OK to use FFFg black powder for .54?

[T Snyder & A Warren]

Some references recommend FFg, others FFFg on .54 cal muzzleloading.
I plan on shooting primarly round ball (1:48 twist), maybe some
Buffalo ball-ets. 3F OK? Is the charge volumes less than 2F due to
finer granulation? In advance, thanks for the help!

Tim Snyder
Spring Valley, CA

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Please find out about rec.guns at http://doubletap.cs.umd.edu/rec.guns

[ju...@my-deja.com]

A lot of people seem to think that 3f shoots better even
in as large a caliber as .54. Unfortunately, most of these people
have not looked to see what it does to their bore. Yes, depending
on whose powder you use (Goex, Elephant, Pyrodex, etc.), about
85% as much 3f will about match the larger granulation as far as
external ballistics. You will have higher pressures and more
bore erosion with 3f. It was a pretty drastic difference in my .50.

Russ

In article <7ld8da$7up$1...@xring.cs.umd.edu>,
tta...@mindspring.com (T Snyder & A Warren) wrote:
> ...

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Share what you know. Learn what you don't.

[Bev Clark/Steve Gallacci]

In article <7ld8da$7up$1...@xring.cs.umd.edu>,
T Snyder & A Warren <tta...@mindspring.com> wrote:
#Some references recommend FFg, others FFFg on .54 cal muzzleloading.
#I plan on shooting primarly round ball (1:48 twist), maybe some
#Buffalo ball-ets. 3F OK? Is the charge volumes less than 2F due to
#finer granulation? In advance, thanks for the help!
#
FFFg ought to be fine. Since the performance of any gun, especially a BP
muzzle loader, is going to be somewhat subjective to the individual gun
and shooter, any published load will likley be only a starting off point
for what will work best with your particular gun and ammo. Though the
finer grain will burn faster, you're not likely going to do anything
'bad" to your gun. BP is fairly forgiving in regards to charge size,
overcharging is likly only going to burn more powder than cause
overpressure. It is things like not fully seating the bullet all the way
down to the charge that can cause real trouble.

[Thorsen]

All of the "old-timers" who showed me how to shoot a muzzle loader
recommended FF for propellant powder and FFF or FFFF for frizzen powder
on flintlocks. And they also only used round ball projectiles - anybody
caught with Buffalo or any other conical was razzed right off of the
range. I tried FFF for propellant but my gun likes FF better.

But the Lyman Black Powder Handbook tables all use FFF powder for their
ballistic tables.
For instance...

Round ball lubed with Crisco, .015" patch, 34" barrel, 1:66" twist, 140
GR of FFF powder, percussion cap produced...

1973 feet per sec, 1899 FT LBS muzzle energy.

I tried FFF for propellant but my gun likes FF better.

[MTNMANN]

I shoot a .54 flintlock with a Green Mountain barrel. For about 8 years I used
to shoot 85 grains FFg. About 10 years ago I switched to 75 grains of FFFg and
noticed a big difference. My scores have improved because of the slightly
faster ignition, the fouling has decreased. I shoot about 1000 shots per year
(x10 years) and haven't noticed any wear on my barrel or change in accuracy. I
use round ball, .015 ticking, with good old Moose Milk.

mtnmann

[SPECOPS]

My hunting load in my Hawken is 80 grains of Goex FFF- that's with a .50
caliber.
SPECOPS.

R.K. Erickson wrote in message <7lg8c5$nim$1...@magnum.mmm.com>...
> ...
100 grains of Pyrodex Pistol powder and 310 grain Knight Sabots by mistake.
> ...
"crack" like a smokeless rifle instead of a blackpowder boom (maybe I was @
2 times the speed of sound), and they were accurate as well.
> ...
rounds with no ill effects.
> ...