Black Mag Shotgun pattern results

[Bob J]

The Circle Fly brand wads arrived last week from Track of the Wolf and I went to range to try patterning the 10 gauge using Black Mag 3. Stumpy had mentioned selecting the shot load and adjusting powder 'till it patterns and this is what I did. I was limited to 25 yards at the range but that's a good turkey hunting distance. Using 1 1/2 oz. of #5 "magnum" shot (hardened), Circle Fly overpowder card, 1/2" pre-lubed fiber wad and over shot card, the results were as follows:

80 grains - poor
90 grains - pretty good
100 grains - consistently excellent (10 - 12 pellets in kill zone each of four targets , quite a few more pellets in general head and neck area)
110 grains - excellent, but other times just fair.

Obviously the this shotgun is prefers 100 grains. Recoil, though lively, was noticeably less than the 110 grain load.

Bore cleanup with Black Mag 3 was a snap. The only real chore was cap residue.

Whew! Can finally sleep knowing the trusty 10 double is ready for Spring Gobbler season! ::

 

[musketman]

Whew! Can finally sleep knowing the trusty 10 double is ready for Spring Gobbler season! ::

Now all you need is for the turkey to co-operate... :thumbsup:

 

[fatboy]

Hey Bob J what make of 10 ga. do you own ? and what kinda choke if any do your barrels have ? My 12 is wide open. what is this Black mag how does it compare to Triple/7 and goex 2f and or 3f?

 

[Bob J]

LHunter-
The 10 ga. is a Pedersoli with modified and improved cyl barrels. It actually seems to pattern denser with the imp cyl (right) barrel. Black Mag 3 is a new black powder substitute that is somwhat hotter than Goex yet reportedly produces lower pressures. It seems to be non-corrosive. I've had no ignition problems in shotgun or GPR. I'd say its similar to triple 7 but perhaps even easier clean-up and no crud-wing :imo:. It smokes like Goex but there is no residue and I have found no build-up between shots (loads as easy after tenth shot with no swabbing in-between). Our range was damaged by hurricanes and have only shot at 25 yards, but accuracy seems comparable to Goex, that is, excellent. At $27.00 to 30.00/lb, it ain't cheap, but the time saved in cleaning makes up for it, again, :imo: You can check out their site at[url] magkor.com[/url].

 

[fatboy]

Sounds interesting I'll have to do some research into it I like my Goex. My 12ga rocks pretty good its lite and I guess thats why and I could use some drop in the stock nails the side of your face good. I posted a pic of my 12 ga in the smoothie sec check it out

 

[Bob J]

LHunter-
That's a beauty! :RO: Where did you get the barrels? As far as recoil, for range work (that is, load development) I have a slip-on Pachmayer recoil pad and also a leather type that waps around the stock and velcros. The leather one looks traditional-enough to use in the field, though i haven't bothered when turkey hunting. Again, beautiful shotgun! :thumbsup:

 

WOW that's expensive & in US dollars, too! I picked up 10 pounds of it from a bloke who got out of BP shooting, for $10.00 per lb. It really shoots well in the
BP ctg. guns, ging higher velocities than black powder, without the fouling problems. It is highly compresible, like Pyrodex but looks like sandy-coloured beach sand.
: According to the article on powders and pressures in the link in percussion thread section, Black Mag 3 fouls the same as BP, roughly 50% solid waste after burning - I found this not to be true - in my rifles. I found the fouling to be about the same as with pyrodex - next to non existant.

 

[graybeard]

Found the fouling with Black Mag 3 to be virtually non-existent, as they advertise. However, they claim it will work in a flintlock, and it won't. :results: It is wonderful stuff for caplocks, however.

 

[fatboy]

Hey Bob J thanks for the nice complement's this was a kit some one got and never finished it's a cva I was told, some small pcs were missing nothing I couldnt make. I may have to look for one of those slip on pads to see if the lenght is better .

 

: I had the devil of a time getting my flinter to go off with it (one shot only) with no preloaded primer of 3F in the breech.
: The standard loading process for Pyrodex "in a flintlock" should be used with Black Mag 3 as well. That is, a primer of 10 to 20gr. 3F down first, then the Blk Mag- if you want to use it in a flint gun, that is. Until I get down to the last lb. of real BP, I'll continue to use real BP in my flint gun. Having to handle two types of powder just for the main chage is too much of a hassel. Perhaps one day next spring I'll try it for an accuracy test, though.
: It's running around -6F to -10F nowadays - too cold for crank to be out shooting.

 

[Bob J]

The black rubber-type slip on and the leather recoil pads (both Pachmayer) will lengthen the stock a bit. Used to have a CVA and it was a good shooter but the stock was too short and the black slip on made it fit much better!