Alliant Black MZ surprises me today

[FrontierMuzzleloading]

I wanted to try some big nasty recoil conicals today and so I started off first with Triple 7 3fg and my home cast 370gr Maxi balls at 50 yards.

Shots 1 and 2 went awesome.. Every **** shot after that was a hang fire. I have Tresco nipple on my sidelock and it just does not handle Triple 7 well at all. Its weird.. I consistently only get 2 shots before it starts hang firing. You can push a wire through the nipple hole and it will still hang fire.

Switched over 90gr Black MZ, Zero hang fires and what surprised me most, was the accuracy. I'm not looking for sniper accuracy, 75 yards in my area would be a long shot on elk in the thick timber, so this group really surprised me as I did not expect the MZ to shoot this well with these conicals.

Excuse the messy target, I hate wasting them. The Black MZ also shot center. I'd imagine with the large conical and this load I would be around 7 to 9 inches low at 100 yards. Maybe tomorrow I can test at 75 yards and see how things go.

Shots 2-5 are easily within 1 1/2" or less.
https://i50.servimg.com/u/f50/18/40/56/85/100_3214.jpg (https://servimg.com/view/18405685/1375)
https://i50.servimg.com/u/f50/18/40/56/85/100_3213.jpg (https://servimg.com/view/18405685/1374)

[Markopolo]

What gun were you shooting???

[FrontierMuzzleloading]

Traditions St.Louis Hawken .50cal

[Markopolo]

It sure seems to like them Maxi’s.. what is the twist on that? Looks like it also like the Alliant.. looks like you stumbled on a awesome starting point for a great future shooter???

[FrontierMuzzleloading]

Its the 1:48 twist.

This is a good shooting load but the 250gr REAL bullets, with a felt wad out shoot it at 50 yards easily. Not by a whole lot, but the real does hold an edge.

[Markopolo]

Have you tried the Alliant on a known good shooting load and see what it does??? I wonder what will happen with the real and Alliant combined?

By the way, I did finally receive my lee real-round ball combo mold for that 45cal I was given... cast some up.. just haven’t had a chance to try them yet.. I love the real for my 50’s.. I would love to try some of the Alliant in my stuff, but not available anywhere near me...

[FrontierMuzzleloading]

I tried the black mz in a .45cal cva firebolt at 100 yards with a 228gr maxiball. No clue what happened on the other 2 shots, but they drifted off to the right quite a ways.
https://i.servimg.com/u/f50/18/40/56/85/53172810.jpg

I have another custom fast twist under hammer( 1:22 ) 45cal and with 70gr Black MZ, felt wad and a 460gr no excuse conical, that sucker will flat out shoot at 100 yards. I just dislike carrying that one around due to it weighing 14lbs.

[Markopolo]

Yikes!!! 14lbs?? You need a tank to haul that artillery around...

That is why I am so into my shotguns.... usually, my hunts involve walking long distances.. 5-7 miles normally.. seasons all coincide. Black bear, waterfowl, grouse, deer, salmon. Everything is spot and stalk.. sure dont wanna carry multiple guns.. 12g takes care of just about everything. I can grab my RB BP shells, my slugs, my buckshot, and BB’s, and take whatever presents.. all them critters exist in the same areas, so sometimes it venison, sometimes it a fishing pole and a gun, sometimes its birds and bears or surf and turf..... the trick is how to get it out of the marsh, swamp, hills, brush, and river...lol

I take a backpack ad make sure I have everything I need to get whatever I shoot out most of the time...

Marko

[OverMax]

Looks like you found another sweet spot with that Alliant substitute. Good for you.

[fastdadio]

I would love to try some of the Alliant in my stuff, but not available anywhere near me...

I just had 3lbs of Black MZ dropped off on my porch. $10.00/lb + $20.00 hazmat.
Black MZ for $10.00 bux/lb is a great deal.
https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting/muzzleloader-black-powder/powder-primers/alliant-black-mz-muzzleloader-powder/p/1318670
I padded the order with percussion caps to justify the hazmat fee ans spent enough to get free shipping also.

[Markopolo]

They can’t ship it airmail, and there is no ground shipping here

[Pigboat]

I've been away from muzzle loading for a while and have never heard of this powder. Looking at it on line it doesn't mention any grade, ff/fff. Is it suitable for rifles and C&B revolvers ?

[Markopolo]

It is a 2fg equivenant according to Alliant. Suppost to be able to use in all MZ stuff..

[arcticap]

I've been away from muzzle loading for a while and have never heard of this powder. Looking at it on line it doesn't mention any grade, ff/fff. Is it suitable for rifles and C&B revolvers ?

It is basically relabeled American Pioneer Powder 2F which is a somewhat coarse substitute powder.
It's been reported to work fine in all revolvers and most rifles.
Some have said that it doesn't flow as easily from some flasks or into the flash chambers of some rifles due to the granule size .
But for the most part, the reports have been favorable.

Like with APP powder, the container should be kept sealed to avoid contact with moisture and humidity.

[FrontierMuzzleloading]

Its actually made by American Pioneer but has since been discontinued. Its called 2fg but is chunkier than cannon powder. I use it with great success in the .36 and 44cal cap & ball revolvers.
https://i.servimg.com/u/f50/18/40/56/85/black_13.jpg

[Markopolo]

I thought this was interesting...



https://youtu.be/ZAGGvC5HS7E

[brewer12345]

Has anyone tried.this stuff over a chronograph vs. A load of goes or pyrodex? Have been using this stuff as I learn to shoot my muzzleloader and it shoots pretty well. Wondering if it is energetic enough to hunt with.

[fastdadio]

They can’t ship it airmail, and there is no ground shipping here

Sounds like you need me to deliver it in person.....
:kidding:

[Pigboat]

I don't know when I'll get out to try it but picked up two pounds today. I hope it's not too good or I'll never get rid of all the Pyrodex I have :roll:

[FrontierMuzzleloading]

Its a little less than 200 FPS SLOWER than Pyrodex RS. I posted this in a thread yesterday.

[Markopolo]

Sounds like you need me to deliver it in person.....
:kidding:

Careful what you wish for... I will hold you to it... Invite sent!!!

[brewer12345]

Its a little less than 200 FPS SLOWER than Pyrodex RS. I posted this in a thread yesterday.

Thanks. Will have to see what accuracy I can get if I move the charge up and compare it to pyrodex. I think I had read in the past that it provided less velocity than other options.

[quilbilly]

Last winter when I started testing the MZ in my 45 cal with PRB, I noticed that when using the same volumes of powder as with Goes 3F, the recoil of the MZ was significantly stouter. I throttled the MZ load back a little and was impressed with the accuracy.