Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders Triple 7 Powder Loads?

So I'm totally new to muzzleloading but not reloading per say. I've just purchased my first ML, it's a Austin & Halleck 50 cal with a Green Mountain barrel (1:36 twist), approximately 34" in length. Living in Montana, we can't shoot sabots so I bought the 385 gr. Hornady conicals. I've got Triple 7 (FFG) and CCI #11 primers.
My question is where to start with the ladder? And do I increase in 5 grain increments until, hopefully, I find an accurate load? I have no idea what to expect.
Thanks a million for any help.
Best regards,
Erik

The old timers will advise to start testing with 50 grains of FFg black or equivalent in a 50 cal. I think your owner's manual will tell you a max charge of 100 grains. So there's your parameters so to speak. Use volume measure and don't weigh your charges on a scale.

Increase with 5 grain increments and shoot 3 rounds each powder weight. The groups will tell you what the barrel likes. Groups will tighten, then they will open. When they open that's where you've passed by your load for that bullet.

Swab "clean" between test groups. It's tedious to test out a bullet or a powder but it's muzzleloading, it's not supposed to be quick & easy.

You're probably ok starting with 60 grains and will probably end up liking 75 or 80 grains. If you're going after BIG stuff in Montana then you might sacrifice a LITTLE accuracy for a little more punch, but don't exceed that 100 grain max if you get that far.

Being a total newb you really should read as much as you can on muzzleloaders and muzzleloading. I recommend joining The Muzzleloading Forum dot com and bugging those guys for as much info as you can get them to give you. There's a few on there more than willing to help a new guy out, and just about everybody there knows muzzleloading inside and out.

Be warned, this is a drug easily and permanently addicted to.

Just start around 60gr, and see what it likes. Personally, I don't think I would push an all lead bullet past 90 gr. They tend to come apart after 90 gr.

Your rifle will probably eat the 495 no excuses and 75-80 grs 777 well. The fast twist and longer bullets go together well.

Be aware that 777and Pydrodex degrades by the time you try to use it next year. 80-90 grains is about the most your want to use

I was shooting 90gr of. 777 with the 385gr in my investarms 50. It shot well when it didn't hangfire or missfire. I've switched to pyrodex, and will probably try real BP if I can ever find any. 777 was just too finicky for me.

Buffalo arms in ponderay has some.

Thanks, next time I go west I'll have to stop in