Tell me why 150gr pellets is okay but 150gr loose is not.

[RicMic]

I would like a good explanation about why 150gr pellets is okay and 150gr loose powder is not (in a "magnum" gun of course).

[Redhawk1]

That's an easy one. 150 gr. of pellets is not really 150 gr. of loose powder. If you weighed 3 pellets with would be about the same weight as 120 gr. of loose powder.

Because if you took 50 gr. of loose powder and compressed it it would still be 50 gr. The pellets are not 50 gr.s. I hope I explained it good enough.  

[Keith Lewis]

Redhawk has it right. The Pyrodex pellets were supposed to be equal to the 150gr. charge of real black powder which is why they are a reduced charge. The 777 pellets are supposed to be reduced even further to equal the Pyrodex pellets all at 150gr. black powder equivalent. Personally I don't like the pellets anyway but that is what the reasoning was for the formation of them.

[150_Class]

Depends on who you ask. Some gun manufacturers are OK with 150 in pellets or powder. And, most powder manufacturers say 100 grain max, pellets or powder. All guns get to a point where there is max powder burn and the excess powder just blows out the end of the barrel unburnt. So, it looks like I did a good job of avoiding the answer to your question, which I think probably already was.

[sduve]

I am having a difficult time following along. I thought 150 gr was by volume and had nothing to do with what it weighed. Am I missing the point?

[Keith Lewis]

You are correct that black powder and equivalents are measured by volume not weight; however, if you measure by volume for any specific powder and then weigh the results it is possible to then use the weight as a measure. When evaluating similar powder like Pyrodex loose and Pyrodex pellets the weight should be the same for the same equivalent volume but when the pellets are weighed they will come out lighter because they have been reduced in powder to match real black powder and the same goes for 777 with even bigger reductions. Basically the final answer is follow the directions in your owners manual or load lighter than their recommended maximum load and everything will be OK.

[Redhawk1]

I am having a difficult time following along. I thought 150 gr was by volume and had nothing to do with what it weighed. Am I missing the point?

You are correct, it is measured in volume.  But what I do is take 10 measurements of weight from lets say 100 grins of triple seven buy volume. I take the average of the 10 weights and now have a weight I can use for a consistent charge. It works out great for me. I also do the same thing when I reload black powder cartridges for my 45-70. I weighted 10 of the volume charges of 70 gr. by volume charges and came up with 74 gr. by weight. So now I load all my 45-70 with 74 gr. by weight and have a more consistent charge and my groups are better.  

[toytruck]

What brand of scale do you have RedHawk?  Any recommendations on which scale is best?

[Keith Lewis]

What brand of scale do you have RedHawk?  Any recommendations on which scale is best?

You asked Redhawk; but I will answer too. I use an old (probably 40 years or so old) Ohaus 505 scale and a brand new Pact electronic scale. To be honest I probably use the 505 most of the time as it is small handy and always reliable. The big expensive electronic thing takes too much time to get out of the box I keep it in since it is so expensive. I would look at either the Ohaus if they still make it or the RCBS small beam balance type scale which is almost identical. Unless you are going to do multiple measures in a short time these will suit your purpose just fine. I also volume measure and then convert to weight measure for all my hunting loads as I feel they are more consistent, (No do not ask for proof as I only FEEL that they are more consistent) have not shot enought to prove it.

[Redhawk1]

What brand of scale do you have RedHawk?  Any recommendations on which scale is best?

I have a Pact electronic scale. I did have a RCBS 5-0-5 but I gave it to a buddy. I run my powder through a Lyman BP measure and then top it off with a powder tricklier to come up with the proper weight.

[sheephunterab]

I've shot 150-grain loose loads of Pyrodex RS from both my Omega and Encore countless times. It is a recommended load from T/C. Interestingly, three 50 grain Pyrodex pellets give me 150-200fps extra muzzle velocity. I know there is a significant difference in powder weight with T7 loose versus pellets but haven't seen it with Pyrodex.

[Redhawk1]

sheephunterab, take a  50 grain Pyrodex pellet and weigh it, then meter out 50 gr. by volume of loose Pyrodex powder and weigh it. It will be different.  

[sheephunterab]

I actually haven't seen much difference at all with Pyrodex...just T7. That's why the Pyrodex pellets produce so much velocity...they are a full 50 grains, unlike the T-7 pellets. No other 150-grain  load has come close to producing the velocities out of my Omega that three Pyro pellets do.