Triple-7 pellets ...... Will musket caps work okay?

[Couger]

Here in WA state we're limited to no 209 ignition, only pure-solid lead projectiles, and no optics of any kind.

This year will be my first year deer hunting with a muzzle loader, a Knight .50 Wolverine.  I plan on using T-7 powder or pellets and musket caps.

What is better to use with musket caps?  Loose T-7 powder?  Or pellets?  So far I have only shot the rifle with 209 primers and 80 grains of pyrodex pellets to break in the barrel and get familiar with the gun.

Suggestions please?

I'm using Hornady .430 caliber 240 grain semi-wad cutters in plastic sabots, on whitetails.

Thanks!

[Redhawk1]

I have heard that loose triple7 works better with the #11 caps, but I have shot both the loose triple7 and the pellets with the #11 caps. Give them both a try.  

[oneshotonekill]

I've used #11 caps with 777 pellets with no ignition problems so I would think you would be fine with musket caps and either form of 777.  I personally prefer the loose powder for the ability to easily fine tune a load.


So in WA state you are required to shoot pure lead projectiles but you can launch them in a plastic sabot?  It seems odd that they are so restrictive but they allow the use of sabots.

[iisabigone]

cougar I used the musketcap to set off 777 pellets and pyro pellets just last weekend in a Knight Wolverine and a Knight Bighorn.  I did not have any ignition problems and both rifles shot great groups.

Both rifles seemed to prefer the pyro pellets by a narrow margin.  However, both 777 pellets and the pyro pellets provided excellent groups at 100 yards with the 250 grain XTP.

                                                                 iisabigone

[Couger]

I agree its weird we can use sabots and Powerbelts, as long as the actual projectiles are pure lead, but Olympia like many state legislatures aren't terribly swooft!

Will try the musket caps with T-7 pellets and loose powder.  Had heard that caps of any kind were supposed to have trouble igniting the pellets.  After reading the thread about whether to use two pellets or three (50 grain pellets), it would appear either version of T-7 should work okay, unless to fine-tune a load using the loose granules.  I had originally planned to use the loose powder to tune-up a load, but the thread about the 2 vs 3 pellets was pretty convincing.  I'll go with 90 to 120 grains, loose or pellets depending on what the rifle likes.

One thing I have learned becoming familiar with my rifle is that the Harvester-brand sabots appear to be VERY SIMILAR with the MMP sabots, the T/C sabots, Nolser sabots and I'm guessing Buffalo sabots.  The sabots and bases look identical except for the different colors of the plastic.  Is it possible that Harvester makes all the other sabots?  Only changing their cosmetics slightly?

After studying the different loads and reports from Hornady and posters on this forum, 90 grains or so should propel the 240 grain sabots close to 1800 fps and over 1000 foot-pounds at 100 yards.  Midrange trajectory is 1-1.2 inches, which sounds very adequate to kill Mr Whitetail..

[Couger]

After shooting my Knight Wolverine, mainly to break in the new barrel - musket caps worked quite well igniting Pyrodex pellets and loose T-7.

Actually I noticed no difference in the way the rifle shot, 209 primers versus musket caps.  I'm impressed with the rifle too, even if I expand into an Encore and Renegade.

The Triple-7 is also some powerful propellent!

[Redhawk1]

Got to love that triple7.