A while back I had recieved some information on this and I can't find it. I did a search and still cant find it. I have both the Pyrodex Pellets and the Triple 7 pellets. What load worked best for you. Did you use loose or pellets?

I have gotten the best accuracy with 130 grains 777 pellets and have only 2" drop from 100 to 150 yds with 2 - 2.5" groups at 150. A good starting point would be 100 grains of either pellets and you can increase the load as long as it holds good groups with up to 150 gr. although I haven't shot up to 150gr pellets in my optima.

Gun - Optima (26" barrel) Projectile - 250g SST with 90g loose T-7 ffg. Result? - One big ragged hole at 100yds (off the bench - 4 shots). Took a 145lb 6 point at 192 yds last year with this exact load. He never knew what hit him - he never took another step.

When I went to get the Triple 7 yesterday, I looked for the 30 gn pellets like the 50 gn and they didn't have it. The guy said he didn't think they made them. Do they? Also, I see a bunch of you use loose pellets....does it make a big difference?

Also, what type of scale are you using to measure your loose powder?

Loose black powder and all substitutes are measured by volume and not weight. If you want to use a scale and a powder Thrower you better call the powder mfg to make sure it is safe.

Loose black powder is not meant to be measured with a scale. It is supposed to be more consistent, in terms of pressure and velocity, when measured by volume; and there is no reason to even attempt a conversion. Only the folks shooting smokeless in the Savage guns need a scale.

Also, they do make 30 grain pellets in the .50 caliber. I think Cabela's has them. A number of gun stores around here carry them as well. Two fifties and a thirty - great load for 250 or 300 grain SST's/Shockwaves. Good luck.

They do make the 30 grain pellets, cabelas will for sure have it. I got mine at scheels so yours should carry it too as well if you have one. I do use 2 fiftys and 1 thirty and it works really well. I took a 8 point buck at 198 paces and it performed flawlessly, including 3 other does and all were one shot one kills without any going farther than 10 yards.

Sorry for the scale question. I have never used loose Black Powder so I wasn't sure if it was weight or volume. I went to the largest gun store that we have here in Lafayette, La. and did not find the 30 grain pellets. I may have to order them.

Since I have never tried anything but 100 grns. or 150 grns., when you load a smaller pellet does it matter what position that the smaller pellet sits?

I always put the 30 grain pellet closest to the cap - but I'm not sure it really matters. For someone with a lot of time on their hands, it might be a good experiment - run some strings of shots over the chronograph with the 30 grain pellet in various positions in the chain - see which one has the narrowest SD.