Blackhorn 209 in cold weather-Primer Choice?

[carbineman]

It has been stated by some that the Winchester 777 primer will work well with the MU breechplug and Blackhorn 209. Seeing how the MU offering is fairly new has anyone tried lighting off say 80-90 grains of Blackhorn 209 using a 777 primed MU breechplug in freezing weather?

The reason I ask is all I have for primers is Federal 209A's to use in my MU plugged Sidekick, and being frugal I don't want to buy others if any chance of a problem may ocurr. I just use my Sidekick to do some late season hunting and not much else. I just don't want lots of extra supplies for it. Thanks for any info.

[Busta]

Use your Federal 209A primers, they are the best for cold weather anyways.

You can use pretty much any primer in the MU plug, but when Hunting in the cold stuff I'm going to have the Fed 209A's in my rifle. Why chance it?

[carbineman]

Use your Federal 209A primers, they are the best for cold weather anyways.

You can use pretty much any primer in the MU plug, but when Hunting in the cold stuff I'm going to have the Fed 209A's in my rifle. Why chance it?

Busta, Thanks for the reply. I somewhat suspected from reading your other informative posts, that the 209A's would be good for cold weather. The 209A's are all that I've used so far, as I keep them for doing just a little bit of shotgun loading. With the economy the way it is, we use the KISS method for most of our daily routines, and my centerfire and shotgun loading is no different.

[carbineman]

Back to the top for Tank concerning primer usage.

[walmpus]

I have used 777 primers down to about zero (or colder with wind) accompanied with incliment weather and I've never had any problems. If I do have any problems with cold weather and 777 primers I will be sure to post about them.

With the design of the breech plug for bh209 it would seem that ignition wouldnt be a problem since the charge litterlly sits on top of the primer. It is essentially like a modern cartridge. I dont know of any other breech plug for muzzlelaoders quite like that. So I wouldnt think with the powder sitting right on top of the primer it would take much of a spark to ignite.

I would be interested to hear some stories of those who had problems in cold weather with 777 primers. Might same me some trouble/headaches in the future? Just a side note: I have heard from other hunters who have picked up a package of 777 primers and half of them were bad or they would just barely "pop" like they were really weak primers. Could this be the case in cold weather? I have never had a bad 777 primer so I cant say and I am certainly not saying this has been the case in cold weather, just putting that out there because its what I have been told.

wcb
 
wcb

[Tank1425]

Thanks Carbineman!! I have a really good looking load right now. Hornady XTP 240 gr 45/50. with 110 grains of 777 fff giving me 1.5" groups. I actually spoke with a guy at the range that has been using blackhorn and he has no problems. So I might have to give it a try. Thanks for bringing this back to the top for me!

[carbineman]

Glad you were able to check it out. Thanks to Busta, as he is the man with these Huntsmans and Sidekicks. All I had to do was read here to learn how to load for my 24" SS Sidekick.

[bubba]

you guys have almost and I repeat almost talked me into trying blackhorn.  Maybe next spring after hunting season since I am all dialed in at this time. 

[Doug B.]

you guys have almost and I repeat almost talked me into trying blackhorn.  Maybe next spring after hunting season since I am all dialed in at this time. 

Come on Bubba.....a new jug of BH209 would give you yet another reason to shoot some more! My gut feeling is it wouldn't take too many rounds to get your smoke stick on target anyway.

[Swampman]

I'll be using BH209 in my Sidekick.

[bubba]

i need to see if i can find some locally

[bubba]

ok I asked my local dealer to get some bh209 in so I can try it.  I still do no tknow why when I have 5 bullet touchung groups at 100 ytards, but I will give it a whirl

[bubba]

holy crap  I bought a container of blackhoorn 209 39.99.  It better shoot very well. 

[bubba]

ok I am hooked, at least for my enore.  I took it and the can of bh209 today.  I was using winchester 777 primers.  I had a hangfire the first shot, which I blamed on the oil in the barrel. next time I will wipe out and or pop off a cap before loading.  Anyway after the mifire, ignition was great and I loaded 10 times without swabbing the barrel. I used 75 grains and the usual projectile a 250 grain round nose 44 caliber bullet I mold myself with a crush rib sabot.  I was shooting 100 grains of pyrosex select with the same projectile and was happy.  Well my groups were tighter and all made a giant hole in the center target without adjusting the scope.  So 100 of pyrodex shot the same place as 75 of BH.  I was very impressed.  Clean up was a breeze with G96 and patches with my cleaning jag.  I will try it in the sidekick next week.