Powder or Pellets

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Started with pyrodex pellets, switched to 777 pellets when they came out because they seemed easier and wasn't a lot of info out on mls back then concerning loads. Tried the loose 777 but didn't care for loose at the time. Switched to blackhorn when it came out and really like it.
 
I use triple 7 pellets because they are easier that the loose powder and they shot so good I didn't see any point in trying to dial in a load to try and help accuracy. That said, I have considered Blackhorn 209 several times but have read about maybe having to drill out my breech plug and dealing with head space issues for it to be 100% reliable in my gun. I have decided I'm not going through all of that. If I ever buy a new muzzleloader, I will probably try it the.


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I started using BH209 last year when I bought a new ML. It is amazing. I like the fact that it's accurate shot after shot. No swabbing the barrel after each shot. Also, it doesn't hold moisture like 777pellets.


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777 loose or pellets cant stand it pyrodex pellets and loose been working for 28 years. Like the pellets, especially for the wife, when it comes to reloading. I prefer regular loose pyro in my sidelocks and select in my inline. Only advantage to BH209 iMO is at the range so not worth it to me. In hunting if I shoot the gun gets cleaned when I get home and if I need to shoot more than 2 times, on the same hunting sit, then I need to go back to the range cause something aint right. I like smoke and the more the better. I figured out along time ago that an extra 5-10 min of cleaning aint that big of a deal.
 
Pyrodexs pellets for me in my Encore. Have tried loose black powder substitutes including BH209 but have concerns with ignition in very cold conditions, which I hunt in a lot. My 1st three shots are always on the money and that's what counts when it's 30 degrees or minus 30 degrees.
 
7mminatree":7fcqvehc said:
Pyrodexs pellets for me in my Encore. Have tried loose black powder substitutes including BH209 but have concerns with ignition in very cold conditions, which I hunt in a lot. My 1st three shots are always on the money and that's what counts when it's 30 degrees or minus 30 degrees.
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Don't think cold weather will effect blackhorn because I've hunted in some cold stuff here in Iowa during December and January and never had an issue. I don't mind not needing hot soapy water for cleanup either.
 
So I'm thinking of using 100 gr of BH which I believe is the equivalent to 120 gr of pyrodex with a 250 gr Barnes.

Does this seem to be a good starting point?

Also how often should I clean? Just after sighting in and then another shot or two to make sure I'm dialed in?

I'm a muzzleloading rookie but this new encore is sweet! Have my scope bore sighted so I'm hoping I don't have to burn through a bunch of powder and bullets getting her dialed.
 
iowavf":7awvh9xu said:
7mminatree":7awvh9xu said:
Pyrodexs pellets for me in my Encore. Have tried loose black powder substitutes including BH209 but have concerns with ignition in very cold conditions, which I hunt in a lot. My 1st three shots are always on the money and that's what counts when it's 30 degrees or minus 30 degrees.
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Don't think cold weather will effect blackhorn because I've hunted in some cold stuff here in Iowa during December and January and never had an issue. I don't mind not needing hot soapy water for cleanup either.
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One main advantage of BH209 is that it's supposed to have much better consistency over time, and is still just as good, one season to the next. Supposedly, not so with pyrodex or 777, so folks don't get as good results with their leftover pellets or canister from last year. We had good results with BH209 in my son's TC Impact last year. Two shots, two bucks.


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The load recipe for my Encore/Nikon Inline XR 3-9X40 BDC 300 combo is 110 grains by volume of BH209 under a Barnes 250 grain Spit Fire T-EZ bullet ignited by Remington STS 209 primers. Using the Nikon Spot On Ballistic Match Technology website, that load corresponds very closely to 2,100 fps. Based on a 100 yard zero, I printed off the yardage details and laminated a couple that I keep in my billfold. And the ranges for each circle in the reticle are definitely "Spot ON". I took it to the range this past weekend with last years load still in it and it was still on zero at 100 yards. That's the beauty of the BH209. Being a non-corrosive powder I have no problem leaving it loaded for a year. But even if you don't have a Nikon scope with a BDC reticle, the Spot On website will work for most any scope. You just fill in the blanks.
 
You wont see hardly any "fines" in the bottom of a bottle of Blackhorn209. Not so with all other ML powders.

Blackhorn209 is the only sub that is safe to measure in common smokeless powder dispensers such as the RCBS Chargemaster 1500. Load up a bunch of tubes ahead of time and you have virtually no wasted powder. Pouring a tube of powder into a bore is just as easy as pouring 2 pellets out of a tube.

