Best powder/pellets for the Muzzle loader hunt?

Me, so far I've used 777 for the actual hunt.
someone gave me some Blackhorn 209, but even though it was in the original container, it would not light. Yes, I have a proper breech plug. So, i tried to light some with a match. Nope. Dead, fertilizer.
I've also tried original black powder, Goex2f, and Pyrodex, but was not grouping well with either.
I've yet to try pellets.
 
Never had an issue with triple sevens and 209 primers...... in fact, a couple of years ago I was forced to remove the primer and leave Bp in my safe and it fired out of the gate six months later......
 
I used 250gr Hornady SST/FTX over 2 Pyrodex 50/50 pellets, lit by 209 primer. Dropped my doe this year in her tracks. First time using a muzzle loader, but impressed me to no end. Was used in Traditions Buckstalker.
 
T/C Encore ProHunter - BH 209, Hornady SST 250gr Sabots, perfect recipe for this gun..
 
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the sock said:
I used 250gr Hornady SST/FTX over 2 Pyrodex 50/50 pellets, lit by 209 primer. Dropped my doe this year in her tracks. First time using a muzzle loader, but impressed me to no end. Was used in Traditions Buckstalker.
Click to expand...

you're talking about my gun except I use loose 90 gr of loose powder. Same gun, bullet and story.
My deer dropped in her tracks.
 
I swear by Blackhorn 209 with 250gr sst's and still have a bunch of both, I have since switched to smokeless and .40/.50 240gr deadcenters.
 
The thing that bugs me with the tipple seven, is that to get best accuracy, IE trying to sight in the scope, you need to clean the bore between shots. That's one reason I'm considering the BH209. The main problem with it, is that it's expensive to begin with, and comes in a 10oz can, not a pound like the others, making it about 40 shots per can, if they are 100 grain shots. I'm cheap, and I like to shoot, so BH209 is a PIA in that regard. I figure it wouldn't take me long to empty that little powder can, and my wallet along with it, with the 209.
I'd also like to work up some cast bullet loads, with the minnie ball, and or the Lee REAL bullet. So far with the tripple seven, they rarely hit the paper. Might have to shoot black with the minnie, and see how that works.
 
When I was shooting percussion I was heavy into Black Powder then Pyrodex and now with the inlines I am shooting 777.
I like BP or Pyrodex with patch ball or MaxiBalls, 777 with Hornady 250gr Sabots.
If hunting really cold weather I trust BP more than the other propellants for reliable ignition.
bb
 
I quite like the Blackhorn 209. It's a bit pricey, but I find it very clean burning in my T/C. Very consistent velocity from shot to shot over the chrony as well. I've given up on pyrodex and 777 pellets, loose 777, and White Hots. It's strictly BH209 for the last 4 years. My wife still shoot loose 777 in her T/C as she has her rifle dialed in dead on. Why mess with what works so well for her.
For mine, Blackhorn all the way. Just my 2 cents
 
I would not shoot anything except Blackhorn in my conventional muzzleloaders, the benefits far outweigh the cost.

I don't have any worries about ignition with it, I experimented a little with it when I first built my smokeless and I lit 180grs of Blackhorn using a large rifle magnum primer many times in temps slightly below 0 Celsius. 209 shotgun primers have much more snap than that.
 
In my TC Omega I developed a load using 290gr Barnes TEZ, 77gr (weighed on a scale) of BH209 with Fed 209A shotshell primer. I haven't had a chance to shoot anything outside of paper with them. If you ML isn't a TC I'd probably use the TMZ, TC's have tight bores and the TEZ is easier to load.
 
I use 2 pyrodex 50 gr pellets with 240 HP's in my knight .50 cal inline. This is what I've used since new 15-20 years. Why change if it works great. I use #11 percussion caps for ignition.
I have shot whitetails out to 150 yards.
 
Blackhorn 209, shotgun primer and a TC Shockwave in either 250 or 400 grain depending on species. Never had an ignition issue and it has proven to be potent medicine
 
Whatever you use, make sure it functions in cold weather. Ive had mixed luck with 777 pellets, things improved with hotter 209 primers - the ML 209 primers are quite mild. What can be confounding is "partial ignitions", which display as poor grouping. Additionally, the partial ignitions leave a very dirty bore which compromise subsequent loadings. When working properly, I have no problems loading several Hornady sabots without issue.
 
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