2F or 3F for a .58

[rudyc]

Going to be hunting with a .58 for the first time this fall. Been using 70-80gr of 3F in my .54 for years with great results.

Any opinions about 3F in a .58??

Slow twist barrel with a patched round ball.

 

[roundball]

I've tried Goex 3F and 2F in 2 .58cal barrels:
(100, 110, and 120grn charges)
GM 32" drop in barrel in a T/C Hawken I had.
Rice 38" barrel in my Early Virginia.

Both granulations worked fine and both were accurate.
But by an ever so slight margin the 2F seemed a hair more accurate.
I like stout charges and 2F doesn't have as sharp of a pressure spike as 3F.
As a result, I settled on 2F for my deer hunting loads.

100, 110, 120grns were all very accurate, here's 120grns / 50 yards / benched:

 

[William O.]

Based on my experience with my .54 I would start with 2f, however that is a 1:48 twist and the two may not be comparable. Having said that, it would be best to try both and see for yourself which gives you the best accuracy. I have two 50 calibers and I know one does better with 3f but the other I haven't tested yet. Both have slower twist rates.

 

[BrownBear]

I'm kinda split right down the middle. With five 58's in the house, it's settled down to two of them preferring 2f and three of them wanting 3f.

I try both and let the rifle decide which is best. If there's a "pattern" to it the longer barrels seem to shoot a little better with the 2f, but it's a close thing like Roundball is reporting.

I will say that with my shortest barrel (24") using 3f definitely cuts the flame and smoke a little, which is a good thing. My hunting pards call that rifle DANG cuzz it's so loud in general.

 

[Ron LaClair]

When I started shooting black powder many many years ago, the "rule of thumb" was 3FFF up to and including .50cal and 2FF for .54 and up. :idunno:

 

[BrownBear]

..."rule of thumb"....

Kinda funny how some rules of thumb turn out to be all thumb and no sense. Like urban cowboys: All hat and now cows. :rotf:

 

[Tony Logan]

3F for me in my 44 inch Colerain 58, never shot 2 F in it. I use 85 g for most shoting and 100 g for long shots.

 

[trdigger]

I use 3f in everything, including my 58 Chambers Lancaster and 24 ga NW Gun. I prime from the horn, and the 3f works great.

 

[Billnpatti]

Whoeee! That is some fine shooting! :thumbsup: Ain't a thing wrong with what you are feeding that gun.

 

[robert reed]

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showpost.php?post/1459689/

 

[Bob J]

FWIW, my 31" barreled .62 shoots equally well and to same point of impact with 90 grains of 3f or 110 grains of 2f.

 

[wattlebuster]

Let your gun tell you what it wants to shoot :hmm: