Newbie in PA/PA Pellet
#1
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,236
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!!!!
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!!!!
#2
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Gouldsboro, PA
Posts: 548
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
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
#3
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,236
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.
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.
#4
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Tioga County, PA
Posts: 30
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.
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.
#5
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,445
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.
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.
#6
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Gouldsboro, PA
Posts: 548
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
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
#8
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,236
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!!!
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!!!
#9
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 3
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.
#10
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,236
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!