Black MZ vs. BH209
 

I took the Accura V2 out today along with a percussion rifle (see other thread) and shot three 3 shot groups using BH209 and Black MZ at 100 yards using Barnes MZ 295 gr bullets.
Because I had 2 rifles along it allowed ample time for the Accura to cool between shots. Swabbing was only done between groups for both powders.
Looking at my previous data I used 95 gr of BH209 (most accurate load tested) and took a guess with the MZ and used 100 gr.
The results were that both powders with the same bullet hit the same POI at 100 yards. As for group size there was no difference. The 3 groups of each powder measured in at between 1" and 1 1/2".
I did take members' advice and really leaned on the ramrod to compress the charge for both powders. I'm happy with the results and it looks like I'll be using Black MZ only because of the price difference which is pretty sufficient.

Same results I get with JSP/APP in my rifles.

A bit of correction. The bullets were Barnes T-EZ 290 gr.

Good solid compression and a snug fit and those powders will do the job nicely Clem.

I did quite a bit of shooting with JSG yesterday to re-sight in a rifle and it was quick and easy. Just a different learning curve and it will be a solid powder.

Bronco... what does the powder look like? I am wondering if it still looks like any of the older APP powders.


I have tried the different powders several time, APP - Jim Shockey - Black MZ and have always experienced clumping in a short period of time...





The powder granules have always been a distraction for me. Somewhere along the line someone labeled it as like 'cat litter'. Is still like that in that it is not uniform in size and consistency? In these pics if you look closely at the APP/Shockey powder you can see the granules are not consistent at all.





One last point in all my velocity testing it never did produce the velocities that the higher end powders did.


My interest... I was just talking to friend that works for Speer in Lewiston, they were doing some ML bullet testing and they were shooting Black MZ. So I am now wondering if Alliant may have made the switch to the old Black Mag 3 powder and I believe they intended to do a few years back.

BM3 is done, they blew up and had to give up their license.

Actually, APP exploded a little while back too! Luckily the forklift operator moved 500lbs of freshly made powder out of the building. They called it a chemical fire as it wasn't horribly bad, but the lift operator did get burned up pretty good.

Black MZ is a good powder. Been using the stuff since it first came out.


Black Mag 3 and it's derivatives are gone probably forever. The guy who owned the company is a guest of the state of New Hampshire for two consecutive 10 year sentences: Related to negligence that resulted in the deaths of two employees who were killed when the plant blew up.

Never tried the Black MZ before, but in all the powders I have tried out over the years, BH has been the MOST consistent in burn rate as well as granule consistency. It's also been the most consistent over the chrony. And I have YET to get ANY clumping whatsoever. There is a reason it's expensive, ya get what ya pay for!

Well SH54 you can't argue that. But I'm really happy with the results. I figure at 100 yards I'm hitting the same POI and the same group size which in my mind means very similar velocity, why the heck should I pay $38.99 for 10 ounces of BH209 when I can get 16 oz of Black MZ for $9.99?

Where can you get it for $9.99
Eveywhere i have seen it the price was $22 to $26
I know sportsman warehouse at one time had at $9.99 but i havent seen it there for a while