1 1/2 f In Flintlocks?

[Rob Dorsey]

:surrender: Yeah,...yeah, I try not to be a topic buster, really I do but sometimes this old brain just takes off at a tangent and all sorts of gobbldygook comes out. :youcrazy: Sorry, yes, of course it's about flintlocks and it's in the flintlock section and I'm way too new to be flirting with the rules.

My Bad, I'll try to do better. :redface:
:bow: Rob

 

[Zonie]

I'm not sure why you chose a .020 diameter vent hole but in my opinion, drilling a hole that size any appreciable depth would be beyond the capability of most gunsmiths.

Drills that small usually need specially designed machinery to keep them from breaking.

 

[BrownBear]

...flirting with the rules.

More a question of flirting with the attention span of your readers.

 

[Rob Dorsey]

...flirting with the rules.

More a question of flirting with the attention span of your readers.

Mr. Bear,

I'm a writer. Writers write. What's a mother to do, huh?

The new improved and succinct Rob

 

[M. De Land]

I wonder if the glazing on Swiss makes it harder to light? I shoot a lot of it in my cartridge guns and it is one of the best for that purpose but have never tried it in my flint guns.
I notice it produces less fines from the can than does Goex. Mike D.

 

[David W.]

I don't know about 1-1/2, and graphite, but my 3F Swiss has absolutely no hesitation.

I think when using shot out of a smooth bore, the coarser powder may help shot patterns because it should start out with more of a push. I haven't shot a smooth bore in a coons age though.

 

[BrownBear]

I think when using shot out of a smooth bore, the coarser powder may help shot patterns because it should start out with more of a push.

I don't know for sure, but that's my best guess too. In any case, that's what I've always heard, dangerous as that can be at times.

Whatever the explanation, it sure appears to me that there's something going on with the larger, slower grain size. Patterns may not be smaller, but they sure seem a lot smoother with fewer fliers and cleaner edges to the pattern. I kinda twigged onto the whole thing due to those discrete pattern edges. I like to use the edge of my pattern when shooting running snowshoe hare, trying to restrict shot to the front half of the body if possible. Sure works out better with slower powders.

 

[David W.]

I meant more even patterns, not smaller. I sure miss my original 10 ga double! Why did I sell it?

 

[Rob Dorsey]

Mike, I had never thought of the glaze. Now you've got me wondering too./ Damn I hate this rain! Looks like Thursday here in the Ohio Valley will be shootable and then all things will be revealed.

I also shoot cartridge with Swiss 1 1/2 fg and it is superior for that, particularly in the 45/90 and 45/120. Those big ole cases like it slow.

Rob

 

[Zonie]

That's nice but we don't discuss modern firearms in our general posts.

If you wish to discuss them and the powder they burn I suggest that you pay the premium membership fee so you can post in the Non Muzzleloading section of the forum.

I for one would like to see anything besides the typical politics discussed there.

 

[BrownBear]

I for one would like to see anything besides the typical politics discussed there.

Wanna start a pool on how many posts it take the thread to turn to politics? My money sezz it won't get through the first page.

 

[excess650]

I wonder if the glazing on Swiss makes it harder to light? I shoot a lot of it in my cartridge guns and it is one of the best for that purpose but have never tried it in my flint guns.
I notice it produces less fines from the can than does Goex. Mike D.

I believe that glaze is the potassium nitrate brought to the surface, and I'm thinking it should enhance ignition.

Goex isn't as dense as Swiss, so more apt to fracture grains. My old lot of KIK had noticeably soft grains, but has worked well in MLers. Swiss will make more velocity than Goex, but the fouling seems noticeably drier as well. I do not like to wipe between shots, so Goex suits me better.

 

[Larry Pletcher]

. . . . snipped . . . . . .
I believe that glaze is the potassium nitrate brought to the surface, and I'm thinking it should enhance ignition.

Thanks for your comment. I'd also add that, to my knowledge, Swiss does not use graphite. In testing that I've done in small grain sizes, Swiss is faster than any other powder I've tried.

Regards,
Pletch

 

[Rifleman1776]

I don't know if glazing affects ignition. But, curiously, Swiss 1 1/2Fg is glazed and 3Fg is not. I could not get ignition in a flint fowler using the 1 1/2Fg without extraoridnary measures. :idunno: Go figger. I don't have an explanation.

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[Rob Dorsey]

I notice that, in your picture, the Swiss 3fg is decidedly lighter in color than the Goex. It is almost as light grey as Pyrodex (may you forgive me for mentioning it) but the grain size looks uniform with the Goex. 1 1/2fg looks like charcoal by comparison. :idunno:

 

[Rifleman1776]

I notice that, in your picture, the Swiss 3fg is decidedly lighter in color than the Goex. It is almost as light grey as Pyrodex (may you forgive me for mentioning it) but the grain size looks uniform with the Goex. 1 1/2fg looks like charcoal by comparison. :idunno:

I was very surprised by the color/glazing difference in the two Swiss powders. Both are very uniform in size. Yes, the 1 1/2 is very large by comparison. I believe the 1 1/2Fg is really intended for black powder cartridges.

 

[Rob Dorsey]

I believe the 1 1/2Fg is really intended for black powder cartridges.

Yeah, that's the only place I've ever shot it and it works superbly in that application. My best accuracy has been with Swiss 1 1/2fg and (horror) Goex Pinnacle, yet another faux black powder.

Topic police please note that I dared to mention cartridge shooting in order to explain the uses of 1 1/2fg powder.

 

[Hans74]

I have several different types of powder. Old Goex, the new Goex Olde Eynsford, KIK, Swiss, And diamond. The powder I settled on for my .50 flint is the 2f KIK and 3f in the pan. The Olde E is faster than Swiss and a heck of a lot softer fouling..
I used the 2f Olde E at our last shoot instead of the KIK and was able to shoot the whole match without having to wipe the bore. I don't know yet if it was my new patch lube I mixed up that did this or if it was the moist fouling..
This Olde E is polished like the Swiss is but I can detect no delay. Ace.

 

[Joel/Calgary]

I wonder if the glazing on Swiss makes it harder to light?

Glazing is a thin shell of saltpeter produced by the final drying/tumbling. Graphiting is a separate issue. Powder can be glazed, graphited, both, or neither. IIRC, Swiss is supposed to be glazed but not graphited.

Regards,
Joel

Oops - I see this point has already been raised.