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May 2008

Muzzleloading Propellants: Blackhorn 209 Earns an ‘A’

Though nearly twice as expensive, Western Powder Co.’s 209 formulation shot accurately, consistently, and cleanly. We also liked Triple Se7en, but we wouldn’t buy Shockey’s Gold.

Muzzleloading propellants have lagged behind propellants in cartridges for some time, this despite the great increase in inline popularity and use that continues today. Sulfur-based propellants are hygroscopic and filthy, promoting gun corrosion, requiring immediate cleaning, and are horribly inefficient. Blackpowder, a mixture not a compound, leaves behind about 50% of itself as fouling. Performance- and convenience-minded sportsmen have long looked for a better way.

A variety of muzzleloading riﬂes were tested with these propellants: a Knight RB, a Knight KP1, a Savage 10ML-II, a Thompson Contender G2, and a Thompson Encore, all in .50 caliber. Right: For velocity testing, we shot the loads over a CED Millennium M2, setting the ﬁrst screen 5 yards from the muzzle. We used a Knight KRB Rolling Block, shooting all the powders on the same 42-degree day. We used Federal 209A shotshell primers on top of 100-grain loads measured by volume using a Thompson/Center U-View powder measure. The primary test bullet was a Barnes TMZ 290-grain saboted boattail.

The prevalent blackpowder replacement for decades has been Pyrodex. Though synthetic, it also contains sulfur and generates sulfur salts that continue the corrosion problem. In the opinion of many muzzleloading enthusiasts, it is even worse than blackpowder in the corrosion and cleaning departments. Yet, for many…

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Muzzleloading Propellants: Blackhorn 209 Earns an ‘A’

Though nearly twice as expensive, Western Powder Co.’s 209 formulation shot accurately, consistently, and cleanly. We also liked Triple Se7en, but we wouldn’t buy Shockey’s Gold.