Blackhorn 209 powder and "Dead Center" bullets

[C. Richard Archie]

Not truly "reloading" in today's strictest sense, but as muzzle loader season is just around the corner....

I tried the Blackhorn 209 powder today, and I have to say that I was very pleased with the results. In conjunction with 195 gr. "Dead Center" saboted bullets (.357 caliber with sabots) from Precision Rifle, I shot the best groups ever with my Bergara barrel (.45 caliber ) in the T/C Encore platform. 1.24" 5 shot group was the largest at 100 yards, .88" the smallest, and the Blackhorn powder allows loading the 10th shot as easy as the first.

20 shots with 100 grains, (volumetric) gave an average velocity of 1995 fps.

I have been shooting black powder for over 30 years, and this is the easiest to use load wise, and clean as well, of any thing I have ever tried.

[Butch Butler]

Richard,
You guys and your modern technology.What would you do without it?
OK just kidding!!!
Muzzel Loading has come a long way but it left me behind.
I just cant put my Thompson Center 50Cal. down,loaded with 75gr.of fffg,a #11cap,375 gr.home-molded maxi-ball,lubed with crisco and beeswax.
I guess i'm oldschool because I would shoot a Flintlock if I could afford one.
There is nothing like that puff pause boom.
Smoke Poles Rule!!!
Butch

[C. Richard Archie]

I still have the first Hawken I built while a starving college student. Turner Kirkland of Dixie Gun Works would front me the parts, I would build the rifles and sell them at this retail store, and we would split the profit. He was a true gentleman. I used to use the dual parts kit on the .32 caliber squirrel rifles I turned out for him, that way all you had to do was switch out the hammer, drum and bolster for the different hammer and frizzen if rock lock was what you wanted.

As the years have rolled by the eyes are not what they were for iron sights, plus, I have gotten lazy!