The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The North Corral > Black Powder and Cowboy Action Shooting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old October 30, 2018, 09:12 AM   #1
Lilswede1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 8, 2008
Location: NW Wash State
Posts: 216
Finally -- 209 Primers legal

Washington State allows 209 primers for the first time.
I have several older Knight Muzzleloaders and a good any elk season coming up in my area.
Currently using 110 gr. of Pryrodex with a Musket cap and getting pretty good results from that. Any more then 110 and barrel is too dirty after the 2nd shot to easily get the next sabot down.
Would like some input on what shoots best with the 209 and how much difference does it make.
Lilswede1 is offline  
Old October 30, 2018, 10:12 AM   #2
rodwhaincamo
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 7, 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,246
BH 209 powder is supposed to be all the rage. Little fouling, high velocity, small deviation, and easy clean up (smokeless not soap and water). But it’s expensive.

Triple 7 does well with little fouling and high velocities. But some find an issue with the “crud ring” it may leave behind. I’ve only shot it in my revolvers and haven’t seen it. Maybe it takes more powder or a higher temp?

I read Black MZ is very low fouling and fairly consistent. It’s a lower energy powder like standard Goex and many others and meters as 2F. Very cheap powder and people really like it. It may require more powder to achieve what you currently are.

Many claim nothing beats the real deal. I use Olde Eynsford (and Triple 7) and do like it, but I found it does foul a little more than the Pyrodex I was using to break my rifle in with. But it’s very consistent and certainly energetic. And there’s no issues with age.

It may be a little late to begin testing, but you could after the season is over and see what you see.
rodwhaincamo is offline  
Old October 30, 2018, 10:26 AM   #3
Lilswede1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 8, 2008
Location: NW Wash State
Posts: 216
reply

I have almost a month before the season begins and the season will last for 2 months. Crop damage control hunt and my family owns a good size chunk of the land the herd is damaging -- Grandson says "you can come shoot one off my deck".
Understand I can jump up to 150 grs. Pyrodex or 777 with the 209 primer.
Which primer is best (hottest)?
Lilswede1 is offline  
Old October 30, 2018, 11:50 AM   #4
arcticap
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 15, 2005
Location: Central Connecticut
Posts: 3,166
I've never shot a 209 primer.
But almost every new gun manual from CVA and Traditions will say that for best accuracy stay between 90 - 120 grains of powder.
The max. charges are reserved for pellets and not loose powder.
For instance CVA recommends IMR White Hots probably along with their Powerbelt skirted bullets.
I've heard that there's CCI magnum 209 primers, yet the Winchester 777 primers are the least hot to produce the least amount of crud ring with 777.
IMO 209 primer systems are made for reliability [especially with pellets] and not necessarily to only make the hottest ignition flash.
Every barrel has a different length and spec's, and even 209 ignition systems have different design details.
MMP makes many different kinds of sabots to fit slightly different bore sizes, and even the Harvester ribbed sabot design is different too.
Now there's a new proprietary Ridgeback sabot design that been invented by Berry's bullets and that's been picked up and being marketed by Traditions only available with their latest Smackdown series bullets.
As you know, there's a lot more to shooting than simply differences in powder or primers.
Personally I would try experimenting with Black Horn 209 powder.
The only detail to note that I've heard is that it can be helpful to snap a couple of caps before loading to foul the barrel or the the 1st shot can be off a couple of inches or more if the barrel is too clean.
And even if using Black Horn 209, it's important to keep the flash hole clean as blowback can narrow it.
That's the opposite of my standard practice which is to sight in for the 1st shot out of a cold, clean barrel. But then I shoot with #11's and American Pioneer 3F.
There's also new star shaped 777 pellets out that slightly increase velocity by increasing the surface area of the pellets, which are 33 grains instead of 50.

Decisions, decisions. You have your work cut out for you, but the max. charge of lose Black Horn 209 powder is 120 grains.

Shoot enough unnecessary max loads of different powders and a person could ruin their scope. Tread lightly by loading with moderation in mind.

Last edited by arcticap; November 1, 2018 at 12:02 AM.
arcticap is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:38 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.03598 seconds with 10 queries