I emailed BPI maybe a week ago asking if i could use my 120 grain pyrodex RS charge in loose powder, heres the response i got back.

We really recommend a maximum of 100 grains of loose powder.
Experience
has shown us that this is about all that will burn in a 26" barrel.
The
pellets burn much more efficiently. If you are looking for improved
performance at 150 yards, I would look into these 2 options depending
on
where you live and what kinds of bullets your game laws require.

1- If PowerBelts are available in your state, switch to the 295 grain
(for Deer) or 348 (for Elk). Use 150 grains of Pyrodex Pellets.

2- If you cannot use pellets in your state, switch to Triple Seven
loose
powder in the FFG grade. This powder produces slightly higher energies
than RS. Sight the gun in at 150 yards and you will only be a few
inches high at 100, a few low at 200. Use the same bullets as above.

Regards,

Mark
BPI

If i can use 150 grain load with the 348 powerbelts i should easily be able to go back to my charge of 120 grains loose with the 350 grain maxi hunters. I may start off at 100 grains and see how recoil is and then up it to 110 and so on.
So all of this "spanish junk cant shoot no more than 100 grains is total hog crap. They are limiting 100 grains loose powder due to them finding, anymore powder is a waste and wont burn complete. Man these guys TB and RW really spread false rumors about BPI. I thought the email got right down to business and answered my question and then some.

Ask Knight how much loose powder will burn in a 26" barreled Disc Extreme with the standard plug. They will not say 100 gr. A while back I was toldbetween 130 -135 gr will burn in a 26" barrel with a 209 primer. I no longer have the email though.

So,
Did you really think he was going to tell you not to load the gun with more than 100 grains because there were pressure problems?
I think the guns are ok, and safe when loaded as per the recommendations. I also think his advice was sound. But, no way in "heck" he was going to tell you the gun was not proofed for the hotter loads and especially in writing.
Hank

actually ive shot 170 grains pyroded rs loose powder with a 295 grain powerbelt and i can see that anything over 100 grains does not burn completely.

That responce was interesting to say the least.

I also asked Knight once, what the max charge of powder which would burn through my 24" Disc barrel and they told me any more then 120 grains was a waste. Yet they also said if I wanted to shoot more then that to try three pellets.

So I guess pellets are a better way to burn large amounts of powder. I will say that 120 grains on my Disc is plenty though...

Have you ever shot a powerbelt with three pellets? What kind of recoil does it have? Also why would you shoot 170 grains of loose Pyrodex RS with a conical like that? Were you seeing if the rifle would explode or something? Just curious. Thanks for posting that responce though. I have a CVA Staghorn and shoot 90-100 grains of loose but was always cutting back the T-7 to 80-90 grains.

At least you got a response. I sent them an email asking if 9 lbs trigger pull was normal on my Optima Pro (I didn't have a scale, but used free weights tied to a string around the trigger.) But I haven't received a response, yet; and it has been well over a month.

no i started off at 150 grains for my 150-200 target and i was adjusting little by little to see if it made a difference. Recoil was harder but did nothing to help me out. BPI also said if i want to shoot 150-200 and if i can use pellets to use 3 pyrodex pellets and sight in for 150 yards and i'd be only a few inchs low at 200. They say the pellets offer a better burn but who knows really. I never shot 3 pellet loads, i always shot 150 grains loose RS and took 2 deer with it. I always hear, ahhh to much to much! ive put a couple hundred 150 grain loose rs loads through it already. Im happy with my new load and bullets so im going back to the range some time and see how it does at 150 yards.
Also, recoil wasnt bad with 150 grains RS and 295 powerbelt. Ive felt worse. It has a little more thump to it than my dads remington 710 30-06 but not by much.

don, 9lb trigger pull is not normal. give them a call and they will take care of it. dont be shy, pick up the phone

Yea, I have a javelina hunt in Feb., so I'll probably push it with BPI after my hunt.

Shoot over a chronograph you will see the difference.