Author Topic: T7 in flintlock (Read 957 times)

toecutter · « **on:** October 25, 2004, 07:30:05 AM »

I'm sure this seems like blasphemy to most, but I was wondering if anyone is currently using T7 in their Flinter? Something like 2 or 3f down the barrel and 4F in the pan. I searched here a little in the old posts but wasn't completely sure with the replys. Sorry, I'm just plain lazy and like to keep my barrels dirty once the season starts. Anyhow, corrosion and sulfur smell never had that hard a hold on me :eek:
thanks in advance

D.E.C · « **Reply #1 on:** October 25, 2004, 08:33:33 AM »

YES, BEEN USING T7 2F AND JUST TRIED 3F IN .50CAL GPR. I POUR 4-5GRS. OF 4F IN BARREL THEN POUR MAIN CHARGE ON TOP OF THAT. BEEN GETTING GOOD GROUPS AT 50 AND 100 YARDS. TRIED BLACKPOWDER AND GOT SLIGHTLY SMALLER GROUPS BUT BOTH SHOOT FINE.

Good time Charlie · « **Reply #2 on:** October 25, 2004, 04:29:15 PM »

I tried it in my TC hawken flinter in .50 cal. It just would not shoot! maybe one shot in ten trys. Switched to 3f Goex and it shoots great!
Old Charlie

Keith Lewis · « **Reply #3 on:** October 25, 2004, 05:53:18 PM »

You might like to try Black Mag3 if you can find any. I just did a comparison on the Modern site comparing to Clean Shot and T7. This new synthetic burns very clean and is supposed to be non-corrosive. I shot several shots in a row with an inline. It is very fine and should work well in a flintlock. Unfortunately it is about $25.00 a pound when you can find it. I had to order it from Midsouth Shooters Supply so I had to pay a HazMat fee.

JPSaxMan · « **Reply #4 on:** October 27, 2004, 10:41:25 AM »

Yeppers. Veteran T7 user right here. I'm not a strict traditionalist, but I do use a Traditions Hawken and I pour straight 2F down the barrel (10 grns.) first then 70 grns T7 down on top. Seems OK...just have to take a deer with it...then I'll tell ya what I think!

filmokentucky · « **Reply #5 on:** October 27, 2004, 01:16:20 PM »

I'm truly not seeking to ruffle any feathers here. I'm just having trouble seeing an advantage to a powder that costs more and (in a flintlock) requires an additional loading step. Once you've decided to pour some ffg
or fffg down the barrel, why not just pour a full charge and be done with it? Why use the Triple 7? Once the black powder is used you need to clean as usual any way, and D.E.C. finds B.P. to be more accurate. So, what's the point? Again, I seek enlightenment, not controversy.

toecutter · « **Reply #6 on:** October 27, 2004, 01:46:34 PM »

One word for me..."LAZINESS" Ease of cleaning, greater pressure less powder. I don't fully clean regularly so I really like the ease of not having to do a spotless clean after each use. No muss no fuss, just water to clean. I know there are a lot of people who feel polar opposite on the subject but that's what works for me!!

D.E.C · « **Reply #7 on:** October 28, 2004, 01:36:22 PM »

WELL FILMOKENTUCKY, SINCE YOU ASKED,

I STARTED USING T7 IN CARTRIDGE SINGLE ACTION REVOLVERS AND LEVER ACTION RIFLE. WORKS WELL AND THOSE GUNS ARE HARDER TO CLEAN DUE TO MORE SMALL AREAS TO CLEAN.

WHEN I BOUGHT A PERC. MUZZLE LOADER LAST JUNE I HAD SOME 2F T7 SO I STARTED WITH THAT. THEN LAST MONTH I BUILT A GPR FLINTLOCK KIT AND STARTED WITH WHAT I HAD, T7.

TRUE I DO GET SLIGHTLY SMALLER GROUPS WITH BP BUT ONLY SLIGHTLY SMALLER, 1/4" AT 50 YRDS TO 1/2" AT 100YRDS.

I DO CLEAN COMPLETELY AFTER EVERY SHOOT AND DON'T FIND EITHER BP OR T7 DIFFICULT TO CLEAN IN A SINGLE SHOT RIFLE. USE BP ONLY IN MY SHARPS REPLICAS.

I'LL PROBABLY GO TO BP ONLY IN MY FLINTER BUT WILL USE T7 IN MY PERCUSSION RIFLE SINCE I'M VERY PLEASED WITH IT IN THAT GUN.

filmokentucky · « **Reply #8 on:** October 28, 2004, 07:35:22 PM »

I've always used B.P. in my guns with a very brief experiment with Pyrodex when it first appeared. I tend to clean thoroughly no matter what the powder, but in any case, once I used a duplex load of B.P. and T7 I would want to clean as if I had used B.P. alone just to preclude rusting. And, I can certainly put the money saved by using GOEX over T7 to good use. If there was an accuracy advantage or speed of loadind edge or some such, I might consider giving T7 a try, but that doesn't seem to be the case, and ffg seems to be a viable alternative at present. We'll see what what happens in the new .54 Hawken.

