I have always used and loved BH209, but the price is absolutely insane now. I don't shoot much anymore, usually just a handful of shots to check zero and hunt. I've had my current stash quite a long time and I noticed I'm running low, so I went to get some and I just couldn't do it. $99 for 8 oz vs like $40 for 10 oz when I last purchased it. It would be easier to keep shooting it, and it's still not that expensive seeing how infrequently I go through it, but still, it's the principle of the thing. I'm super surprised a competitor hasn't arrived onto scene. I love its consistency, the fact that it's not corrosive in power form, doesn't absorb moisture, etc, etc. What's the learning curve with the switch?

On another note, I've also been using Speer DeepCurl .452 300gr for a long time, but I have just had too many massive exit holes with this bullet. The last deer I shot quartering too. Exit was so massive I found its stomach on the blood trail. So I want to drop to 250gr or so. I had good accuracy in my old Omega Z5 with 90gr BH209 and a 250gr Harvester Scorpion PT Gold. The reason I stopped shooting them was I read some reports of bullet fragmentation and lost game. I love the Deep Curls but I'm done with them never being available and having to hunt all over for them. I have 10 left so I figured now was a good time to try something new.

`NATO if you can , find the Pyrodex pellets and use those instead of the 777 . The 777's leave a crud ring . For projectiles that dont destroy a deer but still knock them dead , I use the Hornady 240gr XTP Hollow Point that comes with the green sleeve . Or my other favorite is the 245gr or the 295gr Power Belt Hollow Point . Not the Power Belt Aerotip !. The Aerotip does not produce a great wound channel like the Hollow Points do . Every deer I've shot with any of those 3 projectiles had a more than sufficient exit hole and a deadly wound channel .

I use 777 loose and in 100 grain loads under a 285 grain Round nose flat point cast bullet in a sabot. Any 45 colt bullets could do the same in a 50 cal rifle.

I think exit holes are so large from these rapid expansions bullets they push now. I have totally back away from using the after being my own butcher and seeing the amount of meat they ruin.

I know a lot of guys on another muzzleloading forum use T7 at the range and the BH209 for hunting. Velocities are very similar. In fact from what I've seen, below 100 gr T7 is actually faster but with heavier charges BH209 has the edge.
The only thing I don't like about T7 is the crud ring. I found a 50/50 mix of blue Windex and 91% alcohol gets it out quickly. You still have to use short strokes on the patch until you get through it otherwise your patch may come off the ramrod.

I rcommend real black (Goex) - about 80-85gr for any saboted pistol bullet (240-250gr).