That was strange... squib like load

[10-Ring]

I was checking my new black powder gun today and testing out some new powder (Blackhorn 209.)  Rifle is a Knight .45 DISC.  Snapped a couple of 209s then loaded up 90 grains of Blackhorn and a 195 grain Powerbelt.  Just in case it matters I'm using 777 primers.  I fired and it sounded like the primer didn't ignite the powder but it looked like a bullet hit the water in the pond 20 yards behind the backstop, which is really odd since I'm shooting down into the back stop and I'd be aiming probably 5 feet over my target to hit the water, and really it could have been a limb falling in the water or a fish surfacing at just the right time.  Still not convinced that the gun had actually discharged I waited a few minutes and checked it with the ram rod, still being new to the gun I went ahead and and pulled the breech plug and the powder and projectile were in fact gone.  The barrel was filthy and I think I put a thick coating of bore butter in it before storing it after I used it last time so maybe that fouled the powder?  Yeah, I know I should have remembered to clean it first.  While I had the breech plug out I cleaned the barrel and loaded back up.  The next shot was dead on center and the next two were 1/2" low and left, touching each other.  I just can't figure out why that first shot made no noise, could the primer alone have pushed the load out of the barrel?  I've had primers fail to ignite the powder plenty of times but they have never cleared the load.  Plus there was no smoke, though the Blackhorn doesn't seem to smoke nearly as much as Pyrodex anyway.  I also can't figure out why the first shot was center and the other two were off center yet well grouped.  Someday's these blackpowder guns frustrate the crap out of me.

[Omega]

Black powder primers are not recommended for Blackhorn, so it probably was just pushed out by the primer.

[10-Ring]

Black powder primers are not recommended for Blackhorn, so it probably was just pushed out by the primer.

I thought that I had read that somewhere at some point but didn't see anything on the label about it.  What kind of primers should I be looking for?  Any chance a more powerful primer could cause my zero to change at all?

Edited October 31, 2015 by 10-Ring

[gregintenn]

A different primer could change your point of impact noticeably. I've never used Blackhorn, so can;t give advice for it. I never had any problem whatsoever igniting 777 pellets with the primers that came with the rifle (At least I think you got some primers with the rifle). If you can see through the flash hole before loading, the powder charge should go kaboom!

Edited October 31, 2015 by gregintenn

[10-Ring]

A different primer could change your point of impact noticeably. I've never used Blackhorn, so can;t give advice for it. I never had any problem whatsoever igniting 777 pellets with the primers that came with the rifle (At least I think you got some primers with the rifle). If you can see through the flash hole before loading, the powder charge should go kaboom!

There were a few loose primers in there I think they were all inserted into disks.  Found the following advice in another thread, I'll credit 300winmag.  So, guess I'll have to make another range trip this week...

 

 

Also, western powders advises people to use standard shotgun Federal or CCI Magnum primers.  Muzzleloader 209 primers you use with Triple 7 or Pyrodex are not hot enough.

[Omega]

There were a few loose primers in there I think they were all inserted into disks.  Found the following advice in another thread, I'll credit 300winmag.  So, guess I'll have to make another range trip this week...

I use standard shotgun 209 primers, CCI currently, and only one failed to ignite the powder. But the rifle didn't get a thorough cleaning last time because of the fire so that may of effected it a bit. The flash hole may of been a bit clogged or something so I won't put it on the Blackhorn.

[Sunfish]

You powder may have been degraded by the bore butter. Many guys pop a few primers before loading but I do not. I am a clean and dry with acetone patch person. After the first shot I just quickly reload. Sometimes I shoot it out at the truck other times I push out the load from the breech to save those Hi dollar swaged bullets I shoot. The only difference in the primer thing that I have noticed with what I am using for propellant is the standard 209 shotgun primers seem to be a little harder to clean behind.