I have a t.c. Hawken 50 cal. that I was interested in shooting some 777 loads with it. I have tried some shots and found that there is some hang fire, even with musket caps. I here that some guys load 10 to 20 grains real blackpowder, then 70 to 80 gr. 777 powder over the blackpowder. This is a duplex load and many gunsmiths say that they are unsafe. I know that this will cure the hang fire problem when using sidelocks and that many shooters use these loads. Please respond if you have tried these loads and how did you like the accuracy? Do you feel that they are safe?
duplex loads ?
- Thread starter musketman
- Start date
I haven't tried duplex loads with 777 but I have using other powders.
I'm sure that a duplex load using 777 is not unsafe in rifles that are in sound condition and as long as the 15% allowance is made for using it.
There's a flntlock shooter named Herb that has perform extensive accuracy testing with many duplex loads of 10 grains of BP and substitute powders including 777. He's never reported a problem and the accuracy reports were very similar to his black powder loads.
His long, slow twist flinter barrel does benefit from the higher velocities that the 777 delivers.
But on the other hand, compressing 777 much can produce erratic velocites and less accuracy from some guns. It's a powder that often works better shot from an inline with sabots, but not exlusively since some report good accuracy firing it from sidelocks.
Don't compress it too much.
Start out with a smaller load of about 50 grains and slowly increase it in 5 - 10 grain increments.
That way you won't surpass the most accurate load.
Begin your testing at the shorter range of 50 yards or so to minimize shooter and sighting errors.
Once an accurate load is worked up at that range, then move the target out and only increase the charge enough to maintain the best accuracy at the longer distance.
Then you'll learn whether 777 will shoot accurately in your rifle or not.
I like to use 777 in my small caliber .36's. Because the loads are small, the velocities don't fluctuate very much and the barrel stays pretty clean.
When I tried 777 in a .50 caliber rifle it didn't shoot very well. And I noticed that it did produce noticiably more recoil, especially shooting from the bench.
So good luck and let us know how the duplex loads work out.
I'm sure that a duplex load using 777 is not unsafe in rifles that are in sound condition and as long as the 15% allowance is made for using it.
There's a flntlock shooter named Herb that has perform extensive accuracy testing with many duplex loads of 10 grains of BP and substitute powders including 777. He's never reported a problem and the accuracy reports were very similar to his black powder loads.
His long, slow twist flinter barrel does benefit from the higher velocities that the 777 delivers.
But on the other hand, compressing 777 much can produce erratic velocites and less accuracy from some guns. It's a powder that often works better shot from an inline with sabots, but not exlusively since some report good accuracy firing it from sidelocks.
Don't compress it too much.
Start out with a smaller load of about 50 grains and slowly increase it in 5 - 10 grain increments.
That way you won't surpass the most accurate load.
Begin your testing at the shorter range of 50 yards or so to minimize shooter and sighting errors.
Once an accurate load is worked up at that range, then move the target out and only increase the charge enough to maintain the best accuracy at the longer distance.
Then you'll learn whether 777 will shoot accurately in your rifle or not.
I like to use 777 in my small caliber .36's. Because the loads are small, the velocities don't fluctuate very much and the barrel stays pretty clean.
When I tried 777 in a .50 caliber rifle it didn't shoot very well. And I noticed that it did produce noticiably more recoil, especially shooting from the bench.
So good luck and let us know how the duplex loads work out.
Duplex loads are safe as long as there is no air gap between the charges; your gunsmiths don't know what they're talking about and should not be relied upon for useful information in the future.
In fact, Hodgdon, the manufacturer of 777, recommends duplex loads in flintlocks as 777 is very difficult to ignite with a flint. I believe the recommendation is right on the jar label; you might show it to your gunsmiths.
I would personally restrict the black powder portion of the duplex load to no more than 10 grains; normally 5 grains is sufficient.
In fact, Hodgdon, the manufacturer of 777, recommends duplex loads in flintlocks as 777 is very difficult to ignite with a flint. I believe the recommendation is right on the jar label; you might show it to your gunsmiths.
I would personally restrict the black powder portion of the duplex load to no more than 10 grains; normally 5 grains is sufficient.
mykeal,
Thanks for the help, I can't believe that I missed the part of the instructions that recommends the use of a 5 gr. blackpowder starter for flintlocks. If this works for flintlocks then it should work real well for the occasional hang-fire on my percussion. I'll try some of these and post how they work out.
Thanks for the help, I can't believe that I missed the part of the instructions that recommends the use of a 5 gr. blackpowder starter for flintlocks. If this works for flintlocks then it should work real well for the occasional hang-fire on my percussion. I'll try some of these and post how they work out.