Blackhorn 209 loads

[TheAirMan]

I'm sure this has been discussed on here. However, me and the search feature on here usually dont get along. This will be my first year using this stuff. I've heard people talking about weighing it and measuring it. They say on their website to use a standard measure and go by volume. That's simple enough. However, it just seems I've read that the volume doesn't match blackoowder. Like it takes more or less volume of bh209 to equal say 100 grains of black powder. Maybe I'm wrong on that. I didnt see anything on the website. Does it equal out the same?

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[GMB54]

About 80gr of BH209 by volume will yield around the same speed as 100gr of Pyrodex by volume or 2 of either pellets. As the bullet gets heavier the speed advantage increases. 120gr by volume will equal or exceed a 3 pellet load (usually).

You can certainly weigh BH209 if you wish. Roughly 84gr by weight is 120gr by volume. Just multiply the volume by .7 to adjust for weight. So 100gr by volume is around 70gr by weight. The best way to go about this is shoot by volume and find what your rifle likes. Then throw 5-10 charges by volume and weigh each one. Average out those weighed charges. Now you have the correct weight for your volume measure.

I weigh mine just because i have a RCBS Chargemaster 1500 Combo and its simple for me to weigh my charges without any wasted powder. If you change lot#s its a good idea to verify your weight to volume again too.

 

[Jcalder]

A max load of bh209 is 120gr by volume. You can weigh it but it's 70% of what the volume calls for. So a 100gr charge by volume is 70gr by weight. Or 84gr by weight is the max charge. Most of what I've seen and done in the past was used 100-110 grains by volume with a 250 gr bullet.

You didn't mention your setup but make sure your breech plug is compatible. The newer cva guns require the bh plug for reliable ignition. Most of the Thomson centers are good to go.


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[TheAirMan]

It's a traditions buckstalker I picked up on clearance last year. I got out of muzzleloader hunting for a couple years but decided to get another one.

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[JeepKuntry]

I shoot 95 grain. Xtp 240 grain bullet. Wanted to go to the 300 grain Barnes expander but it took an act of God to push that down the barrel.

 

[fairchaser]

I weighed out some charges for a buddy because he was getting some ES vertical dispersion. What I discovered was pretty good differences in weight when measured by volume as much as 1.2 grains. I think this might be the way the powder settles in the measurer. After seeing this I recommend weighing all your loads unless you are only taking 100 yard or closer shots.

 

[huntinkev]

I tried 100 gr. but wasn't shooting as consistent as I wanted. I backed down to 90 gr. And my gun shoots great with 250 gr. Barnes

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[CHRIS WILSON]

I shoot 95 grain. Xtp 240 grain bullet. Wanted to go to the 300 grain Barnes expander but it took an act of God to push that down the barrel.

Try the 290 gr. TEZ. The sabot is different and designed for tighter bores. I shoot the 250 gr versions with the plastic tips removed....basically making it an Expander style hollow point.

 

[GMB54]

I shoot 95 grain. Xtp 240 grain bullet. Wanted to go to the 300 grain Barnes expander but it took an act of God to push that down the barrel.

When i hear stuff like this it makes me wonder if you tried another sabot. The Expanders might come with the MMP HPH-12 sabot and its tighter (larger) than the HPH-24 sabot. The TEZ actually uses a HPH-24 sabot dyed blue. A Harvester smooth sabot (not crushrib) is roughly the same loaded OD as the HPH-24.

What sabot did you use with the 240gr XTP that worked?

 

[GMB54]

It's a traditions buckstalker I picked up on clearance last year. I got out of muzzleloader hunting for a couple years but decided to get another one.

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Traditions bores are often quite tight. You will want to try the smaller loaded OD options first.

SSTs with the 3 petal red sabots is one of the smallest. Traditions SmackDown use the same sabot and bullet also. The sabot is also called the MMP 3P-EZ sabot if you want to buy them in bulk from MMP. They are black from MMP but its the same sabot.

Harvester black crushrib with your bullet of choice

 

[catsbackr]

Make sure you get the right primer, too. Got to be a hot primer.

 

[451LRML]

I used 75grV BH209 last year for the 1st time (in a match) and won the 2018 TN State In-line match (targets are in this website, next page).
It gave me virtually the same Velocity as 75grV Swiss 3F out of my Knight Mtnr (45 1:20) that won in 2016.
BH209 was easier as I shot the entire match (35 shots +/-) and did nothing but load and shoot. With BP I clean between shots.
FYI - 85grV Swiss 2F will yield nearly the same Velocity as the 75grV.

Funning thing- same gun, bullet weight and I scored exactly the same.

Don't sweat it, load reasonably, practice, be safe and have fun.

 

[MUP]

Congrats 451! What type primer were you using?

 

[451LRML]

Congrats 451! What type primer were you using?

CCI with the BH209
Rem Kleanbore with Swiss BP

 

[Robtattoo]

As with any form of handloading using a new powder: ignore all previous data.
Load it by volume, as you would black, pyrodex or trip7 & work up to your most accurate load.
My CVA wolf (my first inline after many years of flint & caplockery....) loves 85gn, by volume, of BH209. A Hornady XTP 240 & a green hornady sabot. Modern wisdom reckons I'm about 50 grains of powder below the load needed to kill a deer, but it's worked really well on the 5 I killed with it last year. Closest shot was 113 yds. Farthest was 144. Not a one took more than 5 steps.

 

[GMB54]

As with any form of handloading using a new powder: ignore all previous data.
Load it by volume, as you would black, pyrodex or trip7 & work up to your most accurate load.
My CVA wolf (my first inline after many years of flint & caplockery....) loves 85gn, by volume, of BH209. A Hornady XTP 240 & a green hornady sabot. Modern wisdom reckons I'm about 50 grains of powder below the load needed to kill a deer, but it's worked really well on the 5 I killed with it last year. Closest shot was 113 yds. Farthest was 144. Not a one took more than 5 steps.

Hardly, just look at the ballistics of that load. It matches or exceeds 44mag carbine load data. 80-90gr of BH209 by volume and a Speer 250gr or 260gr is a dandy deer killer. Its no long range load but just fine for common shots many people get offered to them. Wont beat the snot out of you either. Both those bullets are well suited to lower velocity loads too. They expand very reliably and offer similar energy at 100 yards as a 44mag pistol at the muzzle.

Match your bullet to your estimated impact velocity and try to stay close to 800fpe or more. No deer will survive that with a well placed shot. 80gr by volume will yield about 1700-1800fps with a 240-260gr bullet at the muzzle.

Blackhorn209 is very well suited to weighing. Grain size is uniform and no fines in the bottom of the bottle. Totally safe to do even in a auto measure like a RCBS Chargemaster 1500. I use mine all the time for it. Virtually no mess or powder loss. You can also use volume centerfire measures like the Redding 3BR.