encore 209X50

i just bough some 777 and an encore muzzleloader, but my owners manual says to only use black powder or pyrodex, can i not use triple seven safely?

cayugad

yes of course you can. In fact, you can shoot 150 grains in pellet form. And in loose form I believe the limit is 120 grains. But if you read the Hidgdon's manufacturer's recommendations they tell you to restrict your loads to 100 grains. I personally shoot around 110 grains in my Black Diamond XR and get excellent accuracy.

1950KID

try 100 grain loads and a heavy bullet

DocHunter

Why the difference in charge of Triple 7 between pellets and loose powder? Other propellants do not require this difference.

ahankster

Doc,
The reason is that a "50 grain" pellet of 777 is equivlent in power to a 50 grain pellet of the others you mention, or close to it. This is done by the manufacturer to try to keep things simple. So 3 pellets of 777 is about the same in power as 3 pellets of pyrodex.

In the loose form, 777 has 20 to 30 percent more power than the other black powder subs. So, 130 grains of pyro is about the same as 100 grains of 777, ruffly speaking.
R
Hank

DocHunter

Thanks for the info.

eldeguello

That's because those instructions were written back when Pyrodex was the ONLY BP substitute on the market. There are now sevral, including Pyrodex, T7, BlackMag3, Cleanshot (now American Pioneer), Shockey's Gold (an APP product, GOEX Pinnacle (also an APP product), and GOEX ClearShot (discontinued, but some still around though.)

Any of these are safe alternatives to real black powder, BUT must be loaded according to the powder manufacturer's recommendations. In addition, MOST of the substitutes are easier to clean up after shooting, as opposed to real BP!

BOYWONDER

which powder is the cleanest?
pat

MLKeith

Cleanest in my stainless Omega goes from cleanest to less clean in following order: Black Mag'3, APP ffg, Goex Pinnacle, Tripple Seven (down the list because of the crud ring in my rifle), Pyrodex, Goex black ffg. I have not had time or been able to find any of the others mentioned. Pyrodex is really dirty but the accuracy in my Omega is impressive. I think my best groups go from best to worst as follows: Pyrodex, Black Mag'3, App and have not shot the others enough to make a decision. I need more time behind the rifle.