Today did some fairly extensive, if not totally scientific, testing of 3f Hogdon Triple 7 in several of my guns:
Guns tested & loads:
1. T/C Hawken, .45 caliber, 70 grain charge, .40 caliber 180 grain LSWC in plastic unmentionable
2. T/C White Mountain Carbine, .50 caliber, 50 grain charge, Hornady 410 grain Great Plains HBSP
3. Jonathan Browning Mountain Rifle, .54 caliber, 50 grain charge, .530 PRB
4. T/C Renegade, .54 caliber, 50 grain charge, .530 PRB
5. T/C Greyhawk (heavily modified) .50 caliber, 30 grain charge, Hornady 410 grain Great Plains HBSP
6. T/C Hawken, .50 caliber, with factory QLA muzzle, 70 grain charge, Hornady 410 grain Great Plains HBSP (Previous day).
Aditional Information:
Hogdon Triple 7 was the only propellant used, no black powder ignition charge, excepting the number 6 gun, (see Conclusion below). This plastic can of powder had a price tag of $24.99 and has been on the shelf in my gun room for at least three years or so, and possibly as long as ten years. I can't remember when I purchased it.
All guns had previously been cleaned, lubed and put away, except the number six gun which was dirty, having been fired several times before the test. None had caps fired on them before loading.
Guns were randomly fired from the standing and seated position(s).
Caps used were CCI #11 Magnums.
Targets were empty soda/V8 cans at thirty yards. I was not overly concerned with accuracy as the purpose of this test was to determine reliability of the powder. That said, most projectiles hit the target(s) or very nearly did.
Loaded each gun at the kitchen table, carried it out to the porch where it was capped and fired. Outside temperature was just below freezing with a fairly stiff wind. Guns never got cold, though, and that might be a legitimate factor to be tested at a later date.
I had one misfire because of a mushroomed nipple that I need to replace. Upon recocking, that same cap fired and ignited the powder charge without further mishap. I had no noticeable hangfires and no other misfires.
Conclusion:
While my experiences with Hogdon Triple 7 2f in traditional sidelock guns was marginal, the 3f powder performed MUCH better in my guns. With black powder supply sources being unreliable of late, Hogdon Triple 7 3f powder seems to be a reliable alternative, at least that is what this test would seem to indicate.
The number 6 gun above, T/C Hawken .50 caliber, was tested the previous day with both a 70 grain T7 charge alone as well as with that same load with a 7 grain Old Eynsford "ignition charge". Both of these loads were uncomfortable to fire, the one with the extra 7 grains of black powder excessively so.
This evening I will perhaps load up a couple of my guns and leave them out on the porch overnight to be test-fired in the morning.
Guns tested & loads:
1. T/C Hawken, .45 caliber, 70 grain charge, .40 caliber 180 grain LSWC in plastic unmentionable
2. T/C White Mountain Carbine, .50 caliber, 50 grain charge, Hornady 410 grain Great Plains HBSP
3. Jonathan Browning Mountain Rifle, .54 caliber, 50 grain charge, .530 PRB
4. T/C Renegade, .54 caliber, 50 grain charge, .530 PRB
5. T/C Greyhawk (heavily modified) .50 caliber, 30 grain charge, Hornady 410 grain Great Plains HBSP
6. T/C Hawken, .50 caliber, with factory QLA muzzle, 70 grain charge, Hornady 410 grain Great Plains HBSP (Previous day).
Aditional Information:
Hogdon Triple 7 was the only propellant used, no black powder ignition charge, excepting the number 6 gun, (see Conclusion below). This plastic can of powder had a price tag of $24.99 and has been on the shelf in my gun room for at least three years or so, and possibly as long as ten years. I can't remember when I purchased it.
All guns had previously been cleaned, lubed and put away, except the number six gun which was dirty, having been fired several times before the test. None had caps fired on them before loading.
Guns were randomly fired from the standing and seated position(s).
Caps used were CCI #11 Magnums.
Targets were empty soda/V8 cans at thirty yards. I was not overly concerned with accuracy as the purpose of this test was to determine reliability of the powder. That said, most projectiles hit the target(s) or very nearly did.
Loaded each gun at the kitchen table, carried it out to the porch where it was capped and fired. Outside temperature was just below freezing with a fairly stiff wind. Guns never got cold, though, and that might be a legitimate factor to be tested at a later date.
I had one misfire because of a mushroomed nipple that I need to replace. Upon recocking, that same cap fired and ignited the powder charge without further mishap. I had no noticeable hangfires and no other misfires.
Conclusion:
While my experiences with Hogdon Triple 7 2f in traditional sidelock guns was marginal, the 3f powder performed MUCH better in my guns. With black powder supply sources being unreliable of late, Hogdon Triple 7 3f powder seems to be a reliable alternative, at least that is what this test would seem to indicate.
The number 6 gun above, T/C Hawken .50 caliber, was tested the previous day with both a 70 grain T7 charge alone as well as with that same load with a 7 grain Old Eynsford "ignition charge". Both of these loads were uncomfortable to fire, the one with the extra 7 grains of black powder excessively so.
This evening I will perhaps load up a couple of my guns and leave them out on the porch overnight to be test-fired in the morning.
