Hodgdon Powder - Testing the Big 3 Part 2

If you didn't read the first Hodgdon Powder Test, now is the time to do so.

During the first test, i had been using the medium heat Winchester W209 primers which work well, but did not offer the greatest accuracy with certain powders i had tested with.

On a recent trip to the local gun shop i found some NSI 686 " Italian brand" Primers for a good price of $4.50 and figuring that they may help with accuracy, i went and bought a package to try out and do the Big 3 test all over again.

Having a beautiful day, it was perfect do set up all my equipment and get settled in for another round of testing IMR White Hots, Triple 7 Pellets, Pyrodex Pellets.

All powders were tested using the CVA Accura V2 .50cal and both 245 & 295 grain Hollow Point Powerbelts. Just as in the first test.

The only difference, A primer brand change.

It was a long day with having to swab between shots and even myself having to go rest in the shade to cool down due to the intense heat.

The first test i ran was with the IMR White Hots and the 295gr Powerbelts.
After 3 shots i had a grin plastered across my face and finally found a combo that shot extremely well!

Moving on to Pyrodex Pellets and the 295gr Powerbelts, I was fairly pleased with the results.

Triple 7 on the the other hand reacted very terrible with these new primers, Decent hunting group BUT i certainly would feel a lot more comfortable with a much tighter group when i am in the field. Now because it did not group good, does that make the powder bad? No, it just means i have more testing ahead of me with other brands of primers to find that sweet spot like i did with the IMR White Hots.

Here are the results with the 295gr HP Powerbelts:

Now i was pretty happy, especially with the White Hots - 295 Powerbelt combo and even fairly happy with the Pyrodex combo load. I thought i was all set for even better results once i switched to the 245gr HP Powerbelt. Boy was i ever wrong!

Switching over to the 245gr HP Powerbelts and the IMR White Hots, i took my 3 shots, scratched my head, shook it side to side, and proceeded to remove the breech plug and swab the bore clean. Once clean, i loaded up with Pyrodex, took my 3 shots and REALLY was fuming with how that group went. Triple 7 did not go any better, in fact it got worse! With the Pyrodex Pellets and Triple 7 Pellets, this gun would not group worth a snot for even big target moose hunting! There's a lot of time and patience involved when shooting as i do have swab between shots in order to get the next round seated, and when i go through all this work and not have it group for nothing, its very disheartening.

245gr Powerbelt Results:

BUT..... it must be done in order to educate others about how different bullet weights, primers, oils, ect. can affect the accuracy of your muzzle loader. The results with the IMR White Hots and NSI Primers along with the 295gr HP Powerbelt are a perfect example of patience and taking the time to sit down at the range and work loads up and document them just in case i have to go back to a certain load.

Very simple things can change your muzzle loaders accuracy. Some of these things may be something YOU never would have thought about. Want an example? If you don't, you're going to get one anyway! Foul weather hunting - We put a piece of electrical tape, clear wrap with a rubber band around it - Bore Cot - Balloon over the muzzle to keep rain, snow, mud and other debris out of the bore while we are hunting. Can something that simple really affect your accuracy? We will find out soon!