Tripple 7 bp substitute

[Redsport91]

Recently, I purchased Tripple 7 BP substitute. One of the warnings is that it should not be used for loading cartridge ammo? Does anyone know the specific reason why?

 

[Jaymo]

Dunno. If you send me a pound, I'll load up a bunch of .44 mag with it and shoot them through the Ruger Redhawk rental gun at the local range.

 

[mykeal]

Hodgdon's web site discusses the use of 777 in cartridges.

 

[Hellgate]

The last time I checked it said do not use the FFFg size for cartridges, just the FFg. I did not realize that and have been loading .357mag ammo with the 3F T7 since it came out. No signs of pressure and accuracy is great. I would not be surprised there might be excessive pressures in a larger capacity case like the 44-40 or 45LC especially if there was heavy compression. I use a 158gr lead bullet and 15gr by weight of the FFFg T7. It fires the bullet noticeably faster than real BP or any of the other subs I have used. I figure the guns for the 357 can handle pretty high intensity loads so I am not likely to get into trouble with what I'm doing.

 

[Skinny 1950]

I gave up using triple seven in my cap and ball revolvers due to excess carbon fouling in the trigger works. For cartridge loading air space is an issue that can be solved with wads,the powder should be slightly compressed by the bullet.

 

[BHP FAN]

I have used it with great success and very little fouling [what little fouling there was was cleaned easily with hot water] making .45 Colt and .45-70 with Triple Seven. It is literally the only sub I'll use.

 

[andrewstorm]

777 3f in cartridges

10x say they use a special 777 made exclusively for them by 777....for thier cowboy ammo,and an old article i read talked about 777 3 f in cartridges but is now not recomended..on the hodgeson website you can see a loading guide for cartridges...but nothing beats the smell of black powder....

 

[J-Bar]

I have used 777 in percussion revolvers, .38 Special, .357 magnum, and .45 Colt cartridges, and 12 gauge shotshells.

Eliminate the air gap and don't compress it significantly.

Enjoy.

 

[45-70 Ranger]

I don't use that stuff anymore. It appears to be clean, but it's not all that wonderful to me. It does a good job of causing rust, I know that... T7 will never be used in any of my cartridges again that's for sure...or my frontstuffers either.....

Wade

 

[Busyhands94]

I have had good experiences with loading Triple Seven in my mouseguns. It optimizes their performance!

 

[MCgunner]

It also optimizes performance in ROAs. I like the stuff, shoot it in my CVA Wolf, too. It shoots cleaner than black and cleans up easier. I can't easily get black down here. The two subs I've settled on, especially in cap and ball guns, are Pyrodex P and 777 3f. Pyrodex P gives me that BP smell, btw.

If I could go to my LGS and buy a pound of 3f black, I would, but Pyrodex P is just as good in revolvers and is readily available.

 

[MCgunner]

BTW, clean your guns same day as you shoot 'em. Even black powder will rust your gun. If you ain't in to cleaning, just stick to smokeless guns. BP ain't for you.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

My container of "triple se7en" contains the caveat "Caution for Cartridge Guns--use only specific data published by Hodgdon Powder Company." also: "Always clean firearm as with black powder." and "Water Clean-up!" among other advice/warnings.

In black powder style cartridges with triple se7en, I observe the rule of loading the cartridge to a level that the base of the bullet will slightly compress the powder.

ADDED: please note that that triple se7en by volume is more powerful than the same volume of BP or Pyrodex. The maker warns: "To duplicate a blackpowder load velocity using Triple Seven, you must decrease the powder charge by 15%"

 

[45-70 Ranger]

My remark on the rusting was based upon use in a .45-70 and T7. The cleaning was properly done on all occasions but once.... Where the issue arose was from firing the weapon in the morning (8AM) shooting hogs at work. Returned home at 4PM and had huge fuzzy rust formation all over the entire first 14" of the bore. I was mortified! And now have pitting in the area of the bore from that time. I no longer use it. In fact, the 45-70 is loaded with smokless only now...In pistols, it is too compression sensitive for my taste. BP or Pyrodex P gives me better groups.

I used to believe that since it is sulfur free and the carbon is sugar based rather than wood, it would be a cleaner powder to use. In my use, it was not. I found it to be far more hygroscopic (hope I spelled that right )than BP. If others want to use this powder, far be it for me to say anything...I was just stating my time with it to give a "not so good view" of the powder??? Kinda like the other side of the coin so to speak..

Wade

 

[MCgunner]

I don't shoot black OR T7 in my cartridge guns. I could, though, just don't need the mess if I'm shooting cartridges. I've thought about doing it in my stainless Blackhawk .45 colt. That thing is might pretty to mess up, though, with some expensive engraving and sanbar stags and such. I just can't bring myself to do it. LOL I figure them cap and ball guns were MADE to mess up. Hell, though, my ROA is just a superblackhawk with a rammer and nipples. Still, I have a ROA, why bother with my Blackhawk for BP? If I get a colt clone, perhaps I'll do it.

 

[ClemBert]

As others have said....T7 FFF is for cap-n-ball mode. T7 FF is for cartridge mode. Further, try to avoid compression of T7 powder. Just slight contact (1/16") is the most "compression" you want.

Again, to be specific...Triple Se7en in 2F grade is what you use in cartridges.