I'm betting on old pellets or operator. No offense MIhunter94 just that is a hell of a lot of drop. I was factoring what my rig got with 100 grains pyro back in the dark ages when I used that nasty pyro. Still, 125fps MV difference is not going to equal 16" difference at 200 yards. 2" MAYBE. Even at 1700fps MV the calculator came up with 17.5" drop at 200. Long way from 3'.

Pyrodex has a very short shelf life, especially once opened. Moisture, breakdown of components etc. It can and will affect your velocity if the pellets are old or exposed to moisture. Try a new box.

8 years? Yep old pellets. (you posted while I was typing). But yes, moisture, chemical breakdown couple other things but yep you got some old weak pellets. Since you need to buy some new stuff, I would suggest you go get some Blackhorn 209 and be rid of that nasty pyro. Better velocity by a LONG shot, much easier cleanup, less fouling at the range makes for a better time at the range.

The breech plug in an eight year old Optima, may not light Blackhorn reliably, unless it is modified.

A MV of around 1100 fps would put it about 3' low at 200 yards. That low of a velocity is entirely possible with degraded 8 year old pellets.

Yeah I stopped calculating it at 1400. Figured it was in that range.

Ron, my TC had no problems switching to BH 209 this year and it's around 10 or so years. And as you well know the CVA's of that time were pretty much direct copy's of the TC's Just made with cheaper crap But I think 30 or so bucks would get him an updated plug that will effectively fire BH wont it?

Oh the Optima I just bought, the pellets were from my previous gun. Does the blackhorn come in pellets? I've heard a lot of talk about this brand lately.

Your TC plug does indeed work lighting Blackhorn. Your TC plug is the plug Western Powders copied, when they provided a QRBP that would ignite Blackhorn. The old Optima plug is more similar to the standard QRBP. The Optima plug may fail to light Blackhorn at the most inopportune of times.

Western Powders, nor CVA provide a plug for the old Optima designed to ignite Blackhorn.


Yes it could.

No Blackhorn is only available as a 'loose' powder. Following is a link showing one way to make your rifle work reliably using loose Blackhorn powder.

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the info. The age of powder/pellets never would have crossed my mind. What is the typical shelf life?