Switching Powder

[MD DEERHUNTER]

I'm currently shooting a Thompson Center Encore using 100 grains of 777 pellets and Thompson Center Super Glide .250 gr sabots. But haven't been able to find that tight group that everyone on the forum is talking about. So, next year I'm looking at switching over to Blackhorn 209 and trying the Hornaday SST .250 gr sabots and also trying the Barnes .250 gr Spit Fire TEZ sabots. As far as the powder, what does everyone think about the Blackhorn 209? Powder or Pellets? Thanks for everyones input.

[builder459]

As long as your aware there are pro's and cons's to BH also, the choice is yours.nothing wrong with 777 and you can obtain the accuracy your looking for with the right sabot,bullet and powder charge.do a search here on this forum for what works in your particular rifle and it will help you find that magic combo!i can't afford Bh 209, would i try it if i could ? you bet.would it be the powder i used all the time.don't know possibly.IMHO loose powder is the way to go regardless of what powder you choose.

[Johnmorris]

I shoot 209 in 2 encores and have not had any problems accuracy is excellent and clean up and loading better than any other powder I have used. I use my guns for the rifle and muzzy season in WI

[lemoyne]

Well I had very poor luck with 777 also. Be aware a tight sabot one that takes both hands to push down gives the best results with Blackhorn. also that There are good and poor places and ways to buy it. I buy mine at powder valley for 24 dollars a can + Hazmat which is not to bad as I buy by the case the only exception has been when I caught it on sale and got it cheaper.
My Endeavor Encore and my Triumph both shoot considerably more accurate wit it than with 777.

[7MMXBOLT]

I shoot what you want to try, out of my T/C Prohunter. Load consists of 110 grains BH 209, Winchester 209 "shotshell" primer using the "Yellow" Harvester crushed rib sabot and the Barnes 250 gr TMZ. What most don't realize with ML's is if using loose powder "I highly recommend" is after you find your load with a volume measurement, is to weigh it out on a digital scale for better consistancy shot to shot. Even use the same cleaning products everytime. I use T/C 17 only. I did a test with a buddy to prove a point when he ran out of pre-saturated patches that he was using and ask to use some of mine. I don't remember what he "use to use" but the POI changed by 5" at 200 yards when he started using what I use. The grouping actually closed up conciderably as well. So we re-zeroed his load and thats all he uses now. He called me after a ML hunt in MD this year and thanked me for everything I did to help him out. The best advice I can give you is, be as consistent with everything you do from loading to cleaning and you find that magic load sooner or later.

One last thing, my Encore with my load likes the barrel fouled with at least one round before the POI will stabilize, then I can get as many as 10 rounds to hit the same hole at 100 yards before accuracy starts to drops off and the barrel will need to be cleaned. Just something to concider when doing load developement.

Hope this helps.