Does it make any sense that my T/C Hawkens .50 shoots better with FF than Pyrodex?

TUK101 · 09-17-2007, 11:37 PM

Well, I decided to try Pyrodex yesterday after hearing about it supposedly being better than good ole black powder. I could not find a good load to save my life with either rb or 250 REAL bullets. It was either shooting way high or dropping at the ground before the target. My gun usually shoots either rb or REAL's pretty well with 80gr of FF to 50 yards. Well the Pyrodex was about 18 inches high at that, even with the rear site dropped down as far as it can go. Not to mention that it was hitting all over the place to the left and right. With hunting season nearly here I am just going to go back to black powder before messing with Pyrodex anymore lol.

yeoman · 09-18-2007, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Does it make any sense that my T/C Hawkens .50 shoots better with FF t

Tuk - no, it doesn't make sense. You said FFt, probably meant FFg which is the indicator of powder texture, being more coarse than, say, FFFg.

You probably meant does it makesense for your gun to prefer "Black Powder" like Goex to a substitute like Pyrodex? There may be a preference but it sounds like you have another issue.

Have you fired the gun with rb or 250 Real's and black powder recently? I suspect the problem will persist.I could see an inch or twodifference ingroups between the powder choices at 50 yds. Nothing like you describe. Sounds like a barrel problem.

Describe the gun in detail.

cayugad · 09-18-2007, 11:36 AM

I have to agree with yeoman. Most my rifles that shoot black powder will also shoot Pyrodex RS. The degree of difference in shot placement would concern me. It will be interesting to see if going back to simple black powder makes all the difference. Now granted, there are rifles out there that are fussy about powder. I own a couple of them. But none of them would create the differences you describe.

I am sure your rifle is spotless clean before you start shooting. So that would not be a factor. Have you changed patches, lubes, or anything like that? I will be waiting for your next range session.

TUK101 · 09-19-2007, 03:20 PM

Sorry about the confusion. Yes, the black powder that I normally use is Goex FFg. My rifle was cleaned spotless, and I did try several different patches with no luck. I will try again in the next day or two. I was just so frustrated after the last range session that it looks like I was just babbling when I made the first post lol.