JPSaxMan · « **Reply #9 on:** October 29, 2004, 01:18:15 PM »

Well from what I understand. the T7 is more accurate thanks to it's higher pressures and "specifically blended" powders. So...I will spend the extra $2 or $3 on it.

filmokentucky · « **Reply #10 on:** October 29, 2004, 03:46:54 PM »

I've never heard that higher pressures, by themselves, contributed to better accuracy. Don't know about the "specifically blended" powders, but
I'll bet they work even better on Madison Avenue. I pay $11.00 a pound for GOEX and I'm told 777 is about $20.00 a pound. As I can pretty much hit what I aim at and don't in the least mind cleaning my firearms, I believe I'll just stick my old fashioned and slightly less expensive propellant. To each his own, I guess.

JPSaxMan · « **Reply #11 on:** October 29, 2004, 04:50:41 PM »

Yes indeed, yes indeed.

tundragriz · « **Reply #12 on:** October 31, 2004, 10:14:20 PM »

I use T7 FFFg 100gr. exclusively in my Lyman Great Plains Hunter. I'm currently out of the country and don't have access to my loading data but I think I get about 1700fps with Powerbelt 295HPs. Shoots about 4 high at 50, 4 high at 100, and right on at 150. At 150 groups are around 3-4".

I've shot over 100 rounds so far with I think 2 shots where there was a flash and no bang. I don't use any primer charge, just Goex 4f in the pan. I never shot this gun with BP but I think there is a longer delay than what I have using BP in my TC renegade flinter. Also haven't used it in temps below freezing.

I like going to the range and shooting up to 20 rounds without cleaning, only have to clean the pan every 4-5. I also have the same point of impact, freshly cleaned or not.

Good time Charlie · « **Reply #13 on:** November 01, 2004, 12:14:59 AM »

I have some T7 I bought and was shooting in my cap guns. It worked fine in them. When I bought the flinter I had to get some Goex to get it to shoot. I just up the load 15% from T7 and can tell no differance other than the Goex makes more smoke. T7 seven at wally World is $25 a pound. I bought 25 Pounds of goex at $7.50 a pound. Shiping and the has-mat fee made it $9.11 a pound. I'll be shooting Goex.
Old Charlie

zrifleman · « **Reply #14 on:** November 01, 2004, 06:15:52 PM »

Toecutter--back to your original question, some of these guys missed the point that you are asking about using 777 in a flintlock. In a caplock T7 has been a problem for many of us--regular misfires, hard to ignite consistently unless one uses a 209 primer. My personal experience says it is harder to clean than BP and accuracy was not any better. In a flintlock with BP as the pan primer, it might be ignite OK. What's wrong with good old BP??

quickdtoo · « **Reply #15 on:** November 01, 2004, 06:39:11 PM »

Quote from: zrifleman

OK. What's wrong with good old BP??

Availability! T7 and pyrodex are sold just about anywhere, black powder on the other hand, isn't. If Goex shared the same availability, I"m sure more folks would use it.

toecutter · « **Reply #16 on:** November 02, 2004, 05:51:04 AM »

Thanks Z, I Think the biggest problem for me is that I have this obsessive compulsive cleaning thing when it comes to preventing corrosion. In order for me to sleep at night, I need to use non-corrosive powders in my guns. :wink: The positive side of this is that I'm half kidding, the sad thing is I'm half not! :eek:

RussB · « **Reply #17 on:** November 02, 2004, 09:04:51 AM »

Quote from: quickdtoo

Quote from: zrifleman
OK. What's wrong with good old BP??

Availability! T7 and pyrodex are sold just about anywhere, black powder on the other hand, isn't. If Goex shared the same availability, I"m sure more folks would use it.

Right on! quickdto.
Here in my little neck of the woods real black has become scarce as hen's teeth. And once you do find it the price is ridiculous.

The last single 1# can I bought, cost me over $23.00 by the time I paid tax. I made up my mind right then and there, there ain't going be no more of that nonsense. Guess we can still save a few bucks by ordering case lots and paying the fees, so I guess thats what I will be doing from now on.

I would love to support our local gun shops, but I can't afford prices like that. Don't know if it's a rip-off or not, they insist it's not.
Either way, it's just too much for black powder.
I think the major reason for folks turning to synthetic black is affordability.
When it comes down to shoot, or not to shoot, I will be finding something else too.
Just my thoughts.
Russ

filmokentucky · « **Reply #18 on:** November 02, 2004, 11:37:30 AM »

Ordering in bulk is definitely the way to go. Check Track's web-site. Your local dealer can do the same, so you are being ripped off. If you don't want to buy 25 pounds yourself, get 4 or 5 others to split the order with you. Track's price includes Haz-Mat and delivery fees, so it's a fair price. If you are using a big bore such as a Hawken, it is amazing how fast you can burn through 25 pounds---at 100 grs. or more per round that's only 70 or fewer shots to the can.

RCL · « **Reply #19 on:** November 02, 2004, 02:04:03 PM »

Last pound can of Goex I bought (got it in Pennsylvania) was $14 with the tax. This was at Gander Mountain about a year ago.

zrifleman · « **Reply #20 on:** November 02, 2004, 09:28:56 PM »

At $23.00 a lb for Goex, you are getting ripped off!!! Even here in So. Kalifornia it goes for about $16.00-$18.00 an lb. I just bought some in Oregon, 4 lbs for $9.50 a lb and 4 lbs for $12.50 a lb from 2 different BP dealers. Swiss sells for about $22.00 a lb here. There are people on the internet who will sell 5 lb amounts of Goex and Swiss for reasonable prices. As long as you are willing to pay too much they are happy to charge too much. Talk to members of a local BP club and ask them where the club gets it's powder.