Ok....I am ready

[oldrookie]

Ok folks, after 150+ loads I am now aquainted with my muzzleloader. After all of your assistance, I have been guilted into moving away from the pellets. I purchased a pound of 777 2F today along with a gizmo that measures the charge and allows one to pore it down the barrel.

Now for the logistics. How do you get the powder from the nice plastic round container to the gizmo without getting it all over yourself and the two shooting tables to either side of you. How long will 1lb last? I have been using 100g of pellets and know each brick is good for 50 loads.

Speaking of loads. I think I read comments from those in the know that powder is 15% more load than the pellets. That being the case is 85g of pellets the equivelent load to 100g 777 pellets?

I appreciate all the assistance this board has given the Rookie. Looking forward to taking this to a different level.

[oldrookie]

The post above should ask if 85g of loose powder the equivelent charge to 100g of pellets?

[cayugad]

You can buy a special plastic cap that replaces the lid on the Triple Se7en. This cap you purchase has a pour spout built right into it and you just leave it on. I have enough caps that all my powders have one.

And 85 grains of loose Triple Se7en is approximately equal to 100 grains. I find that 90 grains seem closer, but I do not have a chronograph to swear to that fact. Start with 85 grains and see what happens.

[cayugad]

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=196996

[txhunter58]

If the 15% is actually accurate, then 87 grains would be the equavalent of 100 grains of pellets.

87 X 0.15 = 13.05

87 + 13.05 = 100.05

But the 15% is probably just an approximation. I would trust Cayugad's "intuition" as much as the aproximation, so probably 90 grains would be about right.

[gleason.chapman]

ORIGINAL: oldrookie

Ok folks, after 150+ loads I am now aquainted with my muzzleloader. After all of your assistance, I have been guilted into moving away from the pellets. I purchased a pound of 777 2F today along with a gizmo that measures the charge and allows one to pore it down the barrel.

Now for the logistics. How do you get the powder from the nice plastic round container to the gizmo without getting it all over yourself and the two shooting tables to either side of you. How long will 1lb last? I have been using 100g of pellets and know each brick is good for 50 loads.

Speaking of loads. I think I read comments from those in the know that powder is 15% more load than the pellets. That being the case is 85g of pellets the equivelent load to 100g 777 pellets?

I appreciate all the assistance this board has given the Rookie. Looking forward to taking this to a different level.

Man, you can teach an old rookie new tricks! Your going to need to get a funnel, you can get them at Midway or Brownnells. Yep, about 15% is about right, start at 85 and work up. Chap Gleason

[jaw3]

While you are waiting for the pour spout, if you haven't ripped the moisture seal off the new jug of powder just knife a pie shaped opening in the seal and pour from it into the charge measure.

[oldrookie]

Thanks guys on the funnel info.I went to Gander Mtn and didn't see them. It would make sense they would be on the same shelf with the powder. However, retail stores sometimes don't make sense to me. I'll give them a call. In the meantime I will cut the small V.

I am looking forward to seeing the difference between the loose powder and the pellets. I am going to start at 80g pushing a 245g hornady xtp. Then 85 and 90g. I have been using 2 50g 777 pellets with the 245 and 300g hornady. Here in Indiana most shots are cover shots. The places I hunt that have open areas, 100 yards is a long shot. So, I don't need to get real silly with the charge.

[cayugad]

I have a Knight Wolverine that with 80 gains of Triple Se7en and a 240 gr .45 caliber XTP it is a sweet shooter. Another person I know hunts with that sameload out of a Knight Bighorn, and shot a big Kansas whitetail and he said at 70 yards that little XTP blew right through. Said it left a blood trail anyone could follow. Good luck with your new powder. Watch for crude build up, and swab between shots. I think you will like loose powder.

[oldrookie]

cayugad, can I expect more fouling with the loose powder? The pellets were 777 and a spit patch after each shot worked well. I guess I assumed with loose powder all of it would burn. By the way,I am shooting a CVA Optima with the 26" barrel.