Has anyone shot 100 grains of Pyrodex pellets and then 100 grains of Pyrodex loose powder out of the same gun with the same bullet to see if the POI is similar or the same?
The reason I ask this, is I hunt with Pyrodex pellets, and I love them. I have no desire to deal with loose powder in the field. The one thing I don't like about the pellets is the cost. They are a fair bit more than loose powder, so it gets expensive shooting at the range. Now that I see the loose powder on clearance here in store, I'm wondering if I should buy a pound.
Now I know it will obviously shoot different in each gun, and I have to try it in my gun to make sure, but I wondered if in general it has the same POI. I'm thinking I could sight the gun in using the loose powder and practice at the range with loose powder, then switch to the pellets to hunt. However, if they are going to shoot totally different, I'd rather no waste my money on the pound of loose powder.
Now that I see the loose powder on clearance here in store, I'm wondering if I should buy a pound.
No. You should buy five pounds.
I've got to be honest hometheaterman, I've never shot pellets out of any of my guns. So it would be fair to conclude I don't have a valid experience base for my opinion. But I have shot side-by-side on our hunting club range with lots of guys using pellets. As far as I was concerned, loading loose powder with pre-filled powder tubes like the ones sold by LaneNebraska beat the heck out of pellets for ease and convenience, and certainly for cost.
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Things I've Learned: (1) It's not possible to please everyone, but quite easy to piss everyone off. (2) If you love animals as I do, then you're not a vegetarian. (3) There's no need to act stupid, even if you're very good at it. (4) If you eat right and exercise, don't smoke or drink, you're going to die anyway.
My problem with loose powder, is when I'm trying to reload quickly, I'm always worried I'm going to spill some, or drop some. Where as with the pellets, I can just pick two up and drop them down the barrel.
It's quite easy to pore from a powder tube without spilling a granule, and it's unlikely you would ever drop a powder tube in the loading process (lots to hold on to).
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My wife says I'm totally nuts, but I think I'm Semisane.
Things I've Learned: (1) It's not possible to please everyone, but quite easy to piss everyone off. (2) If you love animals as I do, then you're not a vegetarian. (3) There's no need to act stupid, even if you're very good at it. (4) If you eat right and exercise, don't smoke or drink, you're going to die anyway.
After using powder tubes you will be able to load just as fast as pellets. I only use BH209 and for no reason will ever go back to pellets. Get some tubes from LaneNebraska and you will see for yourself how easy it is.
I shot my Genesis with 100 grains of pellets and 100 grains of loose powder. I got better groups with the pellets, but the POI was about the same. Loose powder I like because it is cheaper to purchase, and you can custom your loads a little easier.
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My problem with loose powder, is when I'm trying to reload quickly, I'm always worried I'm going to spill some, or drop some. Where as with the pellets, I can just pick two up and drop them down the barrel.
If you shake that bad, how the heck you gonna hit anything???
POI will be very close...
My buddies sponge off me all the time...They bring me their guns to sight in and don't bring bullets, sabots, powder etc...They know I love to shoot so I sight them in and give them a supply of sabots and bullets...I have had some bring me their left over box of pellets from the previous year...I prefer powder so that's what I used...I then verify with pellets, it's always been real close...
If you shake that bad, how the heck you gonna hit anything???
POI will be very close...
My buddies sponge off me all the time...They bring me their guns to sight in and don't bring bullets, sabots, powder etc...They know I love to shoot so I sight them in and give them a supply of sabots and bullets...I have had some bring me their left over box of pellets from the previous year...I prefer powder so that's what I used...I then verify with pellets, it's always been real close...
I don't shake that bad normally, but I've reloaded a couple of times when I'm walking out to see if the deer is laying there, or when walking to the stand. I'm afraid that in a situation like that, I'd be a lot more prone to spill loose powder. Maybe it's a non issue, I'm not really sure though. I've not used loose powder in the field, but I've got several friends that have, and all of them have switched to the pellets and say they are worth the price for the convenience which is what made me never have the desire to use loose powder when hunting.
I don't shake that bad normally, but I've reloaded a couple of times when I'm walking out to see if the deer is laying there, or when walking to the stand. I'm afraid that in a situation like that, I'd be a lot more prone to spill loose powder. Maybe it's a non issue, I'm not really sure though. I've not used loose powder in the field, but I've got several friends that have, and all of them have switched to the pellets and say they are worth the price for the convenience which is what made me never have the desire to use loose powder when hunting.
I use both Lose and Pellets. I use the Pellets in My Wifes ACCURA just in case Im not near by and She needs to reload quick. Not that She cant handle Powder, but it's just easier for Her as She does get Preety Excited after taking or Shooting at a Deer.
I use Lose Pyro RS in one of My ACCURA's and in the other it's set up for Pellets (Regular Pyro) I have shot both out of the same ACCURA and found both to be pretty on compared to one another wne shot at 100yds, I have'nt shot further with both though. So I'd have to say yes there about the same, after all there both Pyrodox and the same amount of Powder.
Now for Hunting, if you only Hunt with Pellets and dont do a-lot of shooting then Pellets are fine, you cant use a Box of them (100) in a Season of Hunting, if your Lucky you'll use 6 to 10 and that's for 5 Deer. So just buying a Blister Pack of Pellets where you get 18 or so should be fine for the whole Season and you wont have left overs so the next Season you can buy Fresh one's.
So buying Pellets cost wise is'nt noticed that much in the Pocket if you only use a Handful for the entire Season, there wasy to load and do the Job. But if you do a-lot and I mean a-lot of shooting through out the whole year then Lose Powder is the way to go, if it's just a Few Week out of the Year thing for you then use Pellets, or if you just plain ol like em, use um.
(BP)
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I look at it from a cost vs performance point of view and pellets dont add up. I usually have some tubes preloaded with loose if there is any chance im going shooting or hunting. The box they come in isnt exactly the best for storage either if you are a seasonal hunter.
As far as in the field, they both need to be in a tube or container so they are not exposed to the elements. Having loose powder in a tube is just as easy as 2 or 3 pellets. I would rather take the chance of spilling a few grains instead of dropping a pellet.
Now lets say you hunt with a 3 pellet load, dropping one is a huge performance hit. Compared to losing 4-5grs in a 110-120gr loose load, i dont see any advantages in pellets.
All i see are cons
Cost more
Weight varies per pellet
Worse crud ring
Cant tailor the load
More abrasive to the bore
Can be crushed when loading a projectile
Harder to ignite vs T7 or Pyro
They can chip before loading
Cant interchange with other calibers
Oops
100gr of Pyro pellets (2) is probably closer to 80-90gr of Pyro loose depending on which grade, bullet weight and loading pressure.
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POI with Powder vs Pellets
