White .451 M-98 Elite/209 Conversion and Blackhorn 209

[Busta]

I shot the White with the 209 conversion I bought off contendernut and Blackhorn today. The breech plug is like the one that is not approved by Blackhorn 209, with the wire spring that holds the primer and the slots & holes that bleed off the blowback.  I really didn't expect it to work that well, but I was pleasantly surprised. I shot 8 groups with NO swabbing, and the worst one was right at 2". Photobucket isn't working to good for me right now so I only have 2 pictures, will try to post the rest when it will upload them.

The first group, just to see if it would work was 200 gr SST, 80 gr BH209 and CCI 209M. It measured 1.453" and considering that it was also windy and raining off and on I was pleased with that. Center Group Pic #1.

Next I shot the 200 gr SST, 100 gr BH209 and CCI 209M. Measured 2.00", lower right Pic #1.

Next up was the White 350 gr PowerStar, 80 gr BH209 and CCI 209M. This group is a one holer and measured .447". Lower left, Pic #1. Also see Pic #2 for close up. Who says a White can't shoot a sabot, and Blackhorn 209? 

Next was a 460 grain conical, 70 gr BH209, 1 oversized .50 cal felt wad and CCI 209M. This group measured 1.568", but the CCI primers were looking kind of scary. Upper left, Pic #1.

The last group on this target was back to the 200 gr SST, 120 gr BH209, 1 CCI 209M primer that had a slight hang-fire (only one of the day), 2 Federal 209A's to finish up the group. This group still came in under MOA at .897", despite using two different primers. Upper right, Pic #1.

I also shot 3 groups on another target, will try to post pic once it will upload to Photobucket. Group 1, 200 gr SST w/110 gr BH209, Fed 209A, 1.371". Group 2, White 350 gr PowerStar w/90 gr BH209, Fed 209A, 1.243". Group 3, 460 gr Conical w/80 gr BH209, 2 .50 cal felt wads and Fed 209A, 1.238" No problems with the Federal 209A primers at all, the CCI 209M were starting to come apart with the heavy Conicals. 

Pic #1


Pic#2


Blackhorn 209 has always been very consistant, not every day you can shoot 8 groups at 100 yds with unproven powder charges and the worst measures 2" even. Those 350 grain PowerStars with 80 gr BH209 are about as good as it gets.  I just wish that they were still available. 

[dmurphy317]

Great report and results. Good to hear someone else has been trying the BH209 powder in a White. I don't have the 209 conversion for my Umag so I have to add a bit of 777 before loading the BH209 powder in order to get it to fire using a CCI musket cap. I need to do more testing but what little I have done seemed to work fine. I have also recently been testing the new Hornady FPB conical in my White. It worked quite well over 777 3F. I will be trying it with BH 209 next outing. I wish I could find the 209 conversion for my White so I don't have to duplex the load to get it to fire.

[Busta]

There is one BIG drawback to BH209 in the open breech guns, and that is the 209 carbon blowback. I would like to know if anyone has found something that cuts it without the scraping and scrubbing. EZ-OFF oven cleaner, maybe? Just don't know what it will do to stainless.

[dmurphy317]

Have you tried brake cleaner. It seems to work pretty good for me. I just soak it down and let it set, then brush it with a bronse brush. Hoppes #9 helps break it up some also.

[Busta]

Have you tried brake cleaner. It seems to work pretty good for me. I just soak it down and let it set, then brush it with a bronse brush. Hoppes #9 helps break it up some also.

No I haven't tried brake cleaner yet. I tried carb cleaner and it hardly touched it. Hoppes will work with time and scrubbing, but the reason I started shooting BH209 is to save time cleaning. At least in my Knight w/NFPJ Conversion it all builds up in the breech plugs .125" diameter flame channel for the first 25-30 shots. A 1/8" drill bit turned by hand makes quick work of that.

[sabotloader]

Busta

I know what you mean about the carbon... besides blowing a primer to pieces the carbon track on the floor of the reciever was a bear to get out.  I ended up using a small piece of a Scotch Brite abrasive pad and bore cleaner to rub it out.

Might have to try the brake cleaner idea... next time, but at this point probably will not use BH in the White - do not want to worry about dodging primer parts with the open breech.