is there a performance difference between the two? sorry if its a dumb question? im looking into getting a new inline.

Do you know any centerfire handloaders that use pellets???

You are handloading each and every shot, use powder, you can tailor the load to your gun...

performance, you can get about the same results with powder or pellets. As to which is better, I have one rifle that shoots perfect with 2 pyrodex pellets. I have a couple dozen more that shoot their best with loose powder.

Loose powder is cheaper, just as easy to clean, and is as said, a custom load.

I like loose because you can more accurately work-up a load that works in your rifle. You can't make those small tweaks with pellets.

Per shot and considering the fps of that shot, pellets are almost always more expensive and no real advantage if you have a supply of powder tubes.

Just load up a bunch the night before or a few before a hunt.

IMO and in my guns loose has always given me the best accuracy too. Fouling also seemed a bit worse with pellets but ive heard IMR WhiteHots are pretty clean....about the most expensive too.

Try both and see what you like and what accuracy you require.

Opinions vary

We had a little contest in our club to see if there were any advantages either way.
The people with loose powder used quick loaders the people with pellets used what ever way the loaded while hunting, the first contest was for speed and 3 shots.
The loose won by 20 seconds.
The second contest was for accuracy, 10 shots from the bench at 150 yards the loose team won again by a whole 100 points, the value of one full target.
There were 3 people on each team who are normally equally matched on our normal shoots.
We realize that every body has good and bad days and that the ways of loading might be improved on by something we do not know. I was one of the people using loose and I have tried both and it came out about like I expected. Most of the people that use pellets either don't shoot a lot or are beginners; that by it self should tell you something.

I found that Lose Powder is best as you can Custom fit your load for the best accuracy. BUT>>>>I also use Pellets. I found the 2 50gr Pyrodox Pellets gives me great accuracy and results in most of my inlines, it's a perfect load for not too much and not too little.
In one of My Accura's I use 110 gr's of Pyrodox RS and the other I use 2 50gr Pellets, both are acceptable and I would'nt feel handicapped using one or the other if I had to.
If Im out of Lose Powder I'll use Pellets. But I have found the (3) Pellets of 50gr Pyro are TOO Much. So find your Happy Spot Load then try what's close to it with Pellets, if they work then I dont see no need to use Lose. The 30gr and 50gr Pellets can be mixed and matched to find that spot. But if your a LONG range Shooter and what Superior Accuracy, go Lose.

Both will get the job done in the field. Loose powder just plays an important part of being able to fine tune your loads. My Accura really liked 105gr pyrodex RS with the 250gr Thor. 100 and 110gr both shot good but 105gr was its sweet spot.

I will agree that if you are wanting to perfect your load, loose is definitely the way to go. When you buy pellets they aren't all identical, so obviously each load will be a bit different. Personally, I use pellets when hunting though. I started out using black powder, and went to loose Pyrodex, then loose 777, and now I'm using 777 pellets. I find the pellets to be convenient. My pattern may not be the absolute smallest that it could be, but it is definitely small enough to ensure an ethical shot at the ranges I will be willing to shoot at.
But...
I am awaiting my new Optima Elite, and I plan on trying some Blackhorn in it which is loose. Maybe I should wait to post this until after I've worked up a load of that stuff...

rw

Loose gets my vote.If you use the good tubes with a screw on top,pellets are not any more convenient.