Has anyone ever taken a 50 grain Pyrodex pellet and cut it in half and just used the bottom half for the third pellet. Wouldn't that give you around 125 gr. of pyrodex hit or miss. Just curious. I'm getting into this muzzleloading bit and thought I would ask. Just looking at the pellets, it looks like it might fracture and fall apart. Thought about trying to cut one to see if it would.

txfireman

They do make a 30 grain Pyro pellet...

In theory you might be in the ball park, but there is an outside chance you might hit a foul. Sometime if you have an opportunity measure (weigh) a box of pellets, each pellet. You might be surprised at the inconsitencies from pellet to pellet. They look the same they are shaped the same but they all do not have the same amount of powder in them.

Thanks, I just cut one and it cut ok but jagged, would never shoot it, being a fireman, there are no stupid questions when you are new to something. Yea, I know about the 30 grain pellets. The thought crossed my mind while sitting around. What do you like better as far as pellets go, Pyrodex or 777. I'm trying the pyrodex first. Gona see which shoots a 250 Shockwave the best, 100 grain or 150. Thank's for the info.

txfireman

To tell you the truth I am a T7 user, have been since it came out. I do not really shoot pellets - to expensive for all the shooting I do. I would choose t7 all day over any Pyro product because it is cleaner, but there are also some inherent problems with t7 for some people.

If I could suggets stick with the 100 grain charge until you become really confident in you gun and your abilities. Pellet charges of 150 are shot all the time but it is my personal thought that they are unnecessary and 150 grains does stress the equipment. I have set my peak at 120 or that area but that is just my personal rule. In actuallity you gun will tell you which is best if you do enough experimenting and of course do not exceed the recommended load by the manufacturer.

I had a friend that used to cut his pellets because he shot a .54 caliber and did not like that much recoil the two 60 grain (I believe they were) gave. I finally talked him into loose powder because his accuracy suffered so much. How can you know you cut and broke the pellet the same time, each and every time.

I just bought some pellets myself. They are Pyrodex RS. I have been shooting them in my different inline rifles. I only load two of them. That should be all the power you would need with a 250 grain shock wave for deer out to 150 yards or so.

Of course I seldom practice what I preach because I like to experiment too much. Today I was shooting 120 grains of loose Triple Se7en 2f - a MMP sub base - 200 grain Shock wave - and Remington Kleenbore Primers out of my Knight Disc rifle. That is about as heavy duty of a load for deer that I think I would ever need. For some reason, yet to figure out, this Knight Disc rifle shoots better with VERY STRONG powder charges. The rifle was very impressive to say the least.

Hodgdon's in fact no longer recommends the use of three pellets at their site. I am sure there is a liability reason behind that, as you think they would be happy to sell more powder so the faster some one shoots it the better for sales.

I did not catch the make of your rifle, but I would agree with Sabotloader, start with 100 grains for now and have some fun. If you think you would like more powder, perhaps get a box of the 30 grain pellets and load four of them. 120 grains would be a good strong load. I personally have no preference over pyrodex or triple se7en in pellet form as they are very close to being equal in powder. Some rifles do have nasty crud rings with the use of Triple Se7en. I am pleased to say, my Knight Rifle today did not.

Hodgdon has never gave load data for more than two pellets. In fact they always have a max load data for any of their bp substitute powders 100g.

Liability, you betch ya, IMHO.

Ive got a Encore 209x50. Thompson Center says you can use up to 150 grains of Pyrodex. The manual that comes with the gun has loads printed in it for all TC Sabots and bullets. They have 100 grain and a max load of 150 gr. Theve even got muzzle velocities and energies. Thanks for the help. Thats part of me checking with you guys that have been there, done that. I also read the Hogdon material. Ive read a lot of your advice Cayugad, and I appreciate your knowledge and advice. I was planning on staying with 100 gr. loads for now to see what the gun does. Going after some pigs this weekend. Thanks Again guys.

Well you with out a doubt have the rifle to handle 150 grains of powder. Perhaps your rifle is like my Knight Disc. I swear the stronger the charge the tighter the groups.

Good luck pig hunting. Are you going to shoot a Shockwave into one? That would sure be interesting to learn how well it does on them tuff critters. I sure enjoy the pig hunting stories from the muzzleloader hunters. I just think that would be like a monster blast!!

Go get 'em!

Well, no pigs seen but plenty of sign. Sighted in the TC Encore 209x50 with 100 gr. Pyrodex pellets and it was awesome. Got exactly dead center and was punching touching holes with 250 Shockwave Bullet.Recoil was verylight in nature. For grains shot 150 gr. Pyrodexat 100 yards and it was exactly 8.5 inches high. Fired 5 shots and they were within 1/2 of each other with a bit more recoil. I loved it.

Hey cayugad, have you tried the Vari Flame yet. While I was shooting my TC Encore this weekend, I shot 15 shots with out pulling the breech plug and it performed flawlessly. After the session, the breech plug was nasty but I never experianced any problems with miss fires, clogged breach pug or anything. The firing pin never had a problem and there was just a liitle powder residue around the firing pin area on the frame. Used CCI 400 small rifle primers. I had some Kleenbore primers but didn't have a chance to use them. The primer cleaned real easy with some fast orange cleaner. Didn't have any simple green. Fast organge works great too. Cabelas sell them and so doues Precision Bullet.