Blackhorn 209 question

[Karl B. Andersen]

From what I've discovered, the Blackhorn was specifically designed as a new BP substitute to elimnate many of the attendant "dislikes" of BP subs in in-line rifles.
How can I expect it to perform in my side-lock Hawken?
Would it work equally well with conicals and PRB?
Similar weight-for-weight loads?
Easy clean-up?
I have no interest in real Black Powder comparisons.

[simonkenton]

It is a great powder.
It is easy clean up, probably is non corrosive.
No good in the side lock Hawken, you have to have a 209 primer to light it off.
Dammit, I sure want to use it in my cap and ball pistols.

[Karl B. Andersen]

I have a 209 adapter for it.
Will not being directly in-line effect ignition?

[simonkenton]

Well, you got me there. I never heard of a 209 adaptor for a sidelock Hawken.
Where did you get that? I would be interested in one for the TC.

I will bet you could use a  trick that I use sometimes when loading a hunting load.
I would pull the nipple, and put a few grains of powder right there in the drum. I don't mean 2 measured grains, I mean 2, 3, or 4 individual little grains of black powder.
Never had a misfire when doing that. I bet if you tried that with the Blackhorn it would light up.

[Karl B. Andersen]

Here's your link to the mag Spark:
http://www.warrencustomoutdoor.com/mag-spark.html
I also talked to Keith at Blackhorn today and said as long as I use a hot 209 I should be good to go.
Thanks.

[sabotloader]

Karl B. Andersen

Your 'mag-spark' should work just fine - the powder is really expensive but it is good..

[Busta]

Here's your link to the mag Spark:
http://www.warrencustomoutdoor.com/mag-spark.html
I also talked to Keith at Blackhorn today and said as long as I use a hot 209 I should be good to go.
Thanks.

Karl,

This is probably the best information you are likely to find on the net about Blackhorn 209, the Mag Spark, and a Sidelock.

http://www.hpmuzzleloading.com/NewProducts8.html

[Karl B. Andersen]

That gives me a GREAT deal of confidence.
Thanks for the link.

[Busta]

That gives me a GREAT deal of confidence.
Thanks for the link.

You are welcome.

I would recommend the Federal 209A, or the CCI 209M (Magnum) primers in that order to maximize your ignition.

Good luck!

[HammerMan/LongbowMan]

I've been using it in my 54 cal t/c hawken with the mag-spark nipple.  It works everytime with the cci 209 primers I've been using.

I'm not sure how much powder to use yet, so the most I've done is 50gr.  The recoil is very light, so I would imagine I could up that to about 70 gr like they do with 777.

I did this when the new nipples came out about a year ago.  When I emailed blackhorn about this, they didn't recommend or condone the use in sidelocks. 

I wonder if they have any testing on this setup yet?

[Karl B. Andersen]

I've been using it in my 54 cal t/c hawken with the mag-spark nipple.  It works everytime with the cci 209 primers I've been using.

I'm not sure how much powder to use yet, so the most I've done is 50gr.  The recoil is very light, so I would imagine I could up that to about 70 gr like they do with 777.

I did this when the new nipples came out about a year ago.  When I emailed blackhorn about this, they didn't recommend or condone the use in sidelocks. 



I wonder if they have any testing on this setup yet?

They did not recommend it because they were not familiar with the Mag Spark conversion until I called them and asked questions.
They do NOT recommend it with the #11 caps.

Were the CCI primers you used the Magnum ones?

[HammerMan/LongbowMan]

I was using the standard CCI 209 primers, not the magnums.

It works great!  It may not be traditional, but it's what I'm going to use from now on.