Nugent said:
Any opinions on the Vari-Flame adapter? The thinking on it is that 209 primers are somewhat more powerful than needed to ignite the powder and sometimes dislodge the bullet affecting accuracy. The Vari-Flame adapter allows you to use smaller pistol primers (.32 APC) to increase accuracy. Thanks again!
I have some experience with the Vari-Flame adapter. For a beginner I would see it as a distraction. I would concentrate on keeping it simple. That said, the Vari-Flame adapter with small rifle primers or small pistol primers will send less gases/pressure to the powder. This is suppose to fix a problem with full strength 209 primers bumping the charge and/or creating the Triple Seven crud ring. This may be more of a problem with Triple Seven pellets and maybe with large quantities (over 100 grs) of Triple Seven powder. I don't know for sure, I don't use the pellets and I use under 100 grs of powder so I have not had those problems.
Keep in mind that the Vari-Flame system is said to not work well with Blackhorn 209. It will cause hang fires or delayed firing. Blackhorn 209 is best used with regular/full strength 209 primers.
If you are going to use Triple Seven powder, you could test with regular 209 primers that are used for reloading shot shells. If accuracy is good and there is no crud ring when swabbing between shots you should be set. If either problem exists, you could try the "muzzleloader" 209 primers that are available. They are made to be a little weaker but you pay more for them..
I would suggest starting at 80 gr of T7 and work up in 5 gr increments. Hodgdon, on their powder bottles, list 100 gr as max. Others may recommend more, you need to decide for yourself.
Keep it simple, get it to work well and then when that is not enough, or you are ready for more, there is a world of accessories, powders, primers, sabots and bullets that can be tested.