looking for a new load
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Pancho
Member
I've always used the heavier powerbelts and have been happy. I've read that the lighter 245 gr. is not as accurate. When working up a load I always use loose powder and start light about 80 gr of BP or Pyrodex. Shoot a group if the group is tight go up to 85 and shoot another group. Repeat the steps increasing the powder until the group spread widens beyond your expectations. You will have arrived at the proper amount of powder for that round in that gun.
Pancho
Member
I neglected to say why I don't use pellets I believe the sweet spot for a round and a gun generally falls between what is offered by the pellets. It also a popular belief that you can overpower the powerbelts and for that matter the all lead minieballs.
Wildfire
Member
Pancho is Right.
Hey there:
Pancho said it right. You can not adjust your loads to fine tune with pellets.
Loose powder is the only way. What works in one gun may not work in another. But,,,, My loads are 80 grains of Pyrodex "P" with the Remington 209 ML only primers. Most hunters prefer a heavyier bullet. But I must admit that this year I used the 250 gr, Barnes MZs also packaged by Knight and called the RED HOTS. these are extremely accurate bullets. They are all copper and do just what the makers says they will. 100% expansion with zero weight lose. The other rounds I have found to be accurate are the T/C shock waves ( Blue tips and Yellow Tips) But with the black sabots only. I have never found cosistant accuracy with the Power Belts. They also do not like heavy charges as Pancho said. By accuracy I mean all holes touching at 100 Meters.
All of these bullets will do this in my gun. Your gun has the same twist rate and may perform the same. 80 grains of "P" is safe to use. 120 grains would be the MAX. This is a hotter powder then RS. I ma an accuracy nut and do nat care for or about magnum loads. These loads kill every deer they are fired at. The MZs will make a loud splat when they hit. There will be no mistake about it. I have recovered several this year and they did expand, some to 100% and had no weight lose. As I stated I have not found consistant accuracy with any power belts. Some have. I have not. I am not saying this to open a bullet war of sorts and know all about all lead bullets etc. I tested over 700 rounds this year and this is what I found. Guns differ as do the shooters. All of mine were fired from an Encore. (2 of them).
Anyway hope some of this helps.
Hey there:
Pancho said it right. You can not adjust your loads to fine tune with pellets.
Loose powder is the only way. What works in one gun may not work in another. But,,,, My loads are 80 grains of Pyrodex "P" with the Remington 209 ML only primers. Most hunters prefer a heavyier bullet. But I must admit that this year I used the 250 gr, Barnes MZs also packaged by Knight and called the RED HOTS. these are extremely accurate bullets. They are all copper and do just what the makers says they will. 100% expansion with zero weight lose. The other rounds I have found to be accurate are the T/C shock waves ( Blue tips and Yellow Tips) But with the black sabots only. I have never found cosistant accuracy with the Power Belts. They also do not like heavy charges as Pancho said. By accuracy I mean all holes touching at 100 Meters.
All of these bullets will do this in my gun. Your gun has the same twist rate and may perform the same. 80 grains of "P" is safe to use. 120 grains would be the MAX. This is a hotter powder then RS. I ma an accuracy nut and do nat care for or about magnum loads. These loads kill every deer they are fired at. The MZs will make a loud splat when they hit. There will be no mistake about it. I have recovered several this year and they did expand, some to 100% and had no weight lose. As I stated I have not found consistant accuracy with any power belts. Some have. I have not. I am not saying this to open a bullet war of sorts and know all about all lead bullets etc. I tested over 700 rounds this year and this is what I found. Guns differ as do the shooters. All of mine were fired from an Encore. (2 of them).
Anyway hope some of this helps.
Pancho
Member
wildfire, as you've alluded to saboted rounds seem to be hands down the favorite for accuracy in the inlines. But tell me how do you address plastic build up at the range. Hunting shouldn't be a problem since you don't shoot much but at the range were you might burn up 100 rounds. Does the plastic residue become an issue?
Wildfire
Member
Plastic.
Hey There:
I have heard this for a long time now, about plastic build up.
