Generally...I HATE trying/testing a new muzzleloading powder.. I've never seen anything I felt comfortable using/recommending other than Pyrodex/Triple Se7en...
Until TODAY!
TODAY I started with a brand, spanking new Knight KRB7, some 250gr/275gr Parker Ballistic Extremes, some 250gr/290gr Knight/Barnes PBT with EZ Load sabots, and some..TADA...Western Powders Blackhorn 209 muzzleloading propellant!
A little about Blackhorn 209... all per the powder container..
Front
Engineered for modern in-line muzzleloaders
High velocity..
Noncorrosive-Easy cleanup
No Swabbing between shots
Uses standard 209 shotshell primer
Back
Only for muzzleloaders with an enclosed 209 primer pocket(guess what this leaves OUT!)
Use standard 209 shotshell primers(do not use 209 muzzleloader primers)
Also do not use #11 percussion caps, musket caps, or rifle/pistol primers
High velocity
Superior accuracy
Noncorrosive
Low residue
No swabbing between shots
Not affected by humidity or temp
Breech plug easily removed after use
Easy cleaning
Volumetrically equalivalent to black powder
For bullets up to 300gr, DO NOT exceed 120 volumetric units of Blackhorn 209
For bullets above 300gr, DO NOT exceed 100 volumetric units of Blackhorn 209
Bullets over 350gr are not recommended
Not recommeded for sidelock muzzleloaders
There is also some loading data using 80. 100, 120gr of Blackhorn 209(BH209) with bullets from 200gr to 300gr.
Other observations..
When it comes to product uniformaty..Blackhorn 209 is in a class by itself! Until now..EVERY muzzleloading propellent has been made basically the same..make a batch of product and use screens to seperate it fffg/ffg/etc. Granule size varies even within granule sizes and the top part of the container will offer coarser product while down at the bottom of the container the product varies all the way to fine dust...ie the bottom 1/4 of a can of ffg Triple Se7en. I usually just throw it away! It's full of ffg, fffg, all the way to dust. Charge density varies GREATLY towards the bottom of a Triple Se7en bottle! From the top of the container to the last grain..EVERY granule of Blackhorn 209 is EXACTLY the same. It looks EXACTLY like smokeless powder! Ever seen any IMR-SR4759? It's an extruded/cylindrical granule that is hollow in the middle. BH209 looks the same:
I mounted a Leupold 3-9X40 VX-II using Warne Maxima rings/QD bases on the KRB7. I cleaned the bore with Hoppes #9 with a patch and jag and swabbed dry before shooting.
I started the morning with nothing more than setting off a CCI 209 cap before loading. The first shots that were fired with the BH209 were at 25yds to simply get the scope zeroed. I used 90gr and three shots later I was shooting close enough to get serious.
ALL GROUPS SHOT AT 100YDS
ALL POWDER CHARGES WERE MEASURED BY VOLUME USING A T/C U-VIEW POWDER MEASURE
AT NO TIME DID I SWAB OR DO ANYTHING BETWEEN SHOTS
The first 3-shot group was shot using 90gr BH209/250gr Parker Ballistic Extreme/CCI 209. There was certain NOTHING eventful about it at ALL! :shock:
The group measured 1.53 inch and clocked an average velocity of 1726fps. Seeing I had PLENTY of room for more velocity I immediately increased the charge volume to 100gr.
The next three 3-shots groups using 100gr BH209/250gr Parker Ballistic Extremes averaged 1813fps. Three, 3-shot groups with the combo averaged 1.57 inches.
From shot number one to shot number forty-five using Blackhorn was uneventful! Really nothing to do but charge the rifle and load up! Here are the other combinations shot:
100gr BH209 275gr Parker Ballistic Extreme
Average velocity- 1773fps
100gr BH209 250gr Knight PBT
Average velocity- 1783fps
100gr BH209 290gr Knight PBT
Average velocity- 1739fps
120gr BH209 275gr Parker Ballistic Extreme
Average velocity- 1943fps
120gr BH209 290gr Knight PBT
Average velocity- 1913fps
Just FYI...the LAST group fired....120gr BH209/290gr Knight PBT..shot into 1.28 inches. The KRB7 had not been cleaned, swabbed, NOTHING done to the rifle whatsoever. It STILL hasn't been cleaned!
I also shot by Knight Long Range Hunter and Disc Elite .50 with the Blackhorn 209...
Of course the LRH shot without a hitch whatsoever as well. Velocities practically mirrored those shot by the KRB7.. Here are those velocites
100gr BH209 250gr Ballistic Extreme
1801fps
100gr BH209 275gr Ballistic Extreme
1786fps
100gr BH209 250gr Knight PBT
1812fps
100gr BH209 290gr Knight PBT
1757fps
120gr BH209 250gr Knight PBT
1982fps
Of course no swabbing of any type between shots...
