for the ease of pellet powder.
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: septemberfan on June 09, 2013, 12:24:30 PM: Have to put my vote in for loose 777 fffg....the smaller grains fit nicely in the breech plug for fewer miss fires plus the fffg shoots hotter than ffg...pre-measure in a speed loader or film canister makes the speed of pellets a moot point.
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: 6haase6 on June 09, 2013, 12:43:04 PM: The fact that there is no packing needed with pellets. With loose if you get into a rush or don't check your rod for properly packed powder you accuracy will be off. Plus you still have to be carful not to spill any loose powder an with the pellets even if you do spill you can pick up the pellet and you have the all your powder still ready to go. In my speed loaders I pour powder then flip over and push the bullet in, so the powder if loose gets stuck in and around the sabot.
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: PolarBear on June 09, 2013, 03:01:14 PM: That's funny, cut and hold back the ears to make them look bigger. :chuckle:
Title: Re: loose or pellets
Post by: 6haase6 on June 09, 2013, 04:01:20 PM: The cut ones were the start of eruo mounts and then mom wanted pics, the one in the middle is actually almost all skinned out. Here is one with the ears the night before with the phone.