Hogdon indicated back in the 70s that there was *roughly* a 20% difference (in weight! ) twixt Pyrodex and the true black powders. As I understand it, Hodgdon specifically designed the stuff so a typical shootist could do the 1:1 volume analog because folks were used to doing the voulume measurements and didnt-dont typically weigh out black powder or its analogs...

Keep yer powder dry,
D.

Dave I have a master chrony i have not had out in 2 years i might have to take a drive to the north country and visit you with it. Who knows i might not come home with it
john

As for the chronograph, I have been doing a lot of on line reading and will be getting one real soon... It will open up a whole different aspect of the shooting sport for me, so I decided I should have one.

Hey CAYUGAD, I have the Pro Chrono by Comeptition Electronics and like it very much. It will do everything you need and adds a whole new dimension to a range session. Price at Midway is less than $100.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=113204

Whatever one you get, be sure to make a plexiglass shield for it to use when you shoot sabots. Mine took a sabot to the face - broke the LED display - sent it back to Competition Electronics - $40 repair bill.

that's the one I was considering.. thanks for the link.

I have not chronographed Pyrodex RS, but I get an average of 1731fps with 100grains of Pyrodex P and 1822fps with 100grains triple 7 ffg. This is with a 250 grain shockwave bullet out of an Encore.

They have this one on sale for $69 Dave:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=531741&utm_source=53174 1&utm_medium=homepage64

Chap

Doegirl,
Have you seen this concerning the 250g SW?

http://dougva.proboards34.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Savage&thre ad=1123448850&page=1

I know folks like them, but this picture give me pause. I like the looks of the 300 SWhowever, but I didn't like the 72% weight retention that give me pause. I like the barnes penetration and wt retention.The SW are one accurate bullet in my Savage (you've seen the pictures), but I will give up MOA accuracyfor non-fragmentation any day.

Do others give up MOA accuracy for non-fragmentation or penetration or is it accuracy at all costs? What is your "killing metric"?
Chap Gleason

Chap

Chap - Thanks for the link. I will do some reading on that after I come back from the range today.

As for your question, I still think from the posts and pictures I have read and seen, that the 250 grain Shockwave is still more then able to do the job. I think the most impressive picture I saw was of a moose shoulder blade (with the hide removed) showing the damage fromthat 250 Shockwave. He was shooting a T/C Omega and I believe three pellets. My point is, if anything should have fragmented that bullet, I would think a moose shoulder blade would have.

Although I also favor the 300 grain Shockwave for large animals, I think the 250 grain SW is bad medicine for any whitetail you come across. Now the Barnes are flat out a great bullet. Expensive, but a great bullet. I shoot them out of my Knight.

Have used Hornady SST bullets (Shockwaves)to kill several deer and a couple of dozen hogs-some very big ones. Yes, sometimes the retained weight is not just wonderful, but i could care less since all my shots on hogs werebang flops or near bang flops.All but one deer was bang flopped, it was hit lowthrough both shoulders at 160 long paces.My favorite load for the Encore is 90 grains of JSG. For my old CVA Staghorn it is 100 grains of Pyrodex RS.Used to use very heavy loads of powder for deer and hogs but found that this is not needed. There is a bonded Shockwave bullet for you guys who want high retained weight.