Powder choice help, please

[lswoody]

Just got back into bp rifles after being out for 7-8 yrs. Powder or pellet choices are a little difficult. I use to shoot loose pyrodex but always hated the rotten egg smell. When I bought my new bp rifle a few weeks ago, I got some 777 pellets. I've not shot the rifle yet because of what I've been reading about the 777 problems, crud ring, fast fouling and sugar based. I don't really know but a sugar based propellant doesn't sound like a good idea to shoot in your barrel. Please correct me if I'm wrong about that. American Pioneer claims cleaner burning and more shoots before having to swab your barrel. Pyrodex and 777 are easy to find in my area but I haven't found the American Pioneer products yet. What I'd like is a propellant that burns clean, leaves hardly any crud ring, allows multiple shots before having to swab, easy to clean, no bad smell and above all consistent accuracy. I know that is alot to ask of a product but what do you guys suggest? But I am not above going back to Pyrodex and dealing with the smell if that is my best option. Thanks!!!!!

Scott Woody

[Keith Lewis]

American Rifleman October issue has a big shootout of all the new and old powders. Basically they found real black shoots well and is consistent but some of the newer synthetics are more powerful and cleaner. Tripple Seven works well in many rifles although it does tend to create a slight to big crud ring depending on the rifle. Sugar based means little. The ascorbic acid based powders (which some refer to as citrus based as ascorbic acid is vitamin c) are actually sugar based as the ascorbic acid is derived from a sugar base. American Pioneer, Shockeys Gold, Pinnacle, and Black Mag'3 are all ascorbic acid based or pretty much the same structure. Those last mentioned ascorbic acid based powders are the cleanest and in many cases some of the most powerful. My personal preference is Black Mag'3 which just merged with MDM and unfortunately will not have loose powder available until the end of the year due to their pushing a solid bullet and propellant item called Thundercharge. If I were looking for what you describe I would look for American Pioneer or Shockeys Gold as it is likely to be the most available of that line of powders. If you cannot find it try the Tripple Seven and see how your rifle likes it. If none of that works out then I would suggest going back to Pyrodex as it is always a good powder, just needs to be cleaned well after shooting as it is very corrosive (more so than most of the rest).

[davem270win]

Having just emptied my first pound of it, I would recommend American Pioneer Powder (or Jim Shockey's Gold). I used to use 777, but had the problems you've read about, particularly with the pellets. APP cleans up like a breeze, and does not seem to foul things up like some other powders do. It does smell when you shoot, it's an acrid smell that makes me cough if I get a good whiff. And I've shot some good groups with it.

[1marty]

I've been shooting 295 gr power belts with 2 777 pellets from my SS Omega. I swab in between shots with a spit patch and for the life of me this "crud" ring stuff is over blown. The rifle shoots 1" groups out to 100 yards and only one deer ran about 25 yards.
When I get home I run a water hose through the barrel for about 20 seconds, put on a thin coat of oil and that's it.

[K.K]

I agree with the post above. I've used pyrodex and 777, and 777 shoots better, is less corrosive, and easier to clean. Though I do get the crud ring, I clean between shots at the range, and it doesn't make one bit of difference while hunting. I mean, we only get one shot anyway, and if there is a crud ring, it doesn't prevent me from reloading. My main concern is how my rifle will place it's first bullet from a cold barrel, and I Can shoot an inch or so all day with my Encore and 100 or 150 grains of 777. See what shoots best, but don't overlook 777 because of the crud ring.

[lswoody]

Thanks for the info!!!!!

[Buckskins & Black Powder]

triple 7 is to iffy for me and all my rifles. Shoots great one day and then horrible the next. First shot goes high while the next 2 are perfect. Im eliminating this problem by going back to pyrodex rs and pyrodex p. They shoot a lot more consistent for me.

[1marty]

You may wish to change the bullet you use. I was shooting 245 gr and the first shot would hit 0 and the other shots would wander all over the paper. I then started shooting 295 and 348 gr. and all shots are dead on.