The only problems were with the Disc Elite .50. I had THOUGHT there COULD be a problem with ignition since the breech plug wasn't of the "enclosed primer pocket" type. Sadly in it's stock configuration..the Knight Disc Elite .50 just isn't a muzzleloader for Blackhorn 209 use. At first I was using the W-W 209 shotshell primers and experienced hangfires using the 250gr Ballistic Extremes. Thinking more bearing surface was the order of the day I went to the 275gr BE. Still hangfires. NEXT I tried some Federal 209A primers, the hottest on the market. BETTER but still the same problem. Next I tried the tightest fitting bullet I had on hand, a 300gr SST/MMP HPH-12 and still the same problem. It is OBVIOUSLY completely an ignition system issue and the Knight full plastic jacket obviously uses too much of the flame before it gets to the powder to reliabily light off the BH209.
LOADING..
Simply a BREEZE! I thought I might have ignition problems with the 250gr Barnes PBT because it was SO easy to seat! There were ZERO ignition problems in the KRB7 and the LRH. The BH209 DOES leave a very light residue..kind of a soot. Saboted bullets seat with no issues whatsoever. Loading procedure was EXACTLY the same as when shooting Triple Se7en except NO spit patching of any type EVER!
Shooting..
Ignition was instantaneous in the KRB7 and LHR. Yes there WAS smoke but it was much ligher than with Pyrodex/Triple Se7en. When the smoke came your way..there was none of the noxious fumes associated with Triple Se7en.
Accuracy...
What can I say but after twelve, 3-shot groups in the KRB7 the average group size was 1.42 inches! Small group was .25 inches using the 250gr Parker Ballistic Extreme and a 100gr charge. I couldn't be more impressed.
The final question...
Am I going to use it? HECK yes! I absolute LOVE this powder! None of the messy swabbing associated with Triple Se7en use is a REALLY big plus in my book! I also like that using heavier bullets really penalizes you VERY little in the velocity department and I think this powder is more suited to heavier bullets. If the non-corrosive part of the powder proves to ring true, and I think it will..this powder is a home run!
I think the pinnacle of muzzleloading propellants is no longer Triple Se7en..it's Western Powders Blackhorn 209
Until TODAY!
TODAY I started with a brand, spanking new Knight KRB7, some 250gr/275gr Parker Ballistic Extremes, some 250gr/290gr Knight/Barnes PBT with EZ Load sabots, and some..TADA...Western Powders Blackhorn 209 muzzleloading propellant!
A little about Blackhorn 209... all per the powder container..
Front
Engineered for modern in-line muzzleloaders
High velocity..
Noncorrosive-Easy cleanup
No Swabbing between shots
Uses standard 209 shotshell primer
Back
Only for muzzleloaders with an enclosed 209 primer pocket(guess what this leaves OUT!)
Use standard 209 shotshell primers(do not use 209 muzzleloader primers)
Also do not use #11 percussion caps, musket caps, or rifle/pistol primers
High velocity
Superior accuracy
Noncorrosive
Low residue
No swabbing between shots
Not affected by humidity or temp
Breech plug easily removed after use
Easy cleaning
Volumetrically equalivalent to black powder
For bullets up to 300gr, DO NOT exceed 120 volumetric units of Blackhorn 209
For bullets above 300gr, DO NOT exceed 100 volumetric units of Blackhorn 209
Bullets over 350gr are not recommended
Not recommeded for sidelock muzzleloaders
There is also some loading data using 80. 100, 120gr of Blackhorn 209(BH209) with bullets from 200gr to 300gr.
Other observations..
When it comes to product uniformaty..Blackhorn 209 is in a class by itself! Until now..EVERY muzzleloading propellent has been made basically the same..make a batch of product and use screens to seperate it fffg/ffg/etc. Granule size varies even within granule sizes and the top part of the container will offer coarser product while down at the bottom of the container the product varies all the way to fine dust...ie the bottom 1/4 of a can of ffg Triple Se7en. I usually just throw it away! It's full of ffg, fffg, all the way to dust. Charge density varies GREATLY towards the bottom of a Triple Se7en bottle! From the top of the container to the last grain..EVERY granule of Blackhorn 209 is EXACTLY the same. It looks EXACTLY like smokeless powder! Ever seen any IMR-SR4759? It's an extruded/cylindrical granule that is hollow in the middle. BH209 looks the same:
I mounted a Leupold 3-9X40 VX-II using Warne Maxima rings/QD bases on the KRB7. I cleaned the bore with Hoppes #9 with a patch and jag and swabbed dry before shooting.
