First Test with Black Mag 3 Powder

[Mark whiz]

OK, I did get to do a little experimenting with the Black Mag 3 today with my 22" Knight USAK rifle.

1st off, I can say it is VERY clean burning.  I shot as many as 6 shots before running a spit patch down the bore and the patch was barely discolored at all by the fouling.   :grin:   Also no sticky breech plug or crud ring to contend with during loading or clean up.

AS far as shooting it goes, I didn't get to run it thru all my bullet choices, like I had wanted to - but I got enough data to establish some general comments.  All the testing I did was with the 300gr XTP Mag sabots, using #11 CCI Mag percussion caps.

Generally,in my rifle, BM3 is noticeably less powerful than the 2fg 777 I've been using. This confirms the info I got earlier this week in my cap & ball revolver (which showed that 30gr of BM3 was 14% weaker than 3fg 777).

For Example, my normal load is 80gr of 2fg 777 with that bullet for best accuracy and last month that load chronyed at an average velocity of 1501fps. I started off using 80gr of BM3 and it only clocked in at 1403fps, with wide velocity deviations and 3.75" groups at 80yds.  Upping the charge to 85gr yielded 1447fps and a group of 2.65" (the deviations between rounds were cut in half. Upping the charge to 90gr yielded 1474fps with a corresponding drop in velocity deviations and a group of 2.69".

I then tried my "control" load of 80gr 777 and that resulted in a 1.62" group at near 1500fps.
Then I ran out of range time.  

Based on what I saw, I think 95gr of BM3 will yield velocity results close to my 80gr 777 load (I'm not so sure accuracy will improve to the 777 standard though).
BTW, that puts BM3 on a par (powerwise) with Pyro RS - since my standard 300gr bullet load with RS is 95gr.

So far, I can't say I see the need in paying $25 for another pound of BM3 at this point.  I'll get around 10 less shots per pound with it for $5 more cost and at best accuracy might equal 777.  I'm not sure a little cleaner burn is worth that for me...............MAYBE if the price came down and the stuff was more readily available - MAYBE.

[Keith Lewis]

Like I posted on another site; I got almost the exact opposite results with my .50 Omega with 300gr. bullet in sabot. I found ffg 777 to be less powerful over the chronograph than equal volume of Black Mag'3. I found higher velocity with 209 primers and slightly lower with small rifle primers. I found the poorest performance in my .54 Hawken with PRB and #11 mag primers. Apparently the rifle does make a difference. I will continue to pay the price for Black Mag'3 for the Omega as it is the powder that makes that rifle perform the best. I may settle on some other powder for my Hawken. So far Pinnacle is looking pretty good for the Hawken; A little dirty but performance was good. It looks like Black Mag'3 likes a hot primer.

[Busta]

Black Mag'3 likes a longer barrel! BM'3 has a longer pressure curve than 777 and that is why a 22" barrel is not going to get the full potential out of BM'3. This is why Keith's Omega really shines with BM'3, because of the longer barrel. The BM'3 does not do as well with slip fit conicals either such as the case with my Whites, that is why Doc recommends Pyrodex P or the FFFG equivalent. In my experience BM'3 really shines in 24" and longer barrels with saboted ammo. My Huntsman loves the stuff. :wink:  
 
Your mileage may vary.

[astrix]

My 26" sidekick absolutely loves the BM3.My groups
tightened up considerably over using T7 with both
the 209's and the small rifle primers with all bullet
weights I tested.Well worth the extra money for me.
Pyrodex "P" still shoots the best out of my Renegade 50
with PRB.

[Redhawk1]

Mark whiz, you probably won't see the crud ring using #11 caps even with triple7. It is related with the 209 primer.

[Mark whiz]

Yep Redhawk1,

I've never had a problem with the crud ring - I can even get off 3 or 4 shots without having to spit patch with 777.  But the issue of sticking breech plugs HAS plagued me with 777, until I started using the teflon tape.

It may well be that BM3 won't get the job done for me with my short barrel, but hey - you have to try everything just make sure you're not missing out on something.  :grin:

[Redhawk1]

Mark whiz, I know what you mean. But I stopped at triple7. I have great success with  it.