Range Report-777 Powder

[falcon]

Rifle: TC Black Diamond
Scope: 4X Burris Short Mag
Bullet: 240 grain .430 XTP
Sabot: Crush Rib and ?
Powder: 100 grains of 2F 777
Cap: Musket Cap

What a difference a sabot can make. Decided to try 777 in my TC Black Diamond yesterday. Loaded it with 100 grains of 777, the 240 grain .430 XTP bullet and a Harvester crush rib sabot. The gun was sighted to use 100 grains of 3F Pinnacle powder with the same sabot and bullet. The gun had to be re-sighted at 50 yards. Re-sighted the gun and fired a three shot group that was about 2.5."

Moved the target to 100 yards and fired a three shot group that was strung vertically for about 6.5" Replaced the target and did the same thing again. Replaced the target several more times and got sorry groups every time. Changed sabots and fired another three shot group on the same target. The latter group measures 1 1/8".

The sabots that i went to are not made by Harvester. They are green and have a rounded depression in the base. There is a mold number on the inside of the base. Am i correct in assuming that these are made by MMP?

The ramrod is marked for 100 grains of powder. Made sure the bullet was fully seated: Leaned on the ramord like i do with Pinnacle. Swabbed the bore after about every five shots using Windex with vinegar. The crud ring was not bad.

Anyway i've got my deer hunting load.

[oldsmellhound]

Falcon,

With T7 I've always found that I get much better groups if I swab in between every shot. I don't get the crud ring bad either, but without swabbing, my groups tend to be in the 3" range, and when swabbing with Windex between each shot groups are more in the 1.5" range.

[falcon]

Thanks, Oldsmellhound. The three widely dispersed shots on that target were fired from crush rib sabots. The gun does not like 100 grains of 777 and that crush rib sabot. The three center shots were fired using another sabot; MMP or Knight, i think.

[oldsmellhound]

Sabots can make a big difference too. I just have found with T7, I get best accuracy with a consistent firm seating pressure (but not too firm) and 1 windex patch, 1 dry patch between shots. APP, BH209 and other powders sometimes don't need swabbing.