I started the morning with nothing more than setting off a CCI 209 cap before loading. The first shots that were fired with the BH209 were at 25yds to simply get the scope zeroed. I used 90gr and three shots later I was shooting close enough to get serious.
ALL GROUPS SHOT AT 100YDS
ALL POWDER CHARGES WERE MEASURED BY VOLUME USING A T/C U-VIEW POWDER MEASURE
AT NO TIME DID I SWAB OR DO ANYTHING BETWEEN SHOTS
The first 3-shot group was shot using 90gr BH209/250gr Parker Ballistic Extreme/CCI 209. There was certain NOTHING eventful about it at ALL! :shock:
The group measured 1.53 inch and clocked an average velocity of 1726fps. Seeing I had PLENTY of room for more velocity I immediately increased the charge volume to 100gr.The next three 3-shots groups using 100gr BH209/250gr Parker Ballistic Extremes averaged 1813fps. Three, 3-shot groups with the combo averaged 1.57 inches.
From shot number one to shot number forty-five using Blackhorn was uneventful! Really nothing to do but charge the rifle and load up! Here are the other combinations shot:
100gr BH209 275gr Parker Ballistic Extreme
Average velocity- 1773fps
100gr BH209 250gr Knight PBT
Average velocity- 1783fps
100gr BH209 290gr Knight PBT
Average velocity- 1739fps
120gr BH209 275gr Parker Ballistic Extreme
Average velocity- 1943fps
120gr BH209 290gr Knight PBT
Average velocity- 1913fps
Just FYI...the LAST group fired....120gr BH209/290gr Knight PBT..shot into 1.28 inches. The KRB7 had not been cleaned, swabbed, NOTHING done to the rifle whatsoever. It STILL hasn't been cleaned!
I also shot by Knight Long Range Hunter and Disc Elite .50 with the Blackhorn 209...
Of course the LRH shot without a hitch whatsoever as well. Velocities practically mirrored those shot by the KRB7.. Here are those velocites
100gr BH209 250gr Ballistic Extreme
1801fps
100gr BH209 275gr Ballistic Extreme
1786fps
100gr BH209 250gr Knight PBT
1812fps
100gr BH209 290gr Knight PBT
1757fps
120gr BH209 250gr Knight PBT
1982fps
Of course no swabbing of any type between shots...
The only problems were with the Disc Elite .50. I had THOUGHT there COULD be a problem with ignition since the breech plug wasn't of the "enclosed primer pocket" type. Sadly in it's stock configuration..the Knight Disc Elite .50 just isn't a muzzleloader for Blackhorn 209 use. At first I was using the W-W 209 shotshell primers and experienced hangfires using the 250gr Ballistic Extremes. Thinking more bearing surface was the order of the day I went to the 275gr BE. Still hangfires. NEXT I tried some Federal 209A primers, the hottest on the market. BETTER but still the same problem. Next I tried the tightest fitting bullet I had on hand, a 300gr SST/MMP HPH-12 and still the same problem. It is OBVIOUSLY completely an ignition system issue and the Knight full plastic jacket obviously uses too much of the flame before it gets to the powder to reliabily light off the BH209.
LOADING..
Simply a BREEZE! I thought I might have ignition problems with the 250gr Barnes PBT because it was SO easy to seat! There were ZERO ignition problems in the KRB7 and the LRH. The BH209 DOES leave a very light residue..kind of a soot. Saboted bullets seat with no issues whatsoever. Loading procedure was EXACTLY the same as when shooting Triple Se7en except NO spit patching of any type EVER!
Shooting..
Ignition was instantaneous in the KRB7 and LHR. Yes there WAS smoke but it was much ligher than with Pyrodex/Triple Se7en. When the smoke came your way..there was none of the noxious fumes associated with Triple Se7en.
Accuracy...
What can I say but after twelve, 3-shot groups in the KRB7 the average group size was 1.42 inches! Small group was .25 inches using the 250gr Parker Ballistic Extreme and a 100gr charge. I couldn't be more impressed.
The final question...
Am I going to use it? HECK yes! I absolute LOVE this powder! None of the messy swabbing associated with Triple Se7en use is a REALLY big plus in my book! I also like that using heavier bullets really penalizes you VERY little in the velocity department and I think this powder is more suited to heavier bullets. If the non-corrosive part of the powder proves to ring true, and I think it will..this powder is a home run!
I think the pinnacle of muzzleloading propellants is no longer Triple Se7en..it's Western Powders Blackhorn 209
