777 Load ?

[mb3]

I am unable to get black powder at any of my local stores and it looks like I am going to have to use 777, at least until we have a local gun show and I can try and pick up some Goex. I have a question about a load for the 777 2F. I am shooting a 58 cal Lyman .577 minnie out of an Armi Sports CS Richmond. I intend to start with a target load of 40 gr of 777 2F, does this sound like a good load to start with?

 

[BHP FAN]

I would start there, and I would probably end up with 60gr.

 

[Brillo]

777 is great stuff. Your load seems quite low to me. Don't know your twist rate but I hope it gives you enough muzzle velocity to stabilize your Minnie.

 

[BHP FAN]

I'm thinking 60 will be the better load, but he's probably working up from a minimum, to get the ''feel'' for it. Remember too 777 is about 10-15% hotter than the same amount of traditional black powder.

 

[mb3]

I am not positive on the barrel twist but I think it is either 1/48 or 1/60. I am trying to find a good target load that will not blow the skirt. My understanding is that 777 is a litle hotter than BP.

 

[wittzo]

I'm using 60 grains of 777 FF in my .54" Mississippi rifle using Lee .533" Minie balls and it's doing well at 50 yards. I have yet to tweak it, but when it gets cooler, I will see how low it'll go.

The Hodgdon web site says it's 10% more powerful than regular blackpowder, so you can reduce the charge by 10% to get the same velocities and what not.

 

[BHP FAN]

There ya go, thanks wittzo!

 

[wittzo]

Your mileage may vary. I've been lucky on several accounts. My rifle likes 60 grains, yours may not. Most of all, I was lucky to find this forum when I got into BP a few years ago.

 

[mb3]

Thank you all for the info. This will help me greatly in loading up. I guess I was a little low, and will start out around 50 gr.