Hogdon 777 FFg advice needed

[Karl B. Andersen]

I've had to make a switch pretty late in the Illinois deer hunting season!
I need somebody to help me cut my learning curve waaaaaaaaaaaay down!
Will Hogdon 777 in FFg be a good choice for me in my T/C hawken, and if so, how much with lead coniclas? 90g? 100g?
Quick!
The weekend is almost upon me!

[quickdtoo]

Hodgdon has load data on their web site.

Tim

http://www.hodgdon.com/data/muzzleloading/

[Idaho Ron]

I tried it with my Renegade. I didn't like it due to the lead deposits that the HOT 777 melted off my bullet and left in the barrel.  I used 100 gr of Pyrodex Select RS and a 410 gr Hornady in my 50 cal.  Ron

[jh45gun]

Know this will not help you, but I went back to black. I now shoot 3f Goex and after shooting almost a pound of 777 there really is not much of a difference in clean up the 3f may take a couple extra patches, but that is about it. I suppose if you cannot get black you have to use a sub but I have had it with the subs they have their issues too and not any powder is safe if you do not clean right away. Some of the subs may not be corrosive but they attract water which leads to rust so you need to clean no matter what you shoot and at 15 bucks a pound for black compared to 24 bucks for 777 or some other sub the choice was clear for me. Pyrodex is dirtier than black. 777 leaves a crud ring which could lead to a short start and AP and some of the others have a (censored word)ty shelf life. Black will last indefinately and is consistant shot ater shot. Guess its hard to beat an origional. 

If you do use 777 remember you can cut your charge by 15 percent so maybe even 70 grains may be enough which would equal 85 grains of black or an other sub.  My load for a REAL bullet in 50 cal was 80 grains of 777. Note every gun is different so asking for a load is kinda tough as what works for any of us may not work for you. The only thing to do is start out say at 70 grains and work on up until you find a load the gun likes. That could be anywhere from 70 grains up to 100. I for one do not fall for the 150 grain hype the industry is trying to sell us on using. If a 45/70 can shoot a 500 grain bullet and kill anything walking using 70 grains of black  powder why should a muzzle loader need 150?  The answer is they do not.

[Plink]

Start low and work your way up. Your gun will tell you when you find the right load. You don't need a really hot load to drive a conical through a deer, or even an elk. Since 777 is more powerful than black powder, I'd suggest starting at about 60 grains and working up 5 grains at a time. When you find the most accurate load, it'll work fine for hunting. 90-100 is usually too much for accuracy, at least in my guns.

[Karl B. Andersen]

Thanks for all your help!
I didn't know about reducing my gr/load by 15% until I started my research.
Now! next question.
I cannot find any Winchester 777 209 primers in my immediate area, and they can't be shipped by mail without an extra $20.00 fee.
What's the next best 209 I can use? Remington Cleanbore?
I know 777 has been around longer than the Win. 777 209s, so what have ya'll been using up to this time?
(Don't tell me about the ACP conversions - it's too late this year)
(And don't tell me about waiting too late!)

[sharps4590]

Methinks you be in the wrong forum.....209's go in shotgun shells.

Vic

[jh45gun]

Thanks for all your help!
I didn't know about reducing my gr/load by 15% until I started my research.
Now! next question.
I cannot find any Winchester 777 209 primers in my immediate area, and they can't be shipped by mail without an extra $20.00 fee.
What's the next best 209 I can use? Remington Cleanbore?
I know 777 has been around longer than the Win. 777 209s, so what have ya'll been using up to this time?
(Don't tell me about the ACP conversions - it's too late this year)
(And don't tell me about waiting too late!)

Yea your breaking GB's post on what is traditional but for a quick answer I have used standard primers of most brands and have not had a problem. The 777 primers from what I understand is to eliminate the crud ring supposidly. You better switch this to the inline forum if you have not already.