Roman Candle Muzzie
 

Ok guys this past week I took a shot on a huge boar with my muzzleloader, I squeezed the trigger and it looked like a roman candle fireball shooting out of my barrel. It was going like 10 mph and landed right in front of this 300 lb boar before he trotted off laughing at me. It took all of my might not to wrap my gun around the tree like a belt. I was shooting Win 209 Primers and 777 Pellets out of an Optima. Anybody ever have or hear of this issue? What the heck happened

Last year's pellets? Or older? Old pellets lose their zing and it sounds like you've been ordained into that likelihood.

I'd trash the pellets [any and all "formed" propellants] and get some granulated powder. You'll shoot cleaner and more accurately using it instead of formed stuff.

They were brand new pellets, never opened out of package

Had the same thing happen to me after a cold Michigan Morning deer hunt many years ago, also using 777 pellets. Temperature was in the teens and in my haste to get warm, I brought the gun indoors. Condensation formed in the barrel and when I pulled the trigger that evening, it looked like fireworks.


Not sure if the cause could be temperature related, but something obviously effected the integrity of your powder.

Be sure to use the lower charged primers, those made to shoot pellets. Keep your powder (pellets) dry. I don't believe it was mentioned, but was it a powerbelt you were using? Make sure the bullet is seated securely on the propellant, but don't crush the pellets.
Being from FL with high humidity, I'd most likely cover the barrel with a balloon to keep the humidity out. Not obstruct the barrel, but a balloon over the barrel will break, yet help to keep out humidity.

Pellet boxes are not sealed they can collect moisture sitting in the store and that is one of the things that can happened when they do. You can not trust them use granulated for hunting, preferably Blackhorn which does not attract moisture.

Ok so put a balloon over the end of the barrel like ur putting on a rubber? Wont that sort of keep moisture in by not lettin it breathe?

If u switch to say a BH primer and BH powder, what primer cap do yall suggest I buy?

It'll keep moisture out. Watch ol' Jim Shockey when he's using his muzzleloader, but he uses tape. Its not to obstruct the barrel, as a balloon will break or the tape will fly off when the pressure builds. It only takes a single balloon, or condom, or a single piece of tape.
Pellets need proper storage to keep moisture from degrading them. I shoot cases of pellets with no issues, but they're stored in a humidity controlled area. Always make sure that the bullet is seated firmly on pellets, but not so firm that you crush the pellets. Push the bullet down until its TIGHT on the propellant.

One can at times, duplicate the issue you had, by just dropping a pellet down the barrel WITHOUT A BULLET, then hold the rifle up and snap the primer. In most cases the pellet will just fizzle out of the end of the barrel, even a new pellet.

First get the correct breech plug from either CVA or Western for BH use.
Stay away from powerbelts and BH.

WIN 209's should work for you. Many prefer CCI209M or Federal 209A magnum primers. Primers designated "Muzzleloader" are to weak and shouldn't be used with BH.

I like the win 209 reloading primer as they seal better.
Covering the muzzle of the gun will not help if the pellets have already gathered moisture. The box they come in does not seal out moisture, if they set in the store and gather moisture then you have a problem. All the granulated powders have a seal so you at least start out with good powder.

I called a powder company up one time and asked why I was having problems getting their powder to work well in my gun. They asked what 209 primer I was using and told them Winchester. They told me that the Win 209 premiers were the coolest primers on the heat scale!!! They recommended either CCI mag or Federal mag primers for their powder.

I found this scale on the internet:

Muzzleloading Primers

Hottest

CCI 209 In-Line MZL...241 f.p.s.
Fusion 209 In-Line.....236 f.p.s.
Remington ML............234 f.p.s.
Winchester ML............228 f.p.s.

Mildest

Winchester Triple 7....191 f.p.s.

I changed to the hotter primers and haven't had any problems since. It goes bang overtime. Used it in my CVA Apex and nailed my first wall hanger this year.

You don't necessarily need to switch to BH209... you can use loose powder (T7, Pyrodex) with your current setup and have good success I'm sure.

FWIW, I use W209 primers in all of my rifles that shoot BH209 with ZERO issues.

Same here as well...