BlackMag-3 or 777 for your heavy loads???

[Dakota Widowmaker]

I read in BPC magazine that the shooter was using a 56-50 spencer with the Rapine mold and shooting BlackMag-3 in it.

I have read where Mag-3 is actually more nitro than black powder. (more so than even 777)

Has anyone tried this?

I know some crazy folks drunk on fire water have tried 777 50gr 50cal pellets with rather interesting results.

Anyone do anything with BlackMag-3??? www.magkor.com

[Harve Curry]

Well I tried one round loaded with a 50gr pellet of 777 over a Rapine 350gr bullet and it chronographed 1380fps, as I recall.
I don't know about the Blacknag stuff.
But what do I know my pet load is smokless @ 1050fps.

[Gimpy Gus]

Dakota Widowmaker,

I wrote the article in BPC  and I've been using Black Mag 3 for years in both my Taylor Spencer 56-50 and and my Navy Arms Smith 50 carbine. Using the 365 gr .515 dia. bullet from Rapine's mold for the N.A. Smith or  bullets from Montana Precision Swagging (they are the same) backed with 40 gr of BM3 (volume) produce velocities of approx. 1090fps in the Spencer carbine and 1000fps in the Smith. 3 and 5 shot groups average 1.5 and 2.5 in. at 50yds  in both. No signs of  high pressure ever. Can not say that for 777 and the Smith. 37gr is about max. When you go 40gr the hammer some times blows back to half cock! For some reason my Spencer doesn't like 777 in terms of accuracy even though velocity deviations are lower than BM3.  GG

[Tuolumne Lawman]

40 grains of 777 in my Smith cut through the side of the rubber case, and the blast pushed the latch up unlocking the action!  That was a religious experience, conmsidering it was 6 inches from my face!

[Harve Curry]

We have to be careful considering the magazine of 6-7 loaded rounds has our face up against it. A chain reaction of explosions in the stock would be harmful to more then our complexions.

[Dakota Widowmaker]

I think I am going to stick with GOEX Express... hehe

I am using Winchester LRM primers, as they are just a tad harder to set off, but, with my modified firing pin block, they are 100% reliable.

I got 777 loads to hit 1200fps with my 340gr bullets, but, have yet to try it with my 320gr slugs.

Thanks for the heads up Gus. Good article!!! (how much was the hunt?)

[Tuolumne Lawman]

I am going to be using my pet 56-50 load now that I have a Taylor's again.

Starline brass, full length sized, 350 HRHW/DWM modified LEE (50-70 500 grain gut down), LEE Alox liquid lube, 40 grain volume Hodgdon's 777 FFG (actually 29.3 grains by weight), CCI 250 Large Magnum Rifle primer.  I was sizing them .512, but I think I will leave them unsized (they were .514 with my hard alloy). It should do around 1100 with the FFG.  No one around here has FFFG, but the FFG seems very accurate.

See my "First shots" post

[Gimpy Gus]

D.W.    $1350 included guide,3 full days of hunting, 4 nights lodging, and 3 squares a day.  GG

T.L.      By mistake and against manufacture's warning, I once used 3f 777 in the 56-50.  (approx. 40gr by volume). Big mistake! 1300+fps, flattened primers, sounded like a howitzer, and kicked like a small mule. Way too hot! Not safe!  GG

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Gus,

Thanks for the info.  I have always used FFG Hodgdons 777 before in my Spencers, CAS pistols, Henry, and 12 gauge paper hulls, but thought I might try the FFFG in the Spencer after reading some earlier posts from this board.

The 40 Volume) of FFG 777 is not bad to shoot.  Not at all abusive.  The worst two guns I ever shot were an early single shot McMillan bolt action .50 cal BMG sniper rifle (without a break!) and a .45-120 Sharps given to me by Maro Pedretti.  I used 120 grains FG and a 550 postell Lymann in the 45-120.  Both were BRUTAL! The problem with the Sharps was that it was a 28" 8.5 pound rifle!  It should have been a 30 inch bull barrel that weighed about 12-13 pounds.  Both were a case of too little gun for too much of a cartridge!!!!!   I nearly wet myself when the MCMillan went off!

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I've used Black Mag 3. I don't have a Spencer, but I use it in my 38-55. It performs the same as BP for volume/performance. Accuracy is as good as anything I've used. Smokes like BP. The stuff I have is a few years old and I was told that it wasn't being made anymore. Maybe this is different or they're back in business again. I can't vouch for the stuff you found.