I use 777 alot in my antique pistols and thought I should post that you do not want to compress this powder in cartridges the base of the bullet should just touch the powder no compression . If powder is compressed accuracy goes to heck and dangerous pressure spikes can happen.I got this info out of the Magazine guns of the old west and have followed the advice.
777 Black powder substitute in cartridges.
- Thread starter DEZ
- Start date
Yes, this advise MUST be followed. A fellow at our club loaded some in .45 colt under a 270 gr bullet in the same manner you would load with traditional black. They sounded like a heavy smokeless load. Someone had a chrony running so he fired a couple over it and they were breaking the 1200 fps mark! Needless to say the fellow stop shooting and went home to do some bullet pulling and reading! Luckily he did not damage his pistol.
vagrantviking
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- Southern Alberta
a 1200fps 45 Colt apparently! 
I have never understood the attraction to substitutes. Isn't cleaning just as important with most of them? I know pyrodex fouls a little less but still needs an end of day scrub out.
I have never understood the attraction to substitutes. Isn't cleaning just as important with most of them? I know pyrodex fouls a little less but still needs an end of day scrub out.
Dez
I definitely agree on not using it cap and ball revolvers due to the lack of control on compression. The only thing I use it for is shotgun. It seems to be more compatible for use with plastic wads than true black powder...The only time I resort to it is when I run out of felt wads.
I definitely agree on not using it cap and ball revolvers due to the lack of control on compression. The only thing I use it for is shotgun. It seems to be more compatible for use with plastic wads than true black powder...The only time I resort to it is when I run out of felt wads.
I collect and shoot antique military cartridge rifles, mainly Snider Enfield and Martini Henry. I do not and would not use Triple 7 in any of my loads. I stick to black powder. My experience has shown me that the substitutes leave residue and crud rings ahead of the chamber which require diligent cleaning after every use similar to black powder. I am also a member of the "Brtish Militaria Forum" and I have followed many posts there about the use of Triple 7 in particular, which indicate that this powder produces pressures and pressure spikes which are unsafe in antique firearms. Oh yes...there are those who use them but only under strictest regard to volumes and to compaction. It is my rule, when shooting my antiques that considering their value and my safety that I will stick to black powder. I have Triple 7 and Pyrodex in my shop but I only use them in my modern in-line muzzle-loaders. I hope this helps. Dave
