How much Powder?

[Tenpoint]

Hi Folks,

Well I went and bought my forst muzzle loader last weekend. I ended ip getting a Thompson/Center Omega. I went witht he Z5 model to save some cash. They had a good sale on a starter kit that acme with a scope and case too.

My question for all you experienced muzzle loader hunters is how much powder should I use for deer hunting? I bought the 50grain pyrodex pellets and 240 grain bullets. I'm wondering 2 pellets (100 grain) or 3 pellets (150 grain)?

I expect my shots to be less than 150 yards.

Cheers,
Tenpoint

[DocHolladay]

100gr. kicks less is all I can say. I also prefer loose powder over the pellets. You can get some inconsistancies in weight with them and it has the potential of altering your grouping from shot to shot. On the other side, you may get better groups with the 150gr. and that bullet.

I would suggest shooting both and seeing what the rifle likes the best instead of me telling you which amount of powder to use though.

[RICHARDCatdaddy]

As usual,Doc is the sane one here.Good advice as normal.

[Tenpoint]

Thanks for the tips Doc. Ya, I'll try shooting with 2 Pyrodex pellets and then 3 Pyrodex pellets. Since I bought the gun I have been reading more about muzzle loading and have learned that (aparently) loose powder burns better than the pellets anyway. I just figured the pellets would be easier to load in the field. I will probably end up buying some loose powder too and trying to tailor my loads.

Cheers,
Tenpoint

[DocHolladay]

Just to let you know, Triple Seven burns hotter that Pyrodex. If you go with Triple Seven you will need to find out how much to use to be close to or the same as Pyrodex. I know that I usually use 100gr. of pyrodex, but when I use Triple Seven, I lower the powder amount to 90gr. I get similar results. I could probably experiment more and get it exact, but I like what I see.

[greymane]

I am using 100 gr of Triple Seven with a 245 gr Powerbelt in a CVA Kodiak Magnum and it works great. Recoil is very reasonable.

[gregrn43]

When working up a new load I start low and work my way up, say 80grs. Accuracy is the most important issue here. I dont use the pellets any more only loose powder. There is more versitility when using loose powder. My optmia elite shoots the best with 110grs of pryo P, you cant get that load using pellets.

[quigleysharps4570]

Any updates Tenpoint?

[oldzimm]

In my 50 cal traditions inline I will load 100 gr of loose triple seven powder behind a 250 gr belted saber tooth .
In my 50 cal Pa Flintlock longrifle, it is a round ball backed with 70 gr of 3F black powder, these loads puts the deer down very nicely.

[DouglasSpear]

I have a Traditions Pursuit LT .50 cal inline and I typically use 100-120 grains of loose Pyrodex powder with a typical 250 grain slug. I can shoot a quarter sized bullseye at 40 yards and a pop can at 110 yards, so I say it's pretty accurate. I was debating getting a scope for it until I saw how accurate it was with the iron sights. I'd work your way up in powder/pellets until you saw the consistent accuracy needed for hunting situations.

[Tenpoint]

Any updates Tenpoint?

Sorry Quigley, Somehow I missed this post a while back. I did not end up buying any powder, but just comparing the 100 vs. 150 grains (pellets). The groupings seemed better with 100 grains and the recoil was noticable less (which may be ralated).

The bullets and sabots I used seemed to be a more important factor than the powder measurement. I found that different brands of 50 cal. fit differently in the barrel. Hornaday 300 gr would hardly go down the barrel, but the TC 240 grains were a good snug fit.

Tenpoint

[backwoodsman]

777 is alot hotter then Pyrodex or Goex, download it 15% from the loading you use with the former powders. Most guns shoot a little better 5gr-10gr loads below their max. Ive got a 150gr rated inline that I only shoot 100gr in unless Im going long range hunting. When I jump from 100gr 777 to 125gr 777(15% rule) my rifle shoots about 1 1/2 " higher at 100 yards. I gain about 50 "usable/huntable" yards uploading. Pushing a solid point or hollowpoint .45 cal all lead bullet in a plastic sabot this load(125gr) has accuracy and energy out to 150 yards for deer. Ive taken yotes farther "out". Hunting open fields/larger foodplots in the late season this is my go to 'loader.

[miassmaro98]

nice information,but on the loose powder subject.you just pour it in?

[DocHolladay]

on the loose powder subject.you just pour it in?

You have to use a powder measurer and measure out the powder. You take and pour that in the ML and load your boolit of choice.



Tip: Do not pack the powder into the measurer. Just pour the powder in there and then into the ML barrel.

[backwoodsman]

Use a measure designed for blackpowder, pyrodex, 777 etc. Blackpowder and substitutes are measured by volume. Modern powder ie: smokeless is measured by weight. DONT confuse the two, dire consequences will be the result. I like to measure 3 or 4 loads to take hunting and keep each load of powder in its own container. They sell alot of accessories for this. I use 35mm film cases with scotch tape along the top/cap. Heres my procedure for loading loose powder after a shot while hunting. Step 1. Wait at least 30 seconds after the shot to make sure there are no hot embers etc. Step 2. Pour powder from 35mm film case into bore, I like to give my rifle a little "shake" side to side after that step. Step3. Place bullet or patch and ball over bore and use a short or "bullet starter" to push the projectile into the barrel and finish seating with the ramrod. Cap or prime your 'loader now and its ready to make smoke. Loose powder is alot cheaper to shoot. Last I checked loose 777 was around $28/lb and the same/equivalent in 777 pellets was $78/lb.

[miassmaro98]

when i get some practice i'll give it a try

[HereWeGo]

I learned a secret years ago. I had a Knight and I started with the recommended 100 grains of powder and couldn't group and after much aggrevation I talked with someone and they told me that I was basically blowing the sabot out of the barrel w/o picking up the rifling. I dropped to 80 grains and have been shooting 3" groups at 100 yards ever since and killed who knows how many deer.

[unclee]

I have a TC Hawken (bout 22 years) and shoot 85 gr. fff and it is very accurate with 44 mag bullets and sabots. My 2 best deer are with this gun. This years gameland deer .