Is triple 7 really worth the ertra money

[rodwha]

This is straight from Hogdgon's website:

"Percussion Firearms: Select the proper charge from the loads listed in this brochure. Set powder measure as indicated. While holding the firearm vertically, slowly pour the measured charge of Triple Seven or Pyrodex into the barrel. Seat the projectile firmly against the powder ."

Firmly suggests to me that it should be used in a similar manner as any other sub or BP. Mild compression is stated for use in cartridges.

I have emailed Hogdgon's for more detailed information since I have found such conflicting information on its use on the forums, but have never received a response.

 

[MCgunner]

Perhaps you had corrosive caps 'back in the day', whenever that was. Or perhaps 'froze up' and corroded are not the same thing. Yes, leave a BP gun uncleaned for a while and it will bind up, but that is not the same as corrosion.

Fiocchi...about 1974

Trust me, I know Iron oxide when I see it.

 

[MCgunner]

I've been muzzleloading since 1964 and most of it done with bp but I'm not adverse to Pyrodex. I bought a lb. of T7 to give it a try cause I'm not stuck in the 60's but I've not used it yet because I'm put off by the "do not compress" thing. I've seated a lot of rounds over the years and that last bit before seating the round and compressing the powder can be a grey area depending on fouling and such.
What I'm saying is that I'm on the fence about T7 because I would prefer a powder that is not fussy about compression.

It groups under 2" with a 385 grain 50 cal Hornady great plains in my CVA Wolf. Try it, it ain't gonna hurt ya. It don't group so well in my Investarms Cabela's Hawken Hunter Carbine for some reason, so I stick to Pyrodex RS in that one.

 

[CraigC]

The compression issue with 777 is not a big deal. Seat the bullet/ball firmly over the powder. Just don't spend two minutes packing it down.

 

[garyca]

Always been a pyrodex select man for my inlines and traditionals - just tried 777 and I really like it. My range sessions are long and I found clean-up alot easier.

 

[MCgunner]

It does clean up easier, less goo. It will still corrode if you don't get it clean.

 

[Noz]

I, like Driftwood, go through a lot of real black powder in a years time. I loaded my 18th pound of FFg into 44-40 cases yesterday.
I also tend to leave my fired guns until the urge strikes me to clean them. A couple of years ago I had a pistol (1860 Army Pietta) go down at a shoot. I brought it home, repaired it and put it away. It laid from the 4 of November until our first shoot in March without being cleaned. No harm.
I bought a "pound" of 777 to try. Sold all but a few loads to someone that likes it. I found it to be very corrosive. Didn't feel right, didn't smell right and didn't flash right, didn't sound right and way too expensive.
If you can't get anything else then it's the right choice.

 

[rodwha]

This is what I like about it (7.5" ROA):

30 grn of 3F Goex gave a 255 grn conical 744 fps and 314 ft/lbs.
25 grn of 3F T7 gave that same conical 920 fps and 479 ft/lbs.

 

[MCgunner]

This is what I like about it (7.5" ROA):

30 grn of 3F Goex gave a 255 grn conical 744 fps and 314 ft/lbs.
25 grn of 3F T7 gave that same conical 920 fps and 479 ft/lbs.

Load it to the gills with 777 and it'll push a 220 grain conical to 1300 fps. Only problem is by the 4th round, the bullets are pulling on recoil. But, if I go hunting with it, I don't plan to have to fire a 4th shot.

 

[Busyhands94]

McGunner, maybe put a drop or two of Loctite on the conicals, that would also seal the chambers from moisture. But with 25 grains you are probably getting close to what a .45 ACP gets. With my 8" Remington, my 360 grain .44 bullets, and a nice hefty charge of Triple Seven you can shoot through a couple cinder blocks, Triple Seven is real good stuff with those heavy bullets. It's kinda like having Mike Tyson's fist come out of your barrel, sept' it's made of lead!

What charge are we talking here? 35-40 grains? It wouldn't surprise me that you can get those velocities. Cap and ball firearms are so under appreciated for defense. But a soft lead bullet at 1300 is quite nasty! At 900 FPS those 220 grain soft LRN bullets mushroom out really nicely. But at 1300 FPS you've got a VERY effective bullet my friend.

 

[Busyhands94]

Just curious, anybody chrono a full chamber of Triple Seven and a roundball? It wouldn't surprise me the slightest to see numbers like 1400, 1500 FPS.

Of course, for instance when I buy shotgun powder for handloading I always get 700X made by IMR. It's more expensive but it's hotter. Same logic could be applied to Triple Seven, more shots per pound but a tad more expensive.

My opinion? If it were cheaper I'd buy pounds of Triple Seven all the time. Clean burning, I've used it with great success in a .50 caliber rife, cap and ball .22's, .44 Remingtons, .32 S&W's, .38's 12 gauge, and 16 gauge bird, buck, and slug loads. It also lights up easy, no misfires at all in my experience. All in all, it's a VERY nice powder that does it's job VERY nicely. And when I've got my Remington loaded for home defense, you can bet I've got 30 grains of Triple Seven and a nice soft lead bullet in there.

I know that they say you shouldn't use it for cartridges, but it works fine. I have personally loaded .32 S&W's with Triple Seven, and I even had a friend handload some .38 Specials with it for me. Those were actually more accurate than factory loads from my Model 10, it seemed like I could hit anything with them. They were dirty compared to smokeless, but they did the job VERY nicely.

In the .32 S&W long and short it was a delightfully accurate and warm load. The barrel didn't jump too bad, and the accuracy was excellent.
The target was a tennis ball at about 20 feet, and I tapped it about 4 times out of 5. That's pretty good considering that I'm not like Black Hand Kelly when it comes to shooting handguns.

Right now I'm working on writing a book about useful firearms, various loads of interest, and some BP stuff. I've mentioned Triple Seven a couple times. When that sucker gets published lets hope I can buy all the Triple Seven I need!

Just my 2% of $1, YMMV.

 

[MCgunner]

What charge are we talking here? 35-40 grains?

Yes, filled to below the rim and fully compressed.

Once I get moved and get my shooting/reloading room/shop built and get my new Pact which I plan to order, I'll be set up to chornograph again and can try those round balls. My antique Shooting Chrony needs screens again, those original cardboard ones, and I've decided just to replace it.