I've been reading the threads about 777 and crud in the breech. It was said that if you switch to fffg 777 you will get less crud buildup. Awhile ago I read somewhere that people who shoot powerbelts got bad results with fffg 777 versus good results with ffg 777. Does anyone have any knowledge of the performance of powerbelts with fffg 777? I can't remember where I read about this. I get crud in the breech with ffg 777. The bore seems fine though. Also, does anyone have any advice about field cleaning the breech area? With a cleaning jag you can't rotate the rod with a patch so what is the best way to scrub the bottom of the bore? I'm talking the actual back of the breech, not the side where it's rifled.

In a Hunting Situation, Why would you Feel it needed, to Clean the Face of the Plug. To Facilitate Easy Removal ? Or are you Refering to the Flash Pocket, inside the Plug. If so, they make a Brass Scraper to fit into the Recess, to clean it Out. 10/32" and fits onto your Existing Rod.

You can rotate the ramrod clockwise with a cleaning patch. You can also use a patch puller on the end of your ramrod & either double or triple-fold the 3" wet patch... this will clean flat-style breech faces real well. When the folded patch reaches the breech, rotate it clockwise with very little pressure -- otherwise you will bend & deform the two little wires on the bottom of the patch-puller jag

Shooters who experience poor results with FFF are the same shooters who use magnum powder charges... which a majority of bores/Powerbelts combinations don't prefer. You always read in any of my posts that Powerbelts generally perform better with 120 grains or less of loose Pyrodex - 105 grains or less of 777 and two pellets.

If you insist on shooting Powerbelts with 110-150 grains 777, fill the bottom hollow cup/base with Bore Butter/Wonderlube 1000 for added protection against blowing a hole right thru it & expect plenty of crud buildup.. even with FFF and a cool 209 primer.

Also, crud buildups with only 85 grains means too hot of a primer -- too hot of a barrel & there's something on the bore wall like a specific solvent or oil that attracting the spent powder. Do not use anything but spit, water, windex, windshield solution or alcohol for best results swabbing the bore & make sure you use an isoprphyl (rubbing) alcohol swab to remove all traces of oils or lubes when you first arrive at the target bench.

I'm sorry, I meant range cleaning, at the club, when target shooting. Of course in a hunting situation it's a non issue.


Hey Triple se7en:.... I shoot 80 grains and a flintlock. The crud is only in the cup of the breech plug. It builds up with each shot. I would like to switch to fffg but I don't want to give up powerbelts. I had read that 3f is too hot for powerbelts, or is it like you said, only with hotter loads over 100 grains? At 80 grains would I be ok and not burn the base off the bullet with 3f? I don't want to spend $23 for a pound that I can't use.

Your flintlock would prefer the FFF anyways.. especially in foul weather where coarser grains leaves room for humidity to enter.

80 grains of 777 FFF keeps my roundball butter-lubed pillow-ticking patches almost reusable. I shoot 100 grains 777FFF Powerbelts with no signs of butchering the plastic base. You won't be wasting your money if swab with fast-drying watery agents & keep the bore walls dry from contaminating oils & lubes. Just curious! What 3F or 4F powder are you putting in the pan?

I'm probably the one you read about having not good luck with 3fg 777 and powerbelts.

I do like the 3fg cut with heavier saboted bullets and I'm gonna try it with some heavy conicals too. But when I used it with PowerBelts, the little cups did not want to release from the bullets and that really threw the accuracy off. And I always loosen those cups and put a little bore butter on them before shooting them too - my only explanation is that the 3fg makes a little too much pressure and it affects the cups ability to fall off.

For the record the loads I used were:
348gr PB with 90gr of 3fg 777
405gr PB with 100gr of 3fg 777
444gr PB with 100gr of 3fg 777

I use 4f Goex true black powder in the pan.

Next time I see 777 for a bargain I'll buy a pound of 3f to try. Gander Mountain sometimes has sales on ML supplies. Does the 3f make much difference in lock time versus 2F in 777? It would be nice to get a little faster ignition, the slight delay plays hell with me nerves!

Hey Markwhiz, I never looked for the bases, how close to the target do you usually find them? Are they melted at all? Would be interesting to look at. Thanks!

Livbucks, I shoot Triple 7 FFFg form. I use a 295 grain powerbelt bullet, 80 grains of powder, and shoot it in a CVA Magbolt 150. Your always going too experience some kind of build up. The finer powder burns more faster and cleaner. Good Luck!!

livbucks...................

Those cups, just like most sabots, usually fall off 10 to 20yds from the firing point.

I've never found any melted cups - just ones grooved by the rifling........and occassionally grooved quite a bit. The problem I had when shooting the heavy powerbelts with 3fg 777, was I didn't find them at all - except one I found right BEHIND the target, 75 yds from the firing line. With the cups still attached, accuracy is deplorable.

All I can say is try it with your rifle & see what happens......... all of these front-stuffing beasties develop their own personalities - so it's worth a try to find that "perfect" load.

well, I've see the same results with 100 grains ffg 777 and 50 cal 348 powerbelts. I run a patch about every 3-4 shots. about the third or forth shot the dry patch hangs up, though a wet patch can be turned and breakup the crud. this is in both a cva and a rem 700. boy sitck a dry patch and you have to pull the breach plug out.

I will say the accuracy is great, using 100 grains of ffg 777 and the 348 aero point. we had been target shooting out past 200 yards.

I shot a bull this week at 20 yards with it. shot right behind the right shoulder, but the angle sent the bullet out though the opposite thick part of the lower left leg bone. recovered the bullet under the skin, it measured .920 dia, didn't get a change to weigh it, but still a lot of weight left. my buddy make about the same shot on his bull, his bullet was recovered. It was about .750 dia and about all the lead gone. both bulls rocked when they were hit, one traveled about 50 yards, the other about 10.

I'll keep using this load, just have to use a wet patch to clean between a few hunting or nightly clearing shots. for a complete clean, I take the plug out and use regular solvents to get to a clean barrel and then an oiled and dry patch.