CVA Apollo Maximum Charge

[Moyer]

I have a '97 .50 cal Apollo inline (not one of the recalls). I used to use patch & ball but have been experimenting w/ different sabots lately. I'm reading the manual that came with the gun, and this is the loading table:

.50 rifle - .490 ball & .015 patch - 100FFG max
.50 rifle - .500 conical - 100FFG max
.50 rifle - .500 sabot - 90FFG max

I don't understand why sabots would have a lower rating than conicals, since conicals are usually heavier and fit tighter in my barrel. Does their meaning of .50 sabots include the .45 cal sabots that are now made for .50 cal rifles?

Basically, I would like to try sabots w/ two 50 grain pyrodex pellets, but I don't want to push the limits of my gun. Having a 90 grain max would make pellets useless for this gun.

Newb question- I would also like to try 777 powder. Will 90 grains of 777 be the same as 90 grains of Pyrodex, or does it have more power?

 

[smokemaker]

To answer your questions out of order:
777 is 10 to 15 percent-depending on where you get the info-hotter than pyrodex or black powder. However, 777 pellets are designed to ballistcally match pyro pellets. 777 does produce higher pressures, volume for volume, than pyrodex. Pyrodex in fact produces lower pressures than black.

I think the sabot they are talking about were probably the .429 in 50 ones, but the .451 in 50 sabots aren't much different. Not enough to make a difference, besides inside dimension.

As far as the 90 versus 100 grains of powder, I'm not going to tell you to ignore the mfc's guidelines.

3-30 grain pellets will get you 90 grains, if pelletized powder is a must.

 

[Moyer]

Thank you for the info Smoke.

I didn't even know they made 30 grain pellets. My gun probably shoots better with 80 or 90 grains anyways. Thanks again.

 

[smokemaker]

Sometimes the 30 grainers can be hard to find, but most gunshops will order them in. I gave up on pellets a while ago, so I don't worry about it anymore.

 

[Moyer]

Are they less accurate for you? I've heard that before, but I would like to try them in my gun to see how they work for me. I bought some 30 grain pellets at a store last night.

Next I think I'll try 777 loose powder.

Thanks again.

 

[smokemaker]

I have found them less accurate than powder in my gun, but every gun is different about what they like. Try it and see. Maybe your gun will like pellets.