lemoyne

Just one point,do not confuse 3 50 gr equivlent pellets with 150 gr loose, they are not the same the loose is the original 777, The pellets give the same velocity as an equal amout of pyrodex as I understand it. The strain gage reads that 110 loose FFF puts out more strain than 3 pellets. I only test once as I barrowed the pellets from someone that just happened to be on the range when I was doing some testing,I personally would not load more than 120 gr of 777 in any thing.
You might ask Triple Se7en
Lee

Allseasonhunter7

txhunter i read that loose is more powerful than the 50 grained tripple 777 sticks

txhunter58

Yes, that is correct. Read Lemoyne's post above. He explains that.

The easiest thing to keep in mind is that 777 loose is about 15% "hotter" than black powder or pyrodex. For example 100 grains of loose 777 equals 115 grains of pyrodex, etc.

txhunter58

Randy Wakeman is certainly a very opinionated guy, but he lists at least 4 incidents with this type of rifle. Don't think he is lying about that. I have yet to hear of ONE incident with T/C, Knight, etc.

Just because your rifle is safe and has no problems, doesn't mean that the next lot off the line might not.

All I am saying is why not try 90-120 grains? If you get the same accuracy and performance on game, why spend the extra money on powder? I have a T/C Omega and have never even tried above 120 grains (black powder equivalent)because I see no need, for me personally.

Pglasgow

As far as I know, you'd be correct on everything you said above. My sense is that pellets,for their weight, help to reduce pressures. They seem todo this byexposing a more limited area to burning in the early stages of burning. As they burn, they will tend to granulate exposing an increasing surface area to flame. Pelletizing powder seems tohelp to burn a given weight of propellant progressively, meaning that, the rate of burn is slower in the beginning and increases for a period of time after ignition. For a given weight, loose powder will peak sooner in time (at a smallerbreech volume)leading to higher peak pressure. So a charge of pellets will have a broader pressure curve with a lower peak pressure while the same weight in granulated powder will have a spikier pressure curve and higher peak pressure. Of course I think this describes the design for loads which are approved by Hodgdon. If you load beyond their recommendations,then I don't have an opinionabout whats going on.

On the subject of .45 cal. The .50 cal bore has approximately 24% more bore area than the .45 cal. bore. This means for bullets of the same sectional density, one can, in theory, increase the charge in the 50 cal by 24% (with respect to the .45 charge) and yield the same peak pressure and the same muzzle velocity. Say you shoot 240 grain bullet in the .45 cal with 80 grains, peak pressures and muzzle velocitieswill be similiar to a .50 cal loaded with a 300 grain bullet and 100 grains.

On the other hand,load 150 grains of Pyro pellets and a 275 PB in a .45 cal.THEN thats like (in terms of expected peakpressure) loading 180 grains of Pyro pellets and a 348 PB in a 50 cal. These loads not approved by Hodgdon nor recommended by me.

Loading 100 grains RS and a 325 conical in the 45 cal, is like loading 120 grains RS under a410 grain GP in a 50 cal. These loads also not approved by Hodgdon nor recommended by me.

For the waysome folks load, pressures are running higher in .45 cal rifles than they may expect they are.