Last weekend I fired about 50 shots using 777 as propellant. Usually I use BP or Pyrodex, so I have limited experience with 777.
I was able to get some good groups. I picked the loads that my rifle likes best (same sabots & bullets) but reduced the powder charge by 10gr (70gr of 777 instead of 80gr of Pyrodex, for instance). Accuracy and point of impact were very similar.
Things that I didn't like. I routinely wipe the bore between shots with a spit patch. With Pyrodex, one spit patch is enough and then the next sabot goes down the barrel smoothly and it's very easy to tell when it sits on the powder charge. With 777, after just a few shots, even wiping the bore between shots, a rough spot builds up near the bottom (the infamous crud ring). It's still possible to seat the sabot, but it's hard to be consistent and apply the same pressure on the ramrod every time. I frequently got fliers after loading without removing the crud ring completely. The solution was, obviously, to remove it completely. But in order to do so I had to run at least one patch soaked in solvent, sometimes two, and then dry the bore with another patch. That's more than just wiping between shots, it's almost like "cleaning between shots". In other words, it was a little more work between shots to achieve consistency (and accuracy). Note: Maybe my spit is a good Pyrodex solvent but a bad 777 solvent ::
When I was done shooting for the day, before going home, I loosened the breech plug half a turn. I did it 'cause I've heard 777 tends to set up hard and may result in a stuck plug. I notice the breech plug was in fact a little difficult to loosen. I never had any problem to remove the breech plug after using Pyrodex (same anti-seize lube). So I believe 777 really can cause the breech plug to be difficult to remove if you're not careful.
Before leaving the range I ran a few patches soaked in solvent to pre-clean the bore. When I got home I removed the breech plug and finished cleaning. Cleaning the bore was very easy, but the plug was a problem. I used brake cleaner and a toothbrush to clean the outside. That was the easy part. But when I tried to clean the flash hole with a nipple pick, the pick wouldn't go thru. There was some gunk partially obstructing the hole and it wouldn't come out. :curse: I left the plug soaking in solvent for a few minutes. Still wouldn't come out. :curse: :curse: Let it soak in hot soapy water. No success. Let it soak in boiling soapy water. That gunk just wouldn't come out. :curse: :curse: :curse: Then after a lot of cursing and swearing I used a vise to grab the plug and pliers to try to force the nipple pick thru the hole. The first attempt failed. The nipple pick bent. :curse: :curse: :curse: :curse: :curse: :curse: Then after a whole lot more of cursing and swearing I tried to force a needle thru the hole (didn't have a spare nipple pick). At last I was able to remove the obstruction. Not sure it was caused by 777. All I know is that it had never happened before.
Vanstg
I was able to get some good groups. I picked the loads that my rifle likes best (same sabots & bullets) but reduced the powder charge by 10gr (70gr of 777 instead of 80gr of Pyrodex, for instance). Accuracy and point of impact were very similar.
Things that I didn't like. I routinely wipe the bore between shots with a spit patch. With Pyrodex, one spit patch is enough and then the next sabot goes down the barrel smoothly and it's very easy to tell when it sits on the powder charge. With 777, after just a few shots, even wiping the bore between shots, a rough spot builds up near the bottom (the infamous crud ring). It's still possible to seat the sabot, but it's hard to be consistent and apply the same pressure on the ramrod every time. I frequently got fliers after loading without removing the crud ring completely. The solution was, obviously, to remove it completely. But in order to do so I had to run at least one patch soaked in solvent, sometimes two, and then dry the bore with another patch. That's more than just wiping between shots, it's almost like "cleaning between shots". In other words, it was a little more work between shots to achieve consistency (and accuracy). Note: Maybe my spit is a good Pyrodex solvent but a bad 777 solvent ::
When I was done shooting for the day, before going home, I loosened the breech plug half a turn. I did it 'cause I've heard 777 tends to set up hard and may result in a stuck plug. I notice the breech plug was in fact a little difficult to loosen. I never had any problem to remove the breech plug after using Pyrodex (same anti-seize lube). So I believe 777 really can cause the breech plug to be difficult to remove if you're not careful.
Before leaving the range I ran a few patches soaked in solvent to pre-clean the bore. When I got home I removed the breech plug and finished cleaning. Cleaning the bore was very easy, but the plug was a problem. I used brake cleaner and a toothbrush to clean the outside. That was the easy part. But when I tried to clean the flash hole with a nipple pick, the pick wouldn't go thru. There was some gunk partially obstructing the hole and it wouldn't come out. :curse: I left the plug soaking in solvent for a few minutes. Still wouldn't come out. :curse: :curse: Let it soak in hot soapy water. No success. Let it soak in boiling soapy water. That gunk just wouldn't come out. :curse: :curse: :curse: Then after a lot of cursing and swearing I used a vise to grab the plug and pliers to try to force the nipple pick thru the hole. The first attempt failed. The nipple pick bent. :curse: :curse: :curse: :curse: :curse: :curse: Then after a whole lot more of cursing and swearing I tried to force a needle thru the hole (didn't have a spare nipple pick). At last I was able to remove the obstruction. Not sure it was caused by 777. All I know is that it had never happened before.
Vanstg
:applause:
