RE: Pellets vs. Powder
 

MLKeith, I am using the 250 Gr Hornady SST and prior used 240 Gr Hornady XTPs with the same results.

RE: Pellets vs. Powder
 

One thing that keeps coming up when I talk with people about the 777crud ring is bullet weight. It seems that if you shoot 250gr. or less the problem does not exist as often. I only shoot 300gr. or heavier bullets and I get some crud ring with any combination I shoot (Hornady sabot bullets, Harvester sabots with cast or jacketed bullets, Powerbelts). The other thing is the rifle barrel tightness as well as number of shots down the barrel by the time 777 arrived. My T/C Omega is a real tight barrel and I have only shot less than 50 rounds through it up to now. I have been using T/C saturated patches between shots and maybe the #13 stuff is not helping. I may try the next round with clear Windex with vinegar on the patches. I have had reports that is a good over-the-counter thing to use.

RE: Pellets vs. Powder
 

I'm using T/C mag express 245 grain 50 cal. in a CVA eclipse loose 777

RE: Pellets vs. Powder
 

MLKeith, I haven't tried anything above 250 gr with T7 so you might be right. I do have some 300 gr shockwaves that a buddy gave me to try, so might have to do a little testing to see if that changes anything. I suspect the bore fit is a good explanation as well. I know a couple of guys who couldn't use the SST sabot and had to switch to TC sabot due to sizing.

The windex trick works really well for getting out grim I find. Other use windwasher fluid in lieu of windex. I saturate my patch with a spray bottle then ring it out so excess isn't pushed to breech, I place the patch over the bore and push it down into the bore with the jag vs rapping the jag. Using short strokes gradually lengthening and then finish with a couple of dry patchs. If you have excess build up a second wet patch may be required.

Never heard about the adding of vinegar, it is a good cleaner. Be interested to hear your or others results on the vinegar? My mom use it with water to wash windows claiming it is much easier and leaves no streaks to traditional glass cleaners.

MLing is a finky business as many will attest, the only way is T&E and then stick to what works.

Best of luck!

RE: Pellets vs. Powder
 

I'm Anal with respect to how and what I pour or push down the muzzle of my smoke poles. I have never nor will I ever use pellets. Loose Powder as some have already stated, allows you to tweek the load for a particular gun,distance etc... Loose is much more consistant from load to load than any Pellet. These 2 points are critical in my opinion to get these guns to shoot to there full potential. Just my opinion based on years of experiance shooting these guns. To each is own choice.

RE: Pellets vs. Powder
 

The Windex with vinegar is the clear one that comes that way over the counter at "Wallyworld". The good thing about it is that it does not have ammonia in it. No blue coloring either.

RE: Pellets vs. Powder
 

ML are you sure about that Windex not having ammonia in it? I know regular Windex is FULL of ammonia and thats the reason most top quality scope makers dont want it used on their products (it can eat seals up!).

I hope you are right if so I just found my high volume, cheap and easily available scope cleaner,
RA

RE: Pellets vs. Powder
 

When out shooting I carry a little bottle of the glass cleaner with vinegar in my possibles bag. Also use it to clean the Sharps when out shooting blackpowder cartridges. The stuff is good. Course once home the muzzleloader gets it's bath with hot, soapy water.

RE: Pellets vs. Powder
 

I thought about purchasing pellets, but went with the 777 powder. Which I've been happy with in my Knight Wolverine 209. I like tweaking my loads with different combos and actually have been quite happy with 90 grains on my last range visit. So the pellets may limit you. Another thing I like about the powder is that I can adjust the loads for the wife or kids when they shoot. I guess you could just use one pellet, but like I said I like tweaking different loads and they can shoot 60 to 70 grains.

The last outing at the range I forgot my cleaning jag (Knight jag broke and had another ramrod at home) and fired at least 4 XTP's and 2 Dead Center's saboted bullets, then made another 3 rounds with Powerbelts and had no problem seating the bullet, but it was starting to get a bit tough.

For the record I have limited experience with my Knight, it's one year old with several good range days. So I'm sure I'll try more combos of powder/bullets in the future.

RE: Pellets vs. Powder
 

The bottle of Windex multi-surface with vinegar does not smell like amonia. I found a 1-800 number on the bottle and will try a call to them tomorrow during business hours.