1 more short test BH209

[artjr338wm]

As I will be extremely involved over the next 72hrs I will give a quite short version (its past 11:00pm) of todays short range session with my 12yr old Encore 209x50 in blued/walnut. I bought two containers of BH209 and have been dieing to try it out in my Encore. My Encore had little hope of use after I bought my 10ML-II, but now that has changed.

Went to the range to day, situation deemed it to be a shorter than usual session, but better than none at all. Shot only eleven loads out of my Encore with the fallowing load components:

<>Harvester 300grn PT Gold with supplied CR sabot.
I shot the first two and realized based on poor accuracy, they loaded too loosely and needed to be knurled so as to increase their OD and seal better. I knurled the PT Gold bullets at the range by rolling them between two flat files for 20-25 seconds.

<>110 grain charges by volume of BH 209

<>Winchester 209A primers. My favorite (in my 10ML-II) Federal 209s were to big and would not work in my Encore.

Of the 3-100yrd three shot groups I fired, all were under 1.25" C-C. Two were sub MOA, so I love BH209 and strongly feel its worth every last penny. I will post a more complete review by mid week. What I liked most though was My Encore has been disassembled, cleaned, reassembled, disassembled and then finally reassembled for todays range session, and it still held a good zero. I could actually hunt with the way it shoots at present. It is toped with a long discontinued Leupold VariX-II shotgun/ML scope in 2-7x33mm.

This stuff is as they say," is the real deal" No BS or hype at all. 100% works as advertised. Good buy 777 crud ring, good buy Pyrodex six" high first shots, good by 777 concreting and seizing in my breach plug, good by having to clean up ASAP, and good buy to blinding cloud of smoke.
Say hello to a BP sub that works like a dream.

[grouse]

Thanks for the report. Ya, BH209 is the real deal.

[robnj]

Nice report !

Just the kind of info I look for. Thanks for taking the time to share it.

[davewolf]

Man,
I guess, I am a newbie at this 'sport.' I've been pulling my hair out with:

good buy Pyrodex six" high first shots

I've been shooting a Pro-Pursuit topped with a Nikon Pro-Hunter and have been re-adjusting my scope because of this six-inch high "first shots." Are you telling me this is normal?
Please excuse my ignorance on this subject and many more dealing with inlines.
Maybe I'm wrong but there are probably a lot of folks here like me. Although I've taken 4-whitetails with my 45 cal--I really want my .50 cal to shoot "good enough to hunt with." Sounds like you and a lot of others around here, sure could help.
Have a great day!
Dave

[artjr338wm]

Dave, based on now having shot something like 1600-1700 shots using three 50 grain Pyrodex pellets and 300grn XTPs I found it simply a fact of using Pyrodex that unless shoot/hunt on a fowled bore, your first shot with pyrodex out of a clean bore will be any where from 4.5-6" high, as was the case (6" high) with my Encore and pellitized Pyrodex.

Just occured to me, add all that pyrodex cost up and man that was expencive. Most likely more $$$ than i spent on my 10ML-II.

Lastly as is my written in stone no exception rule, the INSTANT after I fire my last shot of the day out of eithor my Encore or 10ML-II I remove the breach plug. When i removed my Encores breach plug, it showed almost zero fowling (best discribed as it looked like a light dusting on the front of it) after 11 shots. The anti-seize I use actually caused more mess then the BH209.

Try this test Dave, next time shoot 1-3 loads out of your ML and then shoot for group. My guess will be you will now be shooting to your normal POI. Or better yet S-can the 777 or Pyrodex and buy some BH209. I know it may be a bitter pill to have to eat the cost of unused 777 and pyrodex as well as the cost of BH209, but once you try BH209 you will not regret it. Somehting that is as big a PITA (by compairison) as 777 and Pyrodex are simply no bargin at all in compairson to BH209s ease and simplicity of use as well as the accuracy you should receive.

Dont feel stupid Dave, everybody has to start some were and it is sights like this that will take you from know nothing to know enough to be successfull.

