T-7 load

[chuck w.]

Had a great day at the range Saturday. I finally found a T-7 load that works in one of my .54's! Since I bought the Cabelas Hawken Hunter, I have not found a roundball load that really works great. We I finally found the load. 80 gr. T-7 .530 ball .015 white cotton patch, Lehigh Valley for lube. and standard CCI caps. This load really works. I was shooting off the bench and the 3 shot group was a stacked  ragged hole about an inch long and a ball and a half in width at 50 yds. now that I have this load I'll boost the charge just to see what happens. I had issues with the magnum CCi caps with this powder. The caps have not been stored any different than the rest but I got some hang fires using them with the T-7 but not Goex 2F. Sort of a head scratcher. If anybody has any idea as why this was happening I'd like to to hear them. Once I got this worked out I switched over to a couple of lever actions and my Grandad's old 1903 Springfield.

[William]

Had a great day at the range Saturday. I finally found a T-7 load that works in one of my .54's! Since I bought the Cabelas Hawken Hunter, I have not found a roundball load that really works great. We I finally found the load. 80 gr. T-7 .530 ball .015 white cotton patch, Lehigh Valley for lube. and standard CCI caps. This load really works. I was shooting off the bench and the 3 shot group was a stacked  ragged hole about an inch long and a ball and a half in width at 50 yds. now that I have this load I'll boost the charge just to see what happens. I had issues with the magnum CCi caps with this powder. The caps have not been stored any different than the rest but I got some hang fires using them with the T-7 but not Goex 2F. Sort of a head scratcher. If anybody has any idea as why this was happening I'd like to to hear them. Once I got this worked out I switched over to a couple of lever actions and my Grandad's old 1903 Springfield.

80 grains of T-7 is about the same as shooting between 92 & 96 grains of Goex, so you are within safe limits with that load.  It's not unusual to have ignition problems with any of the substitute powders because they burn hotter and thus need more flame to get going.  Triple 7 really needs consistent compression so try and apply the same amount of pressure with every load.  I never seem to have problems when I use the Remington black powder caps but Winchester and CCI always seem to have 3-4 bad ones per can.  I also suggest that even if you aren't experiencing difficult loading without occasionally swabbing the bore with an alcohol soaked cleaning patch that you do so when using T-7 but you must make sure that you don't leave the bore wet because it will render the powder charge useless or cause severe hang fires.  Just use and alcohol dampened patch every 3-4 shots and you should be fine.  Since T-7 burns hotter the addition of a caliber sized wad or a folded up patch between the powder and the PRB may improve accuracy by keeping the shooting patch from burning through.

[chuck w.]

William, The T-7 load works great. Accuracy, well I don't think it could get much better. I duplicated the accuracy again at the range this last weekend. The hang fire issue cropped up again on two out of 30 shots using the magnum CCi caps. Needless to say, I will use the standard CCi's since I have a good supply and have never had any issues with them. I have gone to aftermarket stainless nipples on both rifles and have no trouble with them. I did try the alcohol wipe but I don't think it is needed as there was very little fouling after 15 shots fired. The patches look good with no sign of  burning. The Lehigh Valley Lube does it's job well. The patches are damp and not over lubed. I should probably test to see if there is any problem with leaving rifle loaded for a long period of time. I do load with consistent pressure. Unless I'm hunting I always use my range rod and consistency is easy to achive with it. the range rod is a solid piece of round brass stock with a handle made from an antique white enamel door knob. The business end is shaped to conform to a round ball. One of the best purchases I've made in a long time. BTW, I did test this load with home made "moose snot" and accuracy was nearly as good but just slightly harder to load. Even if I shoot three rounds, loading and fouling won't be a problem, although, a third round may need a short starter. 13 DAYS UNTILL WE LEAVE FOR ELK CAMP !!!!

[flintboomer]

Good luck on the elk. I did not see anything shootable last weekend but I will have other chances for elk.

[William]

Well it sounds like you're doing everything right, especially replacing the factory nipples with SS versions.  About the only upgrade I can think of is going to the bronze AMPCO nipple.  As far as leaving Triple 7 loaded overnight, make sure that you have some between the hammer and nipple that will seal it well, because of that and all other substitutes tendancy to absorb moisture.  Good luck, let us know how you do.

[flintboomer]

Well it sounds like you're doing everything right, especially replacing the factory nipples with SS versions.  About the only upgrade I can think of is going to the bronze AMPCO nipple.  As far as leaving Triple 7 loaded overnight, make sure that you have some between the hammer and nipple that will seal it well, because of that and all other substitutes tendancy to absorb moisture.  Good luck, let us know how you do.

I have had mixed results with the AMPCO nipple and no longer use them. I prefer a good steel or stainless steel nipple.

I haven't had any problem with triple 7 drawing moisture and have kept rifles loaded for 4-5 months without problems, but this is Colorado and it is usually pretty dry here. You can tape the muzzle and put a piece of plastic tubing over the capped nipple to waterproof the rifle, the tubing will come off with the cap when you decap to get in a vehicle or you decap for the night as a safety measure but it will slide right back on without problems. If you want to seal it for the night after removing the cap try a piece of leather, rubber or plastic and never leave it out in the weather where it can get wet.


Your load should work fine if you do your part and make a good shot.

[chuck w.]

Flintboomer,  Our M/L general elk season here in Washington is only a week long. It's a spike only area (342) we're hunting with a drawing for cow tags. Didn't draw a cow tag this year. I've left goex loaded for extended times with no trouble. You do have a lot less humidity where you're at. Here its running anywhere from 55 to 100 percent. We're on the west side of the cascade mtns. and close to salt water. The tube trick works really well as you can expect to hunt in the rain around here. Raided the wife's aquarium supplies when I first heard about the tubing trick.

[chuck w.]

William, I'll look for some of those Ampco nipples. I have not used them and am more than willing to give something new a try. I'll take pictures and post them, animals or not. 

[William]

William, I'll look for some of those Ampco nipples. I have not used them and am more than willing to give something new a try. I'll take pictures and post them, animals or not. 

I look forward to seeing them.  I like the Ampco nipples because bronze is nice and tough.  I've had several non stainless steel nipples start to mushroom and saw one SS version break off but never any problems with the Ampco.  Don't get me wrong though, any of the SS nipples are better than most factory supplied versions.  You might also take a look at the MSN Spitfire stainless steel nipple; http://www.cabelas.com/black-powder-accessories-spit-fire-replacement-nipples-1.shtml