Pelletized vs Loose powder.

[doegirl]

Can anyone explain to me why the recommendation for "magnum" muzzleloaders is 3 pellets of pyrodex yet in loose form your limited to 100 grains?  I have a CVA Kodiak "Magnum" in .45 caliber and those are the recommendations.. Now,mind you,  I have no desire to pour 150 grains of my loose pyrodex down the Kodiaks barrel.  Just wondering why the difference loose vs pellets.

[smokepolehall]

3 50gr. pellets don't give up the same power as loose powder! I know what CVA says about their ML's can stand that kind of pressure. My advice is never ever use over 100 gr. of loose in that ML. I don't want to scare you, their bbl's are not equal to american steel! I have harvested many of deer with my Renegade using 80gr. of 3f blk.powder or pyro or trip7. :grin:

[doegirl]

3 50gr. pellets don't give up the same power as loose powder! I know what CVA says about their ML's can stand that kind of pressure. My advice is never ever use over 100 gr. of loose in that ML. I don't want to scare you, their bbl's are not equal to american steel! I have harvested many of deer with my Renegade using 80gr. of 3f blk.powder or pyro or trip7. :grin:

I don't think, at least according to Hogdon, you should use over 100grains of loose pyro in ANY muzzleloader.  I think CVA is just repeating that recommendation.  Currently using 90 grains of pyrodex in my .45.  Enough 'fer me!

[Busta]

According to Hodgdon you should NEVER use more than a 100 gr charge of pellets in 45 / 50 calibers and 120 gr charge in 54 caliber rifles. It is the manufacturers of the muzzleloaders that are recommending the 150 gr charges of pellets. :roll:

Check it out here.
http://www.hodgdon.com/data/muzzleloading/pellet-warnings.php

This is straight from Hodgdons.

MAXIMUM LOAD WARNING

45 and 50 CALIBER RIFLE:
45 Caliber Pellets come in one size: 50 grain
50 Caliber Pellets come in two (2) sizes:
1) 50 grain volume equivalent which equals 50 grains of loose powder by volume.
2) 30 grain volume equivalent which equals 30 grains of loose powder by volume.

The maximum load per shot should never exceed total Pellets containing more than 100 grains volume equivalent. That means, no more than:


45 Caliber
  1) Two (2) 50 grain Pellets
  2) Three (3) 44/45 caliber 30 grain Pellets

50 Caliber
  1) Three (3) 30 grain Pellets, or
  2) Two (2) 50 grain Pellets, or
  3) One (1) 50 grain Pellet and one (1) 30 grain Pellet  

54 CALIBER RIFLE:
54 Caliber Pyrodex Pellets come in one size only:
60 grain volume equivalent which equals 60 grains of loose powder by volume.

The maximum load per shot should never exceed 120 grains (2) Pellets.

44/45 CALIBER PISTOL:
The maximum load per each revolver chamber should never exceed one (1) revolver Pellet. Exceeding maximum load may cause damage to the firearm and cause personal injury or death to the shooter or bystanders.

* At no time should the shooter exceed the firearm manufacturers recommended maximum load. If there is a question concerning the firearm maximum load, please contact the firearm manufacturer for guidance.

[Redhawk1]

Take a 50 gr. triple7 pellet and weigh it on a scale, then pour loose triple7 in a powder measure to 50 gr. and weigh it. It is not the same, the loose powder weights more and both are supposed to be 50 gr. My Encore calls for 150 gr. of triple7 max load, three 50 gr. pellets or 120 gr. of loose triple seven.  

The reason Hodgdon only recommends 100 gr. charge is because there is a lot on muzzleloader manufacture's that don't recommend anything over 100 gr. charge. It is then up to the muzzleloader manufacture to recommend there max charge. It is a liability issue.

Hope this helps.  

doegirl, the Encore can go above 100 gr. charge.

[AndyHass]

Both Pyrodex and 777 have been mentioned here.  Remember that when guns are rated by the manufacturer for 150gr, they mean black powder or pyrodex...NOT 777.  777 is about 15% more powerful, so the charge needs to be reduced (max about 130gr).

I haven't shot pellets in awhile, but I remember getting similar results with 100gr pellets vs 100gr powder.  777 is different; knowing that people will get confused between the powders, the "50 gr" 777 pellets are not equivalent to 50gr loose.  This is to prevent people from dropping 3 down the barrel like they did with pyrodex pellets and over-charging the gun.