My Encore has a blued barrel. I have never had a problem with this. You may have noticed that Blued barrels seem to be somewhat smoother on the insides then SS barrels. The one thing that does help is that I do not fire HOT loads. I also because my gun requires it for accuracy must swab that bore between shots. I also try to make that barrel in the same condition it would be the night before opening day of deer season. Brite and clean. As with any gun, some shoot better with dirty bores others must be somewhat fouled to get any accuracy from them. My blued Encore wants a clean barrel.
My sons SS Encore wants a slightly fouled bore to shoot accurately. His SS barrel will at times get some plastic residue. It cleans off with a good brushing. As you already know I use Lube 1000, and swab with it before loading. At the medium velocities of 1550 fps I really do not end up with any plastic fouling in my blued gun. I am sure if I were to just keep shooting with out cleaning I would get some. But I am very meticulus about loading and cleaning that thing. I have seen all the test results on how and what lubes keep a gun or metal from rusting and that is cool. But I never really store or put mine away. So I do not care about what last the longest only what makes her shoot the best. I believe If a guy is serious about his BP guns he will be on them all the time and rust would never get a chance to start.
I also like the way that Pyrodex kind of leaves the bore damp after firing. The new clean burn powders seem to dry out that bore and I can see where plastic fouling could get a good start in the bore. Every one has their thing and this just happens to be my way of doing it. I am all for new things but when it comes to my BP guns I'm kind of slow to change and that's a good thing.
Hey There:
I have heard this for a long time now, about plastic build up.
My Encore has a blued barrel. I have never had a problem with this. You may have noticed that Blued barrels seem to be somewhat smoother on the insides then SS barrels. The one thing that does help is that I do not fire HOT loads. I also because my gun requires it for accuracy must swab that bore between shots. I also try to make that barrel in the same condition it would be the night before opening day of deer season. Brite and clean. As with any gun, some shoot better with dirty bores others must be somewhat fouled to get any accuracy from them. My blued Encore wants a clean barrel.
My sons SS Encore wants a slightly fouled bore to shoot accurately. His SS barrel will at times get some plastic residue. It cleans off with a good brushing. As you already know I use Lube 1000, and swab with it before loading. At the medium velocities of 1550 fps I really do not end up with any plastic fouling in my blued gun. I am sure if I were to just keep shooting with out cleaning I would get some. But I am very meticulus about loading and cleaning that thing. I have seen all the test results on how and what lubes keep a gun or metal from rusting and that is cool. But I never really store or put mine away. So I do not care about what last the longest only what makes her shoot the best. I believe If a guy is serious about his BP guns he will be on them all the time and rust would never get a chance to start.
I also like the way that Pyrodex kind of leaves the bore damp after firing. The new clean burn powders seem to dry out that bore and I can see where plastic fouling could get a good start in the bore. Every one has their thing and this just happens to be my way of doing it. I am all for new things but when it comes to my BP guns I'm kind of slow to change and that's a good thing.
Pancho
Member
Wildfire, I heard your wisdom loud and clear. I wasn't sure if the "plastic build-up" was an urban myth. I never even considered sabots until recently when I bought my first in-line with an easily removable breech-plug. Thinking that if you can see it you can clean it. All of my sidelocks are cleaned by the "color of the cleaning patch". Plastic could be lurking there and never known until you get a ball stuck half way down the barrel.
Wildfire
Member
Hey Pancho:
Hey There:
As I said I have never had the problem with the med. velocity loads. I know others that shoot magnum loads and do end up with plastic fouling. And at times it can be a real bugger to get out. Just depends on how long they shoot with out cleaning. At that point they are useing chemicals to try and remove it. Some of those can be hard on bluing and even SS.
Hey, I don't even shoot my .300 win mag at Mag specs.
Hey There:
As I said I have never had the problem with the med. velocity loads. I know others that shoot magnum loads and do end up with plastic fouling. And at times it can be a real bugger to get out. Just depends on how long they shoot with out cleaning. At that point they are useing chemicals to try and remove it. Some of those can be hard on bluing and even SS.
Hey, I don't even shoot my .300 win mag at Mag specs.
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