Encore28

I was wondering if I should use the 777 loose powder or pellets. I will be working up a load for my Encore 209x50 and may try 777 out.
In the past I know the pyrodex pellets affected accuracy if they were accidentally crushed when seating the bullet.
Any thoughts or experiences with 777 are appreciated.
Encore28

cayugad

I would use the loose powder be it pyrodex, american powder, triple se7en or black powder to use in the rifle all the time for a number of reasons. First your trying to work up your load. Although you might get good accuracy with two or three pellets, you might get fantastic accuracy with 90 grains or 115 grains. The loose powder gives you the oppertunity to custom make your load. The other reason is, the cost of loose powder compared to pellets is not even close. Loose powder is cheaper, no arguement. I do not see the pellets as a convience. When we are on the range it is not our goal to shoot as fast as we can. We swab between shots, and let the barrel cool. I am working loads right now in my Black Diamond XR and I can see that it is liking something near 110 grains. Kind of hard to make with pellets... Good luck with your rifle.

Tomster

I agree with cayugad, but will add something. I have been using this year 777 pellets in my CVA Firebolt 50 cal 100 grains and it shoots fine. But in my flintlock, I have found that it likes 80 grains. Plus I feel that in flint's, loose powder is best. I have used clean shot, black powder, and now loose 777 and I like the 777 best. I just moved from shoting round ball in my flint to power belts 295 grain and wow what a difference.

T

vc1111

The Triple 7 pellets had a different point of impact than the Triple 7 powder. I spent the time to sight the gun in using the powder because it is clearly less expensive...

When I finished adjusting the scope with 100 grains of Triple 7 powder, I popped in 2 pellets and the point of impact had dropped by about 3 to 4 inches!

I have limited experience with Triple 7, but I have to say that I am not impressed so far.

Also I would add that as far a pellets go in Pyrodex...you can work out any load in a multiple of ten from 80 grains up by combining 30 grain pellets and 50 grain pellets.

rcd567

I have the 209x50 Thompson Center Encore and just love it!

I shoot only 777 pellets in mine. Ease of loading I guess. They even make reload tubes that hold up to 3 pellets, the bullet, and a primer. I am currently sighted in using two pellets, winchester 209 primers, and Hornady SST, 250 grain sabots. This is one accurate load at a 100 yards. While I believe you can shoot loose powder in this rifle, it was made for the pellet shooter. You'll like it either way.[:-]

1950KID

I use 80 grains of 777 and a 300 grain XTP in my Knight Bighorn.
It shoots very nice. Deer don't like it much.

Triple Se7en

" The Triple 7 pellets had a different point of impact than the Triple 7 powder. I spent the time to sight the gun in using the powder because it is clearly less expensive...

When I finished adjusting the scope with 100 grains of Triple 7 powder, I popped in 2 pellets and the point of impact had dropped by about 3 to 4 inches!"
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777 2-pellet 50 grainers are equal to 84 grains of 777 loose (on average).

vc1111

You mean to tell me that there is a difference in energy between the pellets and the loose stuff?

I am so sorry I bought this Triple 7 stuff.

It fouls worse (in my opinion) and is harder to clean, won't shoot in my Remington 700 but will shoot in my TC Encore, and now you tell me the pellets are different from the loose stuff producing a different point of impact if you use 100 grains of pellets (two 50 grain pellets) or 100 grains of the loose stuff.

That stuff is junk.

dsheally

My Remington 700 loves it. Two 777 pellets and a 300 gr. Barnes X bullet. Shot
a big doe at 154 yards a few days ago and she went right down, shot was right
behind the shoulder and went into and out the opposite shoulder. Easy clean
up and little odor when shot. Works for me.

bjhuntnut

Hey,

HAPPY NEW YEAR. Using 777 loose and love it. Just bought another lb. for $20. I don't know what you are paying for pellets but it has to be more. Give it a chance, by sighting in with pellets and then using loose powder you had to get a different point of impact. Go to the Hodgdon site and read alittle.www.hodgdon.com.