Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders Question about BH209

Can I use my Encore with my setup for using a small rifle primer while using BlackHorn 209,everything I read says to use a regular 209 primer.I have my gun setup up to use a 25 acp casing with a small rifle primer,any info would be appreciated...thanks

No. You need a hotter primer to ignite BH 209. You would be asking for misfires with that set up. I have the same set up for my Omega, but that was to ignite 777 and reduce the crude ring. Put the original Breech plug back in and use a 209 primer and you should be good to go without any other modification.

It might function fine in warm weather, but you will have problems in colder (30s & down)
I use CCIM (magnums) 209s.

Don't just use a 209 primer, but use the hottest available. I use CCI 209M when possible and WW 209 Magnum otherwise. I haven't seen the Federal 209A since the shortages began, but it is a good one.

And be sure to keep the carbon buildup out of the breech plug. A friend of mine stopped using BH 209 when he had a hang fire on a cold day from his Encore. The flash channel was fairly clogged.

The powder is junk in cold weather

thanks guys for the input,I will put my original breech plug back in and use a magnum 209 primer,everyone seems to think the BH209 is the way to go,I was using Pyrodex for the last 15 years,finally going to try a different setup,easier to clean and more consistant...thanks

I couldn't disagree more...
Magnum 209s (CCI or Fed) &keep BP channel clean..
Havent had any misfire since switching to CCI magnums...down to -5deg. F...

I have no problems igniting B209 in cold weather with CCIM primers. I'm a big fan of it in my Knights.

If you ever want to be a true believer, setup a chrony & test some Pyrodex loads against B209. I haven't tested neck & neck with Pyrodex, but I did as a buddy was shooting 'Shockey's Gold' powder.
That was the last time he ever used that powder, weak with wide velocity swings.

I used BH209 this year during the Kansas gun season. Didn't draw a rifle tag so I had to buy an OTC muzzloader tag. Everyday the temps were single digits or teens with wind chills in the negative at times. No problems at all with the powder. Took my best muley ever!

Shot my deer at zero degrees this year.

Knight Disc Elite 45
110 grains of BH 209
200 SST
Winchester 209

I've never had a FTF with BH 209. I must admit that zero degrees is the coldest test I hope I ever have.

Be sure to use shotgun 209s. Not the ones weakened for MZ use like the T7 primers or Thompson center primers. These were weakened to avoid the T7 crud ring.

zero issues in cold weather! 80lbs so far and NO problems with misfires in cold.

Use 120 grains by volume of BH209 with a 200 grain Dead Center bullet and hunt in Wisconsin type weather with 100% ignition to date. (About 70 rounds fired so far)I use Federal 209A primers in my NEF Sidekick with Metrics Unlimited aftermarket breech plug.

jr.Gman Sent you a PM.

I am glad to hear the success with the BH209,I am excited to try it,now if I could just sell my Pyrodex...

I had two problems with BH209 when I first started using it. I swear I had one of the first lots. First, I had to use a hot magnum primer. The standard 209 primers worked (Arizona heat) but I wouldn't get a full burn and the contributed to a gummed up BP and powder ring on the barrel (similar to Pyrodex) after two shots. The second problem I had was I was shooting 50grs. I wasn't interested in launching a 295 grain PB into a 35lb Javelina with a full load. After a few weeks of much frustration, I called Western Powder. They said use a hot primer and 120grds of powder. Because of its higher powder rating, Western told me 120grs by volume is the max load for a rifle rated for a 150gr BP equivalent.

After switching to a magnum primer and shooting 120grs BV, I ran out of Power Belts before I had to clean the barrel. I found the I can go as low as 90grns before having problems.

As a side comment, BH209 is the most accurate powder in my ML, but not by much. I also like Pyrodex RS and White Hots.