oldsmellhound

The only thing with 777 and sabots I've found, is that you usually do need to swab the bore between shots. When I shot Powerbelts, I could get away with shooting 3 - 5 times without swabbing. What I normally do is take my ramrod with jag, and run a wet patch (either spit patch, or soaked with Windex) through the barrel, then I run a dry patch. Then reload and shoot. This makes sure that no crud ring builds up, and keeps the accuracy.

However, when I'm out hunting, if I shoot- I reload right away without swabbing. This has worked fine- accuracy is still good for the 2nd shot.

Pyrodex is a good powder, and accurate - I just don't like it because of the clean up issues you have with it, plus it has a little less ooompf than 777.

jesshodgie

with powerbelts did you ever problems with copper fouling? My accuracy went to heck, I used to shoot 150 grains 777 and 195 powerbelts. Fantastic accuracy(3-4" at 200 yards, really). I havent shot much the last couple of years as my acc went way downhill. So I started over from scratch with 777 grain wise. It never dawned on me until a c few months ago maybe it was copper fouling. So I picked up a copper fouling cleaner. And scrubbed, and scrubbed,aned scrubbed. I kept getting the blue foam, so I kept scrubbing. I was a very long couple nights before I got clean foam out of it. I have yet to shoot it to check accuracy.

Does this make sense? Or am I just pipedreaming?

oldsmellhound

jesshodgie, I guess it could be copper fouling. Powerbelts are lead with a thin copper plating on the outside. If you were shooting 150 grains 777 with a light powerbelt, I could see how some of the copper plating might be stripped off and stay in the barrel. It's never happened to me, but I guess if you shoot enough and don't clean out the fouling it could mess up your accuracy. The only way to be sure is to make sure the barrel is completely cleaned out, then go to the range and try it out.

If you want to stick with powerbelts though, I'd recommend using a heavier one (275 grains) and using less powder- you shouldn't have problems with fouling and they should perform better on game.

But if you really want high performance, I'd try out the 200 grain Shockwave/SST - if you can get them to shoot accurately (which they do in most rifles) you can push those really fast and they'll still perform great and shoot flat. Plus you don't have to worry about copper fouling- though you do need to clean it to get the plastic sabot remnants out.

jesshodgie

I was rally convinced I need the fastest bullet I could get for a while. I stepped back to 105 grains of 777, and had fair accur at best. But was the most consistent of the charges I messed with. I started at 90 and went to 130 grains.
All I want accurate! Not concerned with chrono anymore. That is why I was asking here. It was so accur when I first got it, that is what I'm looking for. I had the utmost confidense out to 220-240 yards. I shot it ALOT! And it shot incrediblely. Like I said I just want accuracy, no concern for speed. Trying to learn from my headstrong ways.

sabotloader

jesshodgie

I hope someone has indicated to you that SW/SST's are the same bullet made by Hornady...

LaneNebraska

Well, I might just get a new breech plug, if I were you. If you have shot ALOT, maybe it needs replacing.... and can't hurt anything!

Also, if ya want a real accurate deer stopper in PowerBelts, try Oldsmelhounds advice for the 275g, or the 300g Platinum with just 70g of powder...Man, this just wipes out deer from 20-120yards, and is Very accurate. No need to over drive powerbelts, they are just too soft for high speeds. Just think of them as bullet shaped round balls, and you'll get the picture