Another question for ya'all

What have proven to be the best pellets in your rifles? Pyrodex, Triple 7 or American Pioneer Powder ??? Is one brand more accurate or more consistently burning than the others?

Thanks for any feedback.

The reason a lot of people who have been shooting a long time use loose powder is that the ability to adjust your load to what the rifle likes can be critical to pinpoint accuracy; also I have come to believe ignition time is more consistantwith loose. While I personally like APP it does have some problems, the old reliable stand by of pyrodex pellets is what a lot of people who either are limited in time or shoot only for once a year hunting use. Lee

If I wished to onlypurchase pellets, they would be Pyrodex RS pellets. Also keep in mind the idea to get some 50 grains and 30 grains pellets. You can then factor in a number of different powder/pellet weight combinations to match your shooting needs.

Remember, the bigger pellets go in first, and they go in just as they sit in the container. There is a pipe cleaner in there that you slide down through the hole and you can lift the pellet right out of the case they come in, and then just like a crane, transfer them across and into the barrel The Pyrodex pellet have a starter powder on their base to help in ignition.

I never saw that starter powder on the Triple Se7en pellets. The Triple Se7en pellets cost wise are even worse then the Pyrodex as they weigh less. They are made lighter to make them equal in power to the Pyrodex pellets. And since your shooting pellets I am guessing this is for hunting only and they will not provide you any better accuracy then the Pyrodex.

The APP pellets I tried, my complaint with them was some were missing pieces off the sides of them, and my friend that was shooting them got a bad hangfire twice. I suspect he had exposed them to elements they did not like.

Also I do not know if they still are out there, but I was told the Pyrodex60 grain .54 caliber pellet will slide right down the barrel of a .50 caliber and work just fine. For someone that wanted to shoot say, 120 gr loads, that would be about perfect for shooting. Somply dump two pellets and fire away.

For someone that does not shoot a lot, pellets are not a bad way to go. You shoot on the range a few times to check your rifle, and then you have the pellets for the hunting season. While I no longer use pellets (because of their cost factor) I have to admit when I was shooting them, I did enjoy their convience. I got excellent accuracy with Pyrodex 50 grains pellets. You still have to swab like you would with loose powder, and clean the rifle at the end of the day...

Thanks for the replies guys.

I'm looking forthe best pelletsto usewith 250grT/C Shockwaves from my Encore Pro Hunter

Have you guys found that 150 grains of pellets is to much? I can't help but think my ballistics look so muchbetter over only 100 grains of powder. However, in all honesty, shots over 150 yards just aren't really going to happenfrom 90% or more of the stands and areas I hunt from. What to do, any more opinions?

Your model rifle, the Encore is a great rifle. It is also one of the rifles that seem to perform from my reading posts, with powerful charges. I would say this, if whitetail are all your shooting and 150 yards is the max range, the 100 grains or two pellets will do the trick with a shockwave. If the rifle shoots well with 150 grains and the shockwave, I think personally I would still use that as it benifits the design of the bullet. The Shockwave is made to handle the faster velocities and at long range perform. Your rifle will tell you which one works best for you. Accuracy is the main thing to look for.

"Have you guys found that 150 grains of pellets is to much?" Not that it is too much, it is just not needed. Used to use very heavy loadsof pellets and granular in my muzzleloaders; 130-150 grains. Oh, those heavy loads did kill deer and hogs. Reduced my loads to not more than 120 grains and they killed just as well. Think that the real awakening came when i shot a boar that, when field dressed, pegged the 350 pound scales. Shot that hog smack through both shoulders with a 100 grain load of RS pushing the bullet and he flopped instantly.

Then i bought the Encore.50 caliber. Worked up loads and stopped at90 grains of JSG granular and the 250 grain SST bullet.That load is extremely accurate. Killed a couple of deer with that load, one at 160 long paces. Killed several hogs with the same load, including one at 172 long paces: 175 yards +-5 yards.

Do not limit yourself to pellets. Loose powder is just as easy to load from one of those plastic re-load tubes and is much more flexible when working up your loads. Which reminds me, i need to shoot up all those old Pyrodex and Clean Shot pellets.

My Omega has a similar barrel to the Encore and it is much more accurate with 130 gr with the 250 gr SW and XTP the only load I use a 150 gr load with is the 200gr 40 cal shock Wave and the 200fr XTP but I have been experimenting with a 200gr 40 cal Rainier bullet which also likes 130gr. I always go with what is most accurate.
Lee

I use the 250 Shockwaves in all my hunting rigs using 2-50gr Pyrodex pellets and can hit right on out to 150 yards with a scope. I use the Remington 209 Kleenbore primers and never had problems. A lot also depends on what type of cap you are using in determining the ignition you get. Each gun is different even if a buddy bought his at the same time you bought yours, through range time and having patience you can find the "pet" load for your rifle(s). We all know what shoots well in our guns and can only offer to you what to try, anyway its a start.

Thanks again for all the feedback guys. It's just cool to read everyones different suggestions and to see what has worked well for all of you. As many of you have noted, I will obviously have to experiement with my rifle unitl she tells me what she likes thebest but I was curious to see if any patterns or trends with rounds/loads and suggestions would develop over this thread. You guys have been a great help, thanks again

I had orignally wanted to limit myself to the pellets thinking that they would be much easier to mess with but it really does sound like I should be taking a look at some loose powders to play with over the off-season. Another question for the loose powder shooters.... is there a brand or two of it that seems to perform best for most of you? Thanks again

For loose powders it depends on what I am shooting. If I am shooting conicals, then I like a faster powder like Goex 3f, Swiss 3f, Triple Se7en 3f or Pyrodex P. If I am shooting sabots, I find about any of the powders out there will produce excellent results.

I normally shoot Goex 2f, Goex 3f, Triple Se7en 2f, or Pyrodex RS when shooting sabots. If the sabots are under 300 grains more like the 250/240 grain range, then I find that American Pioneer Powder 2f, or Pinnacle 2f also work real good. A powder out there hard to get your hands on but excellent to shoot is called Black Mag 3. I only shot a couple pounds of that and should have bought them out when I had a chance, but at $28.00 a pound, the $11.00 a pound Goex looks a lot better for someone that shoots as much as I do.

Some rifles like around a 100 grain charge of loose. My CVA's like 90-100 grains. My Knights like from 80-120 grains, the Knight Disc prefers very large 120 gr charges. My Thompson Center Black Diamond XR likes 110 grains of Triple Se7en.

About powders in loose form. You still have to swab between shots using most powders. Although, American Pioneer, Pinnacle, Black Mag 3 are powders that you can actually get away from the swabbing shot to shot. They are a very clean shooting powder and easy to clean up after. Pyrodex, Triple Se7en and the Black Powders out there, you should swab between shots to hold the best accuracy. Triple Se7en powders can in SOME RIFLES AND NOT ALL produce a very hard crud build up when shot. This should be swabbed out between shots. Also watch that is does not lead to short loads, a witness mark is advised in using this powder. Pyrodex RS produces a fowling but a loose dirty fowling. The same holds true for Goex and Swiss powders.

A good swabbing solution you can make at home is a 50/50 mix of isopropyl alcohol and car windshield washer fluid. Damped the patch and swab like normal. It will remove fowling and dries in the barrel very easy.

In your case wishing to look into loose powders, I would get a pound of Pyrodex RS andone of Triple Se7en 2f and start them out with 100 grains and work them from there. You will find that in some of the rifles 120 grains seems like the roof for loose powder, and the down range power will be more then all you would ever need.