Am i less of a shooter because i use pellets?

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BowerR64

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I have not tried them yet but im wondering if this is kinda the cheater way of shooting black powder?

100 pellets was only $3. more then a bottle of 3FG powder. Not sure how many shots i can get with a jug ive never shot threw a jug or know anyone who has counting all the shots.

My dad said he always used 30grains but ive yet to try that much.

BlackpowderRem_zps76b20b37.jpg
 
First time i shot them today and when i was done my hands felt sticky. Almost like the powder has sugar in it.
 
Just be aware that Pyrodex is more corrosive than black powder, so make sure you clean your revolver ASAP after shooting.
 
if you have 30 grain pellets, you can't (reasonably) bump down to 27 grains, 25 grains, etc. or up a few grains to find the most accurate load for your revolver.

Part of the fun for me when I take one out for the first time is to experiment with the loads and find the best one for her.
 
Do the math

7000 grains to the pound. 100 30grn pellets =5.64 oz. Three dollars more, only half the amount of shots.:confused:
 
No criticism here. If you enjoy shooting them then have fun. The more people we have who enjoy shooting, the better for all of us.
 
You certainly are not "less of a shooter" simply because you choose to use pellets. If that is what you wish to do, so be it. The decision to use loose powder, either real black of one of the subs, is one of a) economics and, b) load flexibility. A pound of loose powder weighs 7000 grains as has been mentioned. At 30 grains per load, that gives you 233 shots. Drop the charge to 25 grains and you get 280 shots from your pound.

If you only shoot a dozen shots a year then the pellets should last you several years if you keep them tightly sealed. If you shoot more than that you are better off economically with loose powder. The choice is yours alone. The most important consideration is whether or not you are deriving maximum enjoyment from your shooting.:D
 
Dittos to all the previous comments. You are not any less of a shooter by using the pellets. You just can't experiment to see what load would bring out the best in you or the gun. Real black powder or any of the granulated subs will afford you that end.
 
I think IMR makes "white hots" which are cleaner pellets than the others even and supposed to be good. I use pyrodex powder myself. Don't think it makes you less of a shooter if you use pellets,i just like the flexibility of powder.
 
I use term "black powder" though oddly enough I have never used black powder. Even in my smoke pole days deer hunting it was always the subs.
Want to try making black powder, just so I can say ,been there done that.
I shoot at a public range in Florida and think the stink may not be well received.
Lots of smoke with Pryodex' not as much stink. That and the subs seem to be easier to find.
 
Hunted New Brunswick Canada with a Providence firefighter who used a Hatfield flint lock and dressed in buckskins complete with coonskin cap.
The rest of us carried the unmentionables with pellets and sabot pistol loads.
Can not say who was more successful but I think he had more fun.
 
Yes, but....

(kidding) Use what works for you. I get a ration of rubbish for using Pyrodex, but I have my reasons.
1) Readily available, in stock,on the shelf. Always.
2) Non-progressive fouling. No cleaning of the bore during shooting sessions
3) No hazmat fees attached if ordering bulk.
 
7000 grains to the pound. 100 30grn pellets =5.64 oz. Three dollars more, only half the amount of shots.
Click to expand...

Actually it's worse than that - Pyrodex is fluffier than the real stuff, so a 30gr BP volume measure of Pyrodex P is closer to 20gr actual weight - giving you more like 350 shots to the pound.

The only benefit of pellets are for convenience. I've tried them; they work fine but I found that I rather enjoy the whole loading process anyway, and 27-28 gr is where my revolvers shoot the best with Pyrodex P. But I'd never disparage someone from using what they like.
 
Pellets are convenient if you don't have a lot of time to spend at the range (my days of spending an entire morning or afternoon or day at the range appear to be over for awhile; last range session was about an hour.)

They do have to be the correct charge for a reasonable shot. With my muzzleloader .50 rifle, 70gr volume PyrodexRS with patched round ball and 80gr volume with saboted 240gr .45 bullet gave me good accuracy; however, the pellets all appeared to be 50 gr. so I passed.
 
I've used those pellets, speed up loading worked well packed a punch. The one problem i did notice is pieces of unburned pellets flying out the end of the gun and the barrel got very hot, so I don't use them any more.
 
The one problem i did notice is pieces of unburned pellets flying out the end of the gun... .
Click to expand...

This happened to a friend of mine a couple of years back. We watched as the burning pellets left a pronounced smoke trail between the revolver and the target. It did look rather impressive but would have been very dangerous, had there been dry grass or leaves around.
 
Well ive only shot the 3 remingtons so far about 30 shots from each so i dont have a system yet that i like.

Since i havnt shot them enough i cant say for sure but so far i dont seem to notice much difference from the powder to the pellet other then its allot easier to load quicker.

When i use the powder i use a 357 mag shell so about 25-27G is all i use when using powder. Of what ever a 357 mag cartridge comes out to be with pyrodex 3F
 
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