Max load - Loose 777 ffg

[07cajuntitan]

Do you think that 120 grains (by volume in a standard black powder measuring device) of 777 ffg is too hot in a CVA Optima? I have read so many articles that I am sick of it. Some say no - some say 100 grains by volume is as much as you should use in 777 even in a magnum muzzleloader. 777 burns so much hotter than everything else.

The complete load that I want to shoot is 120 grains 777 ffg with Winchester 777 primers, Harvester sabots and .452 cal Speer Gold Dot 300 grain hollow points.

[helomech]

Man I don't know. I would just load what ever shoot the most accurate. I only use 100 grains of the pellts, i think pyrodex. I don't see any reason to push a load any above recommended levels in a muzzle loader. That black powder can be some nasty stuff.

[tnbowhunter]

From what I have read and my personal experience you can use equal measures [volume for volume] of 777 to black powder.

I use 120 grains of 777 under 250 grain Shockwaves or Hornady SST's in both of my M/L one a Remington Mdl. 700 the other a T/C Thunder Hawk. I started out with 100 grains of 777 and went up 5 grains at at a time untill I got the load which was the most accurate. I tried 150 gr. in both rifles but didn't get the accuracy I was looking for.

I pre measure [by weight] all of my powder charges and put them into 35mm film canisters. I find that a 120 gr. charge by volume of FF black powder equals 89 gr. [by weight] of 777.

[SpeedFreak]

There is a good bit of loading info to be found on the Hodgon website.

Your likly aware of what I'm going to post next, but in case your not I will share it.

Triple Seven is a high energy product designed to provide the muzzleloading hunter with higher velocities
when used in the same VOLUME as blackpowder. To duplicate a blackpowder load velocity using Triple Seven,
you must decrease the powder charge by 15%.

If your rifle can shoot a 150gr load of BP a equivalent load would be 127grs of Triple 7

BUT, this is NOT what Hodgon recommends.

Download there loading data and you will see they DO NOT RECOMMEND a load over 100grs of Triple 7 in a 50cal rifle.

Dont take my word or anyone else's on this matter.
Go straight to the company that manufactures this stuff and see what they suggest.

I personally would suggest the powder from American PioneerPowder.
Untitled Document

All the benefits of Triple7
General loading instructions are to use the same recommended volume charge of loose American Pioneer™ Powder as you would with black powder.

[SpeedFreak]

PS: Please be aware many companies that advertise there rifle can be loaded with a magnum re:150gr load of powder may not recommend it with all projectiles.

To use the T/C 50cal Thunderhawk for example

240gr sabot max load of powder 100gr ffg
lubricated conicals 150gr
Lead balls 110gr

http://www.tcarms.com/assets/manuals...awk_Manual.pdf


Be very careful pushing the suggested load limits of your rifle.

[07cajuntitan]

Originally Posted by tnbowhunter

I use 120 grains of 777 under 250 grain Shockwaves or Hornady SST's in both of my M/L one a Remington Mdl. 700 the other a T/C Thunder Hawk. I started out with 100 grains of 777 and went up 5 grains at at a time untill I got the load which was the most accurate. I tried 150 gr. in both rifles but didn't get the accuracy I was looking for.

The 120 grain load of 777 that you are shooting - is that ffg or fffg?

Thanks for the info guys.

[tnbowhunter]

Originally Posted by 07cajuntitan

The 120 grain load of 777 that you are shooting - is that ffg or fffg?

Thanks for the info guys.

I use ffg.

BTW, I purchased my Thunderhawk in 1992. 777 wasn't even around at that time. I used Black powder for many years and then switched to Pyrodex, I soon found that Pyrodex was just as, if not more corrosive than black powder.

Times have changed, and while I still refer to my manuals I take a lot of what is in them with a grain of salt. The fact is we are living in a world where people will sue for any reason and firearms Mfg. have to be very careful about what they put in their literature. I still become amused at what is in some of them i.e. "Never prime your Thunder Hawk until you are ready to fire it. Your Muzzleloading rifle should remain unprimed until the instant before firing." Can you imagine trying to get a #11 percussion cap on the nipple when the largest buck you have ever seen steps out into the clearing, lol. The manual also goes on to say "FAILURE TO FOLLOW THIS RULE CAN RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE WHICH CAN CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE SHOOTER OR BYSTANDERS etc etc." Duh, ya think?

I'm in no way recommending that you charge your rifle with 120 gr. of 777, i'm just stating what I have used for several years with good success. You will be using a heavier bullet and a hotter primer, which will raise pressure levels a bit. A 100 gr. charge is plenty to kill a deer but the fact is my rifles are more accurate with the 120 gr. charge. My wife hunts with the Thunder Hawk, If I didn't have the utmost confidence in this loading I wouldn't let her shoot it.

Regarding the American Pioneer powder..............A lot of people use it with good results, but no matter what bullet weight or powder charge I tried I couldn't get it to group worth squat in either of my rifles. Just because "Jim Shockey" has his name on it dosen't neccessarily make it the best IMO.

[SpeedFreak]

You may get a wider return of replies if you posted in a hunting forum.

I would suggest HuntAmerica.com - An Interactive Online Guide to Sport Hunting and Shooting

There is a muzzleloading section with quite a bit of experience to tap into.

glhf