Anyone tried 777 in a 1911?

[Muddy Creek Sam]

The title pretty much say's it all. Ever try 777 or one of the other sub's in a 1911?

Sam :D

[Larry Gibson]

Ok, I'll be the dummy and ask; why would anyone want to try a BP substitute powder in a M1911?

Larry Gibson

[44man]

You might be able to shoot it, put the gun down and run to catch it! [smilie=1: I don't think enough will fit the little case to get any velocity. The stuff does NOT want to be compressed. I tried it in the 45-70 and it was dismal.
I don't think it will work a 1911 action at all.

[Muddy Creek Sam]

Had a pard tell me it was pretty good with 777. Thought I'd look for second opinions.


Sam :D

[jhrosier]

I never tried 777, but did shoot a box of ammo that I loaded with fffg.
The gun functioned perfectly and shot with useable accuracy.
Recoil was brisk. The clap of thunder, ball of sparks and fire, and cloud of smoke attracted quite a bit of attention on the range. Waiting for the smoke to clear pretty much ruled out rapid fire.
The required detailed stripping to clean the BP residue from all the nooks and crannies was a massive PITA and I was disinclined to do it again.

Jack

[Lloyd Smale]

Im sure it would make it go bang but all the crud it would create would cause abrasion to places you dont want it and i dont know if the different type of recoil impulse due to the fact it exploads instead of burns would cause stress to parts. If you just want smoke find bullets with big lube groves and lube them with javalina and shoot them with unique.

[Lead melter]

Can't say for sure how it would work, but it might be like my opinion of the 270 Winchester. Maybe throwing the gun at something would be a better way of killing it than shooting at it. A mag full of 230's would add weight to boot!:kidding:

[Heavy lead]

I hope if someone ever comes after me with a 270 they throw it instead of pulling the trigger!:bigsmyl2:

[carpetman]

Lead Melter---In my books the 25-06 doesnt do a thing the .270 doesn't do better. What's your opinion of the 25-06 seeing how you told your opinion of the .270?

[R.C. Hatter]

I really don't understand why anyone would want to shoot black powder or BP substitutes in a 1911.
If they wish to spend a great deal of time cleaning the gun to rid it of fouling and rust causing residue, I guess its OK, or maybe they wish to see and smell a bunch of smoke. Far better I say to use Unique and a good, hard cast alloy slug. R.C. Hatter

[Willbird]

777 is not especially dirty, I have never tried it in a breech loader, in a front stuffer it leaves a crusty ring about where the powder charge meets the bullet, I have always wondered where and of that ring forms in cartridge guns. it cleans up easily with water, and in 100 grain charges(by volume not weight) in a 50 caliber rifle it makes more energy than BP does.

Bill

[Lead melter]

Lead Melter---In my books the 25-06 doesnt do a thing the .270 doesn't do better. What's your opinion of the 25-06 seeing how you told your opinion of the .270?


Can't rightly say anything bad or good about the 25 as I've never had any experience with that cartridge.

[Lloyd Smale]

big fan of the 2506 and all of the .25s. Dont care for the .270 but thats a mental thing that came from the fact i think jack oconor was a blowhard! Ive owned just about every caliber thats been put into a modern bolt at one time or the other and never owned or never will a 270. Not because it doesnt work but because I dont have to.

[jhrosier]

777 is not especially dirty, I have never tried it in a breech loader, in a front stuffer it leaves a crusty ring about where the powder charge meets the bullet, I have always wondered where and of that ring forms in cartridge guns. it cleans up easily with water, and in 100 grain charges(by volume not weight) in a 50 caliber rifle it makes more energy than BP does.

Bill

I've shot quite a lot of 777 in the 10.4 Swiss rifles. About 50-55 gr., by volume of ffg grade under a 310 gr boolit. There isn't too much fouling in the bore and no 'crud ring' that I could see in the cases. Cleaning of the cases just requires a soak in hot tap water with a splash of white vinegar and then a rinse. The bore cleans up nice with only a couple of wet patches.

Also be aware that only the ffg grade should be used in all cartridge guns, never the fffg grade. This is direct from the folks at Hodgdons.
No compression or "very little compression" is what they suggest. The ffg grade of 777 seems to burn a little hotter and cleaner than ffg black powder, probably pretty close to fffg black powder performance.

Smokeless powder lubes, like Lars 2500+ or Lee LLA are appropriate for use with 777.

Hodgdons 777 has worked well for me and I intend to try it in several more guns.

Jack

[PatMarlin]

Jack- how was your accuracy and consistancy with 777?

[jhrosier]

Jack- how was your accuracy and consistancy with 777?

Pat,

Go here and check out post #4: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?p=244254#post244254

Subsequent range sessions gave slightly better results.
I recall shooting a number of 100 yard groups of around 2 to 2-1/2" and 200 yard groups of 6 to 7-1/2". While this would not qualify for 'target' accuracy, I thought that it was pretty good for a Vetterli and my ability to use open sights.
I chronographed most of the shots fired and did not see anything disappointing in the ES or SD figures. The fouling was light all the way up to 55 grs powder and there was no noticeable leading. In general terms, I got good enough results with the 777 that I didn't bother to experiment with real black powder.

Jack

[PatMarlin]

That is an outstanding thread Jack! How in the world did I miss that? Now I want one ...:mrgreen:

I'm using and liking T7 more and more.