#11 and Triple 7 powder...

[gebudjr]

as you all know I purchased a Tradition Hawkens kit. I have ordered all my neccesary tools, does any one have any data for sabot with lead cast bullets (270rcbs). Or should I try a different powder. Thanks.
Gilbert

 

[Otter]

Or should I try a different powder. Thanks.
Gilbert

I'd try Lee R.E.A.L. bullets or patched roundball as well as real BP. I've not used T7, but from what I have gleaned by other posts, it would be the best of the subs. I would go with different bullets if I had to choose between changing bullets or changing powder. BP is a bit tough to find on the shelf at most sporting goods stores and gun shops, but can be had on the internet and delivered to your door. IMHO you would not be disappointed in the performance of real BP over any of the subs . . .

 

[rabjr]

There is no substitute for Black powder. :v

 

[Jim Buchholz]

Agree. That said BP isn't easy to find in my neck of the woods so I make do with Pyrodex. Works OK.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Oh, come on. you are on the internet! Go up to the Links section on the Index page, under Member resources, and look for the powder suppliers. There is a guy over in New Mexico that sells powder in bulk, I believe. You can order Black Powder and have it delivered to your doorstep, cheaper than you can buy it retail. Graf, The powder House, and Powder, Inc. are three sources for powder at discount prices. You will have to order 4 or 5 pounds, and a full case of 25 lbs. will get you the lowest pricing. Find some buddies at the club or range to go in with you to buy the powder, so you can split a case.

 

[rabjr]

Costs 95ish bucks for 5 lbs shipped to your door.

 

[Jim Buchholz]

Actually its not THAT hard to find but I need to justify why I have such a large stock of Pyrodex. ....and it really works ok,just stinks a bit.

 

[Tkendrick]

Smokey,

Thunderbird Cartridge Company Inc. Laveen, AZ (602)237-3823

Call first, but they usually have it in stock.

 

[Jim Buchholz]

Copy that. Laveen is not that far from me. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Jim Buchholz]

Just called em. They got 2f at 14.50 lb. Thanks again.

 

[Emet Huntsman]

If you have a hankering to get into reenacting, though, you will want BP -- the others just go pffft if you don't have something heavy sitting on top of em :haha:

 

[BrownBear]

My hunting pard uses Tip7 and #11's with both RB and conicals and is very happy with it. He's using the Lyman plains bullet in his 54 and TC Maxi's in his 50, both homecast. As I recall he's using 80 grains of 3f with each. No misfires, good accuracy and dead deer.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

I haven't tryed 777 yet but have compared it with BP - BP is cheaper, more stable in storage and has a lower ignition temp. 777 supposedly gives a little faster FPS with same charge volume and cleans easier.
I might give it a try sometime after I burn up about 12 lbs of BP.

 

[shdwlkr]

here's his info:

Coonie's Explosives & Black Powder Inc (Coonies Expl & Black Powdr)
Is This Your Company?

512 E Lea St, Hobbs, NM 88240-5233, United States (Map)

Phone: (575) 393-0166

Also Does Business As:Coonies Expl & Black Powdr

SIC:Chemicals and Allied Products, NEC

Line of Business:Whol Explosives
Hopes this helps

 

[paulvallandigham]

Yes, Thank you. I was suffering from CRS disease, and could not remember the dealer when I posted that note. I know the guy lives in Arizona, am I am glad that someone else has told him where to find a local dealer. But, Coonies would be the cheapest place to buy powder, to save shipping fees.

 

[faw3]

While I go with "There is no substitute for Black powder."

Ya do get some speed and kick down power with 3X7, I've just played with a can of it and found it to be as good as BP for most my guns except flinters, but as long as I can get BP I'd use that..which is how I got that caN OF 3x7. :shake: fRED :hatsoff:

 

[BrownBear]

It's a good idea to get acquainted with subs if you ever intend to fly to remote areas of Alaska or almost any other remote area for a hunt, even if you otherwise shoot real black. There's just a whole lot of places up here in Alaska you aren't going to get black unless you make prior arrangements with your guide to have it waiting for you. If he's willing. If he has time. If he remembers. And that's assuming you're using a guide and not on a do-it-yourself hunt.

Call learning to use subs cheap insurance against a whole lot of expense to get in the field without any powder. Point your finger at the animal and say bang. There, you've had your hunt. :surrender:

 

[vikingsword]

Hey Brownbear, well being the diehard that I am I finally tracked down about the only access to getting blackpowder on Kodiak, (legally that is). There is a,Norwest company, out of Two Rivers, AK that can ship Goex by way of Lynden Transport. The price quoted to me was $390 per case-$15.60/lb. Shipping cost will be $203.22 for that case and would be billed to us making the final cost per pound to be $23.75. He also indicated that if we could convince the distributor to ship 2 cases as a single lot, we could probably get it for the same shipping cost, cutting the per pound shipping cost in half. I realize to make this cost effective we would need to get as many of us here in on this deal as possible, and I apologize for getting off course on this thread. Here on Kodiak real black powder is mighty hard to come by.
On another note, for those coming to hunt with BP in Alaska, once you aquire some to hunt with, about the only other obstacle you will face is getting your pilot to transport the stuff. I have found that most pilots with a float plane don't have a problem with it because they can store it in the pontoons during flight but it's the pilots on wheels landing on small air strips that may have a problem with transporting it. VS

 

[doulos]

Brown Bear I agree. You should try some substitutes in case you cant get black. While I use black 99percent of the time Ive tried 777 in both .54 and .58 patched roundball guns . I wasn't expecting much but it was better than I thought. Never had a misfire and accuracy was pretty good. Not as good as black powder but passable.

 

[BrownBear]

Hey VS-

That sounds "good," at least for access. I may have come up with another once-a-year way that could beat that, but it's a maybe. Good to have alternatives, such as they are.

In the meantime I picked some up that has been on the island for quite a while. If you're short, I can fix you up. I'll give you a call. May even stop by today. I'm picking up folks at the airport, and I know they'd like to see your work.

Hey Doulos- Glad to hear at least one other person thinks I'm not quite so crazy. I've run the gamut with all the subs in all my guns from 32 to 58. Surprisingly good performance with Pyro P all the way through. These are cappers, of course. The one place I find pretty consistent ignition problems if you don't take care is in guns with drum bolsters. Load and fire normally, and there's a good chance of a misfire or two. But take the time to whack the lock with your hand a few times after you dump the powder and before you seat the ball, and you're up over 90% on ignition. Switch to CCI #11 magnums and you're at 100% for at least a dozen shots. Switching to musket caps doesn't improve that.

Like we both say, better to take the time beforehand to figure out how to make the stuff work right for you, rather than get stuck somewhere and be forced to use it. Without a clue how to do it in your particular gun.