Black Powder Selection

I pick most of it up at estate auctions or Gun Shows...been very fortunate (lucky) and get some great prices. The only ones in the pic I bought retail were the Alliant and the BH209.

I like the BH209. I will stick with it since I delivers good performance and it does not foul the barrel.

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Originally Posted by DGearyFTE

I like the BH209. I will stick with it since I delivers good performance and it does not foul the barrel.

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It's not recommended (because it won't ignite) for the side locks...thus the need for 3Fg 'Black'..

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Originally Posted by MikePal

It's not recommended (because it won't ignite) for the side locks...thus the need for 3Fg 'Black'..

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It is designed to use 209 primers, hence the name.

Have you found any substitutes that actually follow the same pressure curves or is it all a guess?

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Originally Posted by Fox

It is designed to use 209 primers, hence the name.

Have you found any substitutes that actually follow the same pressure curves or is it all a guess?

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Thru the years we found that, although not measured, that we had far better accuracy from 'less' not more. I have read this to be true on others forums. It's why we don't use pellets, per-measured and to much for the ranges we shoot, found the groups open up even at 100 yds.

I've never bothered trying to shoot measured groups at 250 yds, so who knows if the highers curves would prove out.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

Thru the years we found that, although not measured, that we had far better accuracy from 'less' not more. I have read this to be true on others forums. It's why we don't use pellets, per-measured and to much for the ranges we shoot, found the groups open up even at 100 yds.

I've never bothered trying to shoot measured groups at 250 yds, so who knows if the highers curves would prove out.

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I was talking BP with a guy I work with due to some cartridge BP loading I will be doing shortly. He chuckles when guys come in with a standard flintlock or percussion cap gun and are ticked when BH209 does not ignite, it has to have a really hot flame and the earlier methods of ignition does not work reliably but with 209 primers it is clean compared to the others.

There is still that huge problem of BC on a muzzle loader bullet, it is really hard to get a good BC out of a 50 cal BP gun but I know we have already discussed this, ha ha.

Pie plate at 250 yards with enough energy for a deer or other game is also a concern but isn't the idea of BP to go back to the old days, somewhere between bow and arrow and semi automatic?

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Originally Posted by Fox

Pie plate at 250 yards with enough energy for a deer or other game is also a concern but isn't the idea of BP to go back to the old days, somewhere between bow and arrow and semi automatic?

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I'll do a practical test..I'll load my .50 cal with a 300gr Keith Nose (BC .179) and shoot the propane tank at 250 yrd...

A) the tanks size represents the vitals (10")
B) if the bullet goes thru the tank, we will know it'll enough energy to punch a hole thru a deer...

Just have to account for drop...may take a few rounds to range it in..trajectory for that bullet,at 250 yds, is about -35 :)

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Originally Posted by MikePal

I'll do a practical test..I'll load my .50 cal with a 300gr Keith Nose (BC .179) and shoot the propane tank at 250 yrd...

A) the tanks size represents the vitals (10")
B) if the bullet goes thru the tank, we will know it'll enough energy to punch a hole thru a deer...

Just have to account for drop...may take a few rounds to range it in..trajectory for that bullet,at 250 yds, is about -35 :)

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You have to get one of those old volley sights, the ones that sit off to the side of the gun :)