[davewolf]

Thanks I really appreciate the response. Now, allow me to ask another question. What are your thoughts on Shockey's Gold? It seems to shoot much better and cleaner for me, same as the stuff made by the same company--of course anyone in the know can join in--and give me their opinion.
Keep in mind, that I want to use this for hunting and do like premeasured charges. Because I have varied interests, I have only limited time. So, I've now tried Shockey's Gold pellets and had my inline sighted in with Pyrodex, and of course the first shot was 6-inches high! After adjusting the scope the pellets seemed to group just fine--an inch at 100.
But, after 9 shots I had my first 'flier'. I tore the Pro-Prusuit completely apart at the range, and it came back immediately. Tommorrow I plan to use AP's premeasured powder. Does 209 make pre-measured loads?
Don't worry my Pyrodex and 777 is no longer being used! I really do appreciate all the help--and yes, that's what I'm here for. Had a co-worker tell me today they shoot one shot before going hunting each year and never hunt with a clean gun! Of course they use Pyrodex and 777.
Have a great day!
Dave

[artjr338wm]

Dave wish I could give you some advice or info about Shokey's Gold but I have never used the stuff nor has anyone else that I know. I will say this, I subscribe to Gun Tests Magazine which is the Consumer reports of firearm testing, that in a three way comparison GT ran where GT pitted BH209 VS 777, VS Shockey's Gold, Gun Tests gave the Shokey's Gold a "F". Among the bad things GT said about Shokey's gold was and i quote as i have the review in front of me, S-Gold Velocities were dramatically poor and varied widely with shot to shot velocity variations of well over 220fps. They also said S-gold fowled badly (enough so as to prevent loading with out swabbing after only three shots) despite being advertised as a "no-swab propellant. They finished up their evaluation of S-gold by saying and I quote "In our view, this was obviously the worst performing product, with feeble velocities that were also erratic. We wouldn't shoot this in our guns."

In this test GT mag rated BH209 as a "A" hands down better than 777 or S-Gold, rated 777 a "B" because it gave good consistent velocities but fowled badly.

As I said before I will be the first to admit BH209 is costly, but after using it I will never ever go back to anything else I have tried, and literally would not use Pyrodex or 777 over BH209 even if you gave them to me for free. Also one other thing to consider about BH209 VS any other BP sub like 777 or Pyrodex. BH209 is non-corrosive and does not suck up moisture like they do so its shelf life should be near indefinite. Hope this answered your questions Dave.

If you wish to ask any other questions please feel free to do so Dave.

Be well,
Arthur.

[davewolf]

Thanks Arthur:
I agree that the Gold fouls much faster than advertised. I get about 6 shots before cleaning is needed. I have no way of checking velocities, although it wasn't erratic for me. And clean-up was a lot easier than Pyrodex or 777.

The only question I have--at the moment--is does BH209 come premeasured. I'm more of a hunter than a shooter, although it seems like I'm becoming more of a shooter lately. You've been extremely helpful and I really appreciate it!
Have a great day!
Dave

[artjr338wm]

Dave, to my knowledge BH209 comes only in loose powder form. I have no idea what so ever if the makers of BH209 plan on coming out with a pellitized version of it, possibly some one reading this may know more.

For me switching from pelitized Pyrodex to loose powder propellant was no problem what so ever. And this was after putting something like 1700 shots through my Encore using three 50 grain charges of pellitized Pyodex per shot. But then again I love to reload andI have been reloading for rifle and handgun for over 20yrs now so loading MLs to me is about 90% the same as reloading for my CF firearms.

To be perfectly honest with you Dave, once I get my Encore sighted in and I am comfortable with using it for hunting, I wont shoot it all that much because my 10ML-II is faaaaar cheaper to shoot. I have two favorite loads for my 10ML-II that give me MOA or better 90% of the time. One is with H-4198 and I can get almost 100 shots per pound of H-4198 and with my best performer, RL-10X I can get about 90 shots out of a pound of powder. If I wasn't such a speed freak and stuck to using SR-4759 I could get about 160 shots out of a pound of powder, and at $23.00 per pound now thats some cheep shooting.

[davewolf]

That sure is Arthur!
I just don't have the time to reload any longer--sold my stuff years ago, because it was time to give up something. I love to tie flies, fly fish, hunt, hike and write, plus I work full-time at a large box store. Sporting goods of course.

I wish that Buckhorn would offer at least pre-measured vials; I would jump on buying it in a minute.

Now back to the range, so to speak. I shot APP pre-measured vials today and it preformed so poorly, that is barely touched the paper....erratic as anything I've ever shot! As you said performance was far worse than Shockey's sticks.

So, okay, I always blame myself, the scope, the rifle first. After a horrible performance at 100- was so frustrated I could barely see straight. I cleaned the rifle with a wet swatch and then dried it. At 100-the first shot went low, and I mean low, and to the right.

Now, I just stood there in total disbelief! I moved back to 25-yards--wish they had 50-yards at the range I shoot at but they don't---something had to be wrong. At 25-I shot three shots all touching and I mean touching so tightly it looked like one hole rather than three. I had chatted with the guy next to me and he watched all three shots. I cased the rifle and headed home; wanting to leave on a high note.
What's your take on all of this? Seems like the scope, rifle and shooter aren't to blame this time.
Thanks for being such a good help,
Have a great day!
Dave