Gotta get out with my Optima

FrontierGander · Mar 16, 2015

Decided to go and work up some "fresh" loads with Pyrodex Select in the NW Optima. I shot it today with the 385gr Hornady Great Plains and great results. I hated the factory front sight as the red wasn't working with my vision and was smeared upwards. I swapped it out for my old Truglo globe sight and will resight in tomorrow. Going to use the 405gr powerbelt lead series flat points just to get on target and then swap over and hopefully it will be close at 50 yards.

I can tell you think. Goex smells like roses compared to Pyrodex LOL. I've been spoiled since the local gun shop has carried limited supplies of Goex.

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Just getting back to trying the loads I used to shoot in my old Winchester X-150 that I had back in 2004. It was a real solid load, so we will see how the newer models handle it.

Cow Tag · Mar 17, 2015

FrontierGander, I have never tried the Pyrodex powders. would you recommend them over 777? I have always used the 777 in my Remington 700 and TC Encore black powder weapons. My Remington ML 700 will not tolerate Black Horn 209 but the TC Encore will. Just wondering what your opinion was concerning Pyrodex versus 777 for hunting purposes. Cow Tag

FrontierGander · Mar 17, 2015

both powders will work. In my life, I seriously have only shot 2lbs of t7 as i did not care for the erratic groups i'd get. There are plenty of folks that love it,i just did not ever like it in loose form. I had one rifle that loved it and it was a cva mountain rifle in .45cal and with 80gr 3f t7, 200 yard shooting was real easy back then. Just something for you to try and experiment with.

BeanMan · Mar 18, 2015

I've never tried Pyrodex either, how well does it clean up?

FrontierGander · Mar 18, 2015

No harder than holy black. It has a stronger egg smell but if you add a little murphys oil soap to the hot water, it tames it down real good.

Cow Tag · Mar 18, 2015

Could a man use isopropyl alcohol and Murphy's Oil Soap solution to clean up after the shooting if he uses Pryodex? Alcohol and Murhpy's instead of hot water and Murphy's?

FrontierGander · Mar 18, 2015

better off using water to wash the corrosive salts away.

After the hot bath, dry the bore with a couple patches, plug the area where the nipple screws into with your finger and put a shot of alcohol down the bore. The alcohol will wash away any left over water that sits on top and inside of the bolster/drum.

Dry it again, oil and put it away till next use.

BeanMan · Mar 18, 2015

I think I'll stick with a more modern powder...

I've got a few pounds of the old Black Mag 3 left.

FrontierGander · Mar 18, 2015

I dont believe they make that any more. BM3 is another one that should get washed with water to kill the salts in it.

BeanMan · Mar 18, 2015

Yes, BM3 is gone from the market. I've got enough to get through a season.

FrontierGander · Mar 20, 2015

Sweeeet!! This is the same old load I used to use in my Winchester X-150 back in the day!

80gr Pyrodex Select
CCI Inline MZL primers
385gr hornady great plains bullets
50 yards.

Hole is 5 shots and my final adjustment shot. I think i'll have to go at least 3" high at 50 to be close to dead on at 100.

Check this nugget out! I dug through the log my target is stapled to and pulled out a huge mass of the GP bullets all in a smashed together chunk of lead.