Weighing Black MZ

[Blacksheep]

Jon,

I'm curious what weight scale do you think Black MZ follows the APP 2F of the Shockey"s gold 2f ?  I've been using the Shockey"s because the it looks a little finer to me than APP.

 

[exMember]

weighing 100gr volume Black MZ, I got 87.6 grains. Weighting American Pioneer 2f, 100 grain volume, gave me 85.2 grains.

Its been a few years since I have shot any JSG powder but I'd imagine its very close to black mz weight wise as its less bulky like black mz. Hell, the 2 powders could be identical IMO. I will have to find some locally to test out and see how it stacks up against Black MZ.

JSG 3F is in fact very fine compared to 3f APP.

 

[JTClark]

weighing 100gr volume Black MZ, I got 87.6 grains. Weighting American Pioneer 2f, 100 grain volume, gave me 85.2 grains.

Its been a few years since I have shot any JSG powder but I'd imagine its very close to black mz weight wise as its less bulky like black mz. Hell, the 2 powders could be identical IMO. I will have to find some locally to test out and see how it stacks up against Black MZ.

JSG 3F is in fact very fine compared to 3f APP.

i was curious about this powder, and how will they do with flash channel and accuracy and swabbing and etc...

 

[exMember]

JT, Black MZ is basically the same powder as American pioneer powder, only they strain the granules more. Its around $30 a lb so I'd just pass on it. You'll have better luck with T7 or pyrodex if you must use either of them.

 

[rsrocket11]

Wow, $30/pound?  I get it for $22/pound which makes it about half the cost of BH209 for me.  I get great accuracy with BH209, but at half the price per shot, I wanted to set out to find a way to make BlackMZ accurate and consistent to me.  It doesn't foul the barrel much, but it does leave a crusty chamber which looks like crystal deposits on the wall.  That makes a firm bullet seat difficult.  A dry patch is all that is needed to remove the crystals.

I can now get a good firm seat of the bullet and good groups at 50 yards with 80g (volume).  

https://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj96/rsrocket1/CVA Optima Pro/80gV_BlackMZ_sm_zps5009111c.png

No, this is not great, but it is better than the 4" groups I started out with before I got the loading technique down.  I now need to find an optimum charge to get down to 2-3 MOA.

Measuring the "kitty litter" granuals is also a challenge.  If you lightly pour the powder into the measure and scrape the top off without allowing it to settle, you can get a fairly consistent drop weight.  Any shake and you can reduce the volume by 5-15%  Weighing charges also works.  Just be sure to seat the bullet firmly against the powder.  Ignition is very easy.

 

[Okie Hog]

Measuring the "kitty litter" granuals is also a challenge. If you lightly pour the powder into the measure and scrape the top off without allowing it to settle, you can get a fairly consistent drop weight.

Bingo!!!

That is the traditional method of measuring blackpowder for muzzleloaders.  "Uncle Joe", my old blackpowder mentor from the early 60s-late 70s, did it that way:  So did all the shooters at shooting matches.  i do the same thing today.