Newbie in PA/PA Pellet
 

After talking about it for years I finally did it
I bought a PA Pellet camo/nickel to hunt late primitive.
I have not fired the gun yet so anyone that could give me advice
with this gun would be appreciated.
Im leaning toward a lighter round powerbelt 245gr and 90gr
pyrodex pellets. Does this sound like a good place to start?
Im not looking to shoot griz or moose, just whitetail.

Also, has anyone ever primed with pyrodex?

Thanks for any help!!!!

RE: Newbie in PA/PA Pellet
 

Welcome to the world of flint lock rifles. They are a lot of fun, but you do have to get use to them.

If I were you, pellet to me means the type of powder which is compressed into a pellet. I would not recommed using that type of powder for a flint lock rile. I know that loose powder is better.

First off, make sure you go to the range with someone who is familiar with muzzleloading since it is different than regular rifles. For example, loading your rifle, requires properly seating the bullet onto the powder so there is no gap between powder and bullet. Also, try not loading too much pan powder in the pan. I usually use black powder 4f in the pan and 2f in the barrell. I use Tripple 7 for the barrell. If you have a flint rifle and purchased pellets, return them and get the loose powder. Also, getting use to changing the flint requires some getting use to.

I use 80 grains in my Traditions with a 295 Powerbelt and it shoots great with that combination.

I also shoot my flint my more than any other rifle, so be prepared to have fun with it.

Good luck...

Tom

RE: Newbie in PA/PA Pellet
 

Thanks for the advice Tom
The gun is advertised to shoot well with pellets
but I'm not against using loose powder if thats
what is best.
Traditions says to pump a shot or two of the
pan primer in the touchhole when using pellets
but I'll try loose 777 like you recommended.
Probably will ignite faster anyway, right?
lots to learn, but thats where the fun is.

RE: Newbie in PA/PA Pellet
 

livbucks,
I have the PA Pellet as well, have the left hand version. I have had mine for a year now and can tell you without reservation that it is totally unreliable with pellets. Sometimes it would fire, but mostly not. I switched to loose powder, as tomster recommended, and now its very reliable. To add to that, I think real black powder works better than either the pyrodex or 777. I too am real new to flintlocks, last year was my first hunting season with it in PA.

I read about 6 forums on a daily basis, you can really glean a wealth of info from these folks that have been doing this awhile.

RE: Newbie in PA/PA Pellet
 

I've heard that pellets can be used with flintlocks, if you first toss a very small charge, say 5 gr. or so, of triple f or 4f black down the bore. Don't know if that's more trouble than it's worth, but I heard it can be done. Worth a try I guess.

I don't use pellets at all. They don't seem any easier to me. If I needed a quick follow up shot, and was in a real hurry to load, I'd rather spill a couple grains of loose powder than drop a whole pellet.

RE: Newbie in PA/PA Pellet
 

I also know a guy that has a percussion ML and has used a pellet and loose powder together. Also, there is a thread in Blackpowder that discusses this same issue. I have a flint and an in-line ML. In the in-line, I only use pellets but in the flint I only use loose. I could use loose in the in-line but I like using the pellets.

Also, the guy who owns a percussion has not shot a deer with this rifle.

I find that if you find something that works, you should stick with it.

T

RE: Newbie in PA/PA Pellet
 

CANT WAIT TO SHOOT THIS THING!!!

RE: Newbie in PA/PA Pellet
 

OK, Im leaning toward 777 loose. Not to make it more complicated
but would 777 work to prime the pan with? I know it has to be a finer grade (fffg) but the water cleanup would sound good on the outside as
well as the inside, not to mention the absence of the rotten egg syndrome.

Anyone shoot a lighter round like the 245gr Powerbelt? Does 90gr 777
sound like too much for this round?

IM lovin this flintlock stuff, lots to tinker with!!!

RE: Newbie in PA/PA Pellet
 

I just went to the range with my new Traditions Pa Pellet flintlock and found a load and sabot that shoots great. I tried the Thompson Center 250 grain Shockwave sabot and was impressed with the results. I loaded 10 grains of 4f followed by 80 grains of 2f Triple Seven. At 25 yards I had all three shots touching dead center about 2 inches high. I moved the rear sight down slightly and shot another round. This shot was dead center about an inch high. I then moved back to 50 yards and shot 4 more rounds. All four shots were in a 2 inch group dead center about 1 inch high. If you shoot the Shockwaves in the Pa Pellet, use a little T/C bore butter on then as a lubricant. Without the lube they are hard to get started. With the bore butter they load easily.