Try shooting over 20 shots in a row without swabbing using any other sub. Ive gone over 40 with Blackhorn209 without an issue. Good luck doing that with Triple7 or Pyrodex.

Blackhorn209 absorbs very little moisture in humid locations. The others are a sponge by comparison. I would rather shoot Swiss or Olde Enysford than any other sub. OE is even cheaper than most subs and nearly as fast.

Around 80-85gr of Blackhorn209 and a 250gr will equal or beat any 2 pellet load. As bullet weight increases so does the performance advantage. 100gr of Blackhorn209 and a 250gr bullet should get you into the 1900fps range.

Blackhorn209 is virtually non corrosive. The fouling in a humid environment can and will corrode non SS barrels fairly quickly. No where near as bad as Pyrodex will though. SS barrels can still corrode from the BH209 fouling, you just have a bit more time. Ive gone several days with no issues but its still best to clean as soon as possible.
 
GMB54":1swivjmt said:
You wont see hardly any "fines" in the bottom of a bottle of Blackhorn209. Not so with all other ML powders.

Blackhorn209 is the only sub that is safe to measure in common smokeless powder dispensers such as the RCBS Chargemaster 1500. Load up a bunch of tubes ahead of time and you have virtually no wasted powder. Pouring a tube of powder into a bore is just as easy as pouring 2 pellets out of a tube.

Try shooting over 20 shots in a row without swabbing using any other sub. Ive gone over 40 with Blackhorn209 without an issue. Good luck doing that with Triple7 or Pyrodex.

Blackhorn209 absorbs very little moisture in humid locations. The others are a sponge by comparison. I would rather shoot Swiss or Olde Enysford than any other sub. OE is even cheaper than most subs and nearly as fast.

Around 80-85gr of Blackhorn209 and a 250gr will equal or beat any 2 pellet load. As bullet weight increases so does the performance advantage. 100gr of Blackhorn209 and a 250gr bullet should get you into the 1900fps range.
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This is what I was hoping to hear.... I hunt mainly woods so I'll rarely shoot over 100 yards. I do have a couple of spots where a 150 yard shot is possible.

I've started a new method of hunting this year... not hunting until opener of muzzleloader. Even then just the afternoons until Thanksgiving weekend. Hoping this will keep the pressure down on the properties I hunt tremendously. if it does, I want to be more than prepared come that time.
 
Don'tDrinkTinks":qiosy8cb said:
GMB54":qiosy8cb said:
You wont see hardly any "fines" in the bottom of a bottle of Blackhorn209. Not so with all other ML powders.

Blackhorn209 is the only sub that is safe to measure in common smokeless powder dispensers such as the RCBS Chargemaster 1500. Load up a bunch of tubes ahead of time and you have virtually no wasted powder. Pouring a tube of powder into a bore is just as easy as pouring 2 pellets out of a tube.

Try shooting over 20 shots in a row without swabbing using any other sub. Ive gone over 40 with Blackhorn209 without an issue. Good luck doing that with Triple7 or Pyrodex.

Blackhorn209 absorbs very little moisture in humid locations. The others are a sponge by comparison. I would rather shoot Swiss or Olde Enysford than any other sub. OE is even cheaper than most subs and nearly as fast.

Around 80-85gr of Blackhorn209 and a 250gr will equal or beat any 2 pellet load. As bullet weight increases so does the performance advantage. 100gr of Blackhorn209 and a 250gr bullet should get you into the 1900fps range.
Click to expand...

This is what I was hoping to hear.... I hunt mainly woods so I'll rarely shoot over 100 yards. I do have a couple of spots where a 150 yard shot is possible.

I've started a new method of hunting this year... not hunting until opener of muzzleloader. Even then just the afternoons until Thanksgiving weekend. Hoping this will keep the pressure down on the properties I hunt tremendously. if it does, I want to be more than prepared come that time.
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Just like he said I've shot up to 20 rounds without cleaning while trying to fine tune my ml and the 20th round loaded about the same as the 1st, maybe a touch tighter but didn't change the accuracy. Make sure you use a hot primer like Federal or CCI Mag and if you're shooting a CVA you might need the blackhorn breech plug because some of their breech plugs have too small of a flash hole for the blackhorn to ignite constantly.
 
Don'tDrinkTinks":26r2hw5n said:
I don't think I'll have that issue with the encore from what I've read but my buddy might. He's shooting a CVA Optima.
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I haven't heard or read of anyone with a TC having issues with the original breech plug if using federal or CCI mag primers which are the 2 hottest 209 primers which blackthorn requires.
 

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