Triple 7 in BP measurers

[bender]

If an owners manual for a T/C hawken shows 50gr to 110gr loads of BP, what would be the equivalent range of Triple 7? (shooting patched balls). The owners' manual is 35 years old.

Hodgdon's website shows 70gr to 100gr of Triple 7 loads for .50-cal rifles with patched balls.

So does Hodgdon mean for you to use a BP measure to load 70gr of Triple 7?

 

[Mark whiz]

That is correct, the 777 will measure just like black powder in a standard measure. Hodgdon's recommendations are right. Out of my in-line, I'll use 70 to 80gr of 777 when shooting patched ball. Your Hawken has a slower twisted barrel, so you could probably load in the 80 to 100gr area with good results

 

[mykeal]

That's the right answer but perhaps a little amplification would help.

777 is more powerful than black powder. It should be reduced by 10 to 15% to get the equivalent black powder load. That is, 70 gr of black powder is equivalent to between 60 and 63 gr of 777. Going the other way, 70 gr of 777 is equivalent to between 77 and 80 gr of black powder.

Thus the handbook range of 50 to 110 gr of black powder equates to about 44 to somewhere between 93 and 99 gr of 777. I'd have no problem with rounding the top end to 100 gr. Certainly the upper end of that range is the amount you'll want to use.

 

[bender]

thanks, mykeal. Yes, I was looking for some amplification of the things I have read.

yep, I did read that triple 7 is approx 15% more powerful than BP. So according to logical thinking, that would mean that for a recommended BP load of 50 to 110gr, it would be a Triple 7 load of approx 44 to 96gr. Which is what you said.

I was confused after reading Hodgdon's website recommended loads of Triple 7 for .50-cal rifles shooting patched RBs. They say 70gr to 100gr, which seemed high to me, at least compared to T/Cs recommended starting of 50gr BP.

Next weekend I'm going to try the hawken with 50gr, 55gr, and then 60gr of Triple 7 under a patched RB (speer .490"). That sound ok? It's an xmas present for my son. Need to get a little familiar with BP, and the rifle first.

 

[mykeal]

No problem with trying the lighter loads; they should do well for target shooting and learning the science. I usually shoot lower loads to get used to a trigger on a new rifle - it's easier to concentrate on trigger management when recoil is very low. However, I think you're going to find the rifle performs (accuracy and energy on target) at the higher end of the loading range. Mark Whiz is pretty much on target.

 

[Fast Frank]

My Thompson Center Renegade (50cal 1-48" twist) shoots it's best groups with .495 round balls, .015 patches with wonder lube, and 65 or 70 grains 777.

This is a tight load, and takes some effort to push the ball down the bore. Seat lightly. make sure the ball is down on the powder, but don't compress it until it crunches.

I use CCI caps.

I clean after each shot with a single patch wetted with four or five drops of plain old water and follow that with a dry patch.

This load has done 1400 FPS through a chronograph.

It's a pleasant load to shoot, and will make groups like this at 50 yards.





Your mileage may vary, of course, but this is a good place to start.

For a super gentle load for first time shooters, I load 40 grains of 777.

It's just enough to make the rifle move, but not enough kick to hurt even the softest of shooters. Makes 'em smile every time!

Pay attention to what you are doing, mark your range rod for safety, and have fun!