RE: Newbie in PA/PA Pellet
 

Wow, you dug this thread up and blew the dust off of it. Thanks for thinking 'bout me and making the suggestion. I will try them. I tried the thing with a little BP in the barrel before the 777 and found no difference in results. Now I just use straight 777 in the barrel and Goex 4f to prime the pan. How do you like the gun? I love mine. I tinkered with the trigger pull a little by adjusting the little screw and polished and lubed the sear. I also polished the ends of the frizzen journal to make it pivot real freely. I think this gun is one of the best kept secrets out there, really well designed IMO. I know it is designed to shoot pellets but I don't bother with them. Much simpler to dump loose in and be done with it versus dumping a trickle charge of loose in and then dropping pellets. Anyway, good luck with her!

RE: Newbie in PA/PA Pellet
 

Oh, by the way. Folks are gonna be confused with your user name. There is a triple Seven here already. I think he spells it a little different. He spells it Triple Se7en I think. Oh well, I can tell the difference.

RE: Newbie in PA/PA Pellet
 

I purcheased the Pa Pellet at Gander Mountain when they were on sale for $229.99(camo version). I returned the first gun because the flint would only strike the left third of the frizzen. I tried the Traditions 5/8 English flints and the 3/4 T/C Agate flints with the same results. The frizzen had a lot of side to side play in it. I think when the flint struck the frizzen it actually twisted to the left thus only stricking the left side of the frizzen. I decided to get another one and give it a try. I looked at several guns and got the one where the frizzen did not have any side to side play in it. This gun is fine. The flint strikes the entire frizzen and I get good spark. The only thing that happened with this gun is the screw that holds the jaws for the flint broke off leaving the screw in the bottom hole. I took the gun to a local gunsmith and he removed the broken screw. That was more my fault than the gun's because I tightened the screw more than I should have. I adjusted the trigger pull by adjusting the small set screw on the inside of the lock. The trigger pull is now just like a hair trigger. Just a little squeeze and I goes off. I had a T/C Firestorm and the trigger pull on that thing was terrible. It must have been taken about 10 pounds of pull before it would go off. Everyone that I talk with that has a Firestorm has the same complaint, great gun but the trigger pull is terrible.

Overall I'm impressed with the Pa Pellet. The fit and finish is fine for a gun costing $230.00 and the accuracy is great. This thing is more accurate than the T/C Firestorm and is much easier to shoot because of the trigger pull adjustment. The only thing I'm not sure about is if you adjust the trigger set screw does that void the warranty.

Using 10 grains of 4f black bowder and then 80 grains of 2f Triple Seven in this gun gives quick and reliable ignition every time.

I can't wait until Januray 1, 2005 to actually hunt with this gun. We have a group of 6-8 guys that hunt hard near Mars, Pa. I usually see more than 50 deer per day hunting in that area. We usually have 2-3 drivers and the rest of the guys are on stand. We do this from sun up until sun down and have a great time. Two years ago we got 4 deer during one drive and wound up killing 5 deer by noon!!! I don't think we will ever be able to do that again, but it sure was fun.

RE: Newbie in PA/PA Pellet
 

Mixing real blackpowder with 777 produces volatile results. That is why Hodgdon Inc has never put real blackpowder on the bottom of their 777 pellets like they do with Pyrodex pellets. Blackpowder-flintlock panning is acceptable with 777, but anyone using percussions reading your post should never mix both powders & pour down the muzzle.

I always feel the need to mention this whenever I read the two powders were used simoutaneously. Sadly, readers misinterpret posts too much & danger sometimes looms later-on. This book below is supposedly great for load development. I just ordered mine because I'm about to get heavily into real blackpowder (Swiss).

Click Here For Lyman Loading Handbook

RE: Newbie in PA/PA Pellet
 

This is right from the web site for using Triple Seven in a flintlock:

Flintlock: To insure proper ignition in flintlock systems, 5 grains of FFFFG priming powder should be placed into the bore prior to loading the main charge of Triple Seven, Consult the loading data in this brochure to determine the proper charge for the caliber firearm used and the chosen projectile. The main powder charge should be reduced by 5 grains to compensate for the addition of the priming powder. While holding the firearm vertically, slowly pour the measured charge of Triple Seven into the barrel. Seat the projectile firmly against the powder. Make certain that there is no airspace between the powder and the projectile.

They don't make 4f Triple Seven so they must mean 4f black powder.
The Pa Pellet has a removable breech plug and 5 grains of 4f does not fill the plug up to the touch hole. That's why I use 10 grains and cut the main charge from 90 grains to 80 grains.