Measuring Blackhorn 209 by volume vs weight

[Hnthrdr]

Just going to tell you to forget the 250 power belt, I wouldn’t shoot lighter that 300 grains and i wouldn’t shoot a powerbelt, Thors, borelocks, heck boredrivers would all be on the list before powerbelts for elk that is

 

[Ridgerunner338]

My recommendation is load a volume measure and pour on a powder scale a few times. Then shoot those same loads at a target. You will load by weight every time after that I promise.

I did the same experiment with my CVA optima and a 420 grain No Excuses bullet. Loading by volume can vary alot by weight from charge to charge. I started loading by weight because I have all my charges ready before I head out anyway. I use 80 grains of Blackhorn by volume which if I remember correctly is 58 grains by weight.

 

[nettereo16]

100% use by weight, not volume. I found 70gr by weight of 209 was the most accurate with 300gr SST-ML. This was about 100gr by volume. You can see first hand the variance of by volume if you test pouring into the tube vs. pour then give it a firm shake - this will change the volume noticibly

 

[ElDiablito]

You can see first hand the variance of by volume if you test pouring into the tube vs. pour then give it a firm shake - this will change the volume noticibly

Which highlights the importance of volume measuring exactly the same way every time.

 

[bayoublaster7527]

I buy plastic medical vials off eBay and weigh each charge. I then have a bunch of pre weighed available.I use 77gr by weight, iirc that equals 100 gr by volume. Blackhorn has table listed on their website with conversion.

I do the same. Always by weight.

 

[bayoublaster7527]

Just going to tell you to forget the 250 power belt, I wouldn’t shoot lighter that 300 grains and i wouldn’t shoot a powerbelt, Thors, borelocks, heck boredrivers would all be on the list before powerbelts for elk that is

Absolutely. Way better options than powerbelts these days from Thor, arrowhead, hornady, Barnes, etc.

 

[Andrewlonghi]

With Blackhorn 209 120gr by volume is 84gr by weight….that is max, didn’t know shit about a muzzleloader when I started or the process of measuring volume vs weight. It ended badly for the muzzleloader and I got very lucky

 

[ENCORE]

With Blackhorn 209 120gr by volume is 84gr by weight….that is max, didn’t know shit about a muzzleloader when I started or the process of measuring volume vs weight. It ended badly for the muzzleloader and I got very lucky

Please check out post #16

 

[ElDiablito]

With Blackhorn 209 120gr by volume is 84gr by weight….that is max, didn’t know shit about a muzzleloader when I started or the process of measuring volume vs weight. It ended badly for the muzzleloader and I got very lucky

With current lots of BH209, ~ 96 grV is max.

 

[Andrewlonghi]

 

[ElDiablito]

View attachment 848037

That’s old info. Here’s the current load data. Note that Hodgdon recommends measuring by volume not weight.

https://hodgdonpowderco.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2023-MDATA.pdf

 

[ENCORE]

Direct from Hodgdon................ https://hodgdonpowderco.com/blackhorn-209/

 

[ElDiablito]

Direct from Hodgdon................ https://hodgdonpowderco.com/blackhorn-209/


View attachment 848104

Which as we have said is not the correct multiplier these days…..

 

[ENCORE]

Which as we have said is not the correct multiplier these days…..

Nor is the volume ratio from lot# to lot# correct to weight..........
Shooters have been weighing BH for nearly 20 years using .7 as the multiplier, which Hodgdon is using as a carryover from Western. The short answer is, yes, you can weigh BH209 per Hodgdon.