black powder pellets

[Dennis A.]

I have a Thompson Center Hawken .50 that I replace the standard nipple with a musket nipple, Now I see that there is a shotgun nipple for even hotter flame, My question is can I use .50 caliber pellets in my Hawken, I can't find Black Powder but I can find pellets.

 

[Old Hawkeye]

Pellets are extremely hard to ignite, which is why they have a hole down the center that allows the flame from the shotgun primer to go thru to start ignition. This is why they are used in the unmentionable in-line muzzleloaders & don't work worth a darn in a sidelock ML no matter what ignition method you use. Black powder is available if you make the effort & any of the substitute powders like Triple 7 will work with the hotter ignition sources.

 

[deerstalkert]

Dennis, to answer your question. Yes you can use pellets in your TC Hawken. but you won't like them for ignition, fouling, and accuracy. i have a box of 50/50 pyrodex pellets sitting on a shelf. maybe 6 pellets missing. they have been sitting there for 10-15 years.
even with a small charge of fffg under them , they made a crud ring quickly if memory serves.

 

[Grenadier1758]

It will be much more productive and suitable for use if you make the effort to find powder and give up on the pellets.

I'm not a fan of the shot gun primers being used for ignition either. CCI #11 or #11 Magnum caps should be good to ignite the various powders. You may find the magnum caps more reliable when you use the synthetic powders.

 

[Woody Morgan]

Powder valley has Goex in stock. Took me less than 2 minutes on my phone to find it.

wm

 

[FishDFly]

They have a new T/C that uses nitro powder and Magnum Shotgun Primers that will push a 45 caliber ball at 2750 fps. You can drop a deer at 300 yards. Give it a try.

Some how nitro powder, magnum shotgun primers and dropping a deer at 300 yards does not seem to fall into the traditional arena.

 

[Norman Brooks]

Graf and Sons has some black powder. Pellets are a paint to light unless you use about 20 grains of real black powder then the pellets, they also have a short shelf life.

Black Powder & Cannon Fuse - Powders & Primers - Graf & Sons (grafs.com)

 

[deermanok]

That mag spark adapter sounds like a PITA to use. I guess you have to unscrew it, load primer, screw the cap back on, fire then repeat the process to reload.
Use your musket caps or # 11's.
Get some real black powder!

 

[Dibbuk]

That mag spark adapter sounds like a PITA to use. I guess you have to unscrew it, load primer, screw the cap back on, fire then repeat the process to reload.
Use your musket caps or # 11's.
Get some real black powder!

You are correct. They are a PITA, but I have one in reserve, just in case.

 

[Elkhorse]

Didn't have good luck with the pellets in my 1863 Sharps about 18 yrs ago.
They come in a nice box though........... if I remember correctly....................