Question on Jim Shockey's Gold Compressed Charge Sticks

[Crocker Hills Hunter]

A couple years ago I listened to all the hype about Jim Shockey's compressed powder sticks, so I went to Scheel's and bought a container of the .50 caliber sticks for $27.99 . I was excited about trying them so I went to my range with some 295 grain Powerbelt hollowpoint bullets and some Federal 209 primers. I dropped 2 of the 50 grain charges down the barrel and seated the bullet firmly on top of the charges put the primer on my CVA Optima. The bullet seated higher than I was used to because the sticks were longer than the T7 pellets I normally used. When I fired, instead of getting the BOOM we all love, I got a loud PHOOOF, lots of smoke and the bullet dropped at the base of the target. I did this three times with the same results. I took the container back to Scheels with my receipt. The first gun salesperson I talked to said it sounded like the powder may be old. He got one of the head salespersons and he told me to crush the first stick down the barrel and it should work. Well, if I have to do that I would rather just use loose powder. Scheel's refused to give my money back so I took the container back home and I still have it. There are no directions on the container that say anything about crushing the first stick. I'm sure you guys know more about this than me or Scheels, so what is your diagnosis and remedy for my results with the Jim Shockey's Compressed Charge Sticks?

[johnnyo]

Used mine for fireworks! Their garbage.

[MountainDevil54]

i had that problem with american pioneer super sticks in the 150gr form. I dont know what the deal was but half the box went fizz. Some have this problem with T7 pellets too.

[MountainDevil54]

dont crush anything! the pressure peak from a broken or cracked pellet is simply amazing!

[falcon]

The problem is that APP does not tell you how to load their much touted"sticks" on their website. If you do not slightly crush the "sticks" they will not work. It is best to not even try to make them work: Just go and buy some of the excellent Pyrodex pellets.

No wonder JSG has such a bad name in the industry. Everyone who has used JSG granular powder successfully knows that you need a tight fitting sabot and you really have to lean on the ramrod. Problem is that one at APP will tell you that you have to compress their powder in order to make it work.

[Semisane]

dont crush anything! the pressure peak from a broken or cracked pellet is simply amazing!

Huh?

[MountainDevil54]

you didnt see the testing that blackhorn did on cracked/broken pellets?

[Semisane]

No I didn't. Got a link?

[sabotloader]

uall

I am not a user of any of the APP products... but I could have sworn that i read you were suppose to crush the sticks.

After they were taken to court and lost the right to make pellets they began the sticks. The sticks a so long and narrow they leave a huge air space in the bore under the projectile. And again I thought APP said to load and crush the sticks with the projectile.

I can find nothing on their website as to how to load the sticks... For loose powder the say get the air out compress the powder. With the sticks standing in the bore there would be a ton of air....

I do not know...

[Semisane]

but I could have sworn that i read you were suppose to crush the sticks.

Same here.