2F vs. 3F

[Seeking Trad Deer]

I've always shot 2F from my Lyman DeerStalker. Seems most guys shoot 3F here with roundballs. What is the pro's and con's of each other than more kick from the 3F. I am mostly interested in hunting whitetails with a load of powder and projectile to a maximum distance of 75 yards. Any input or information is appreciated :blah:

 

[roundball]

I've always shot 2F from my Lyman DeerStalker. Seems most guys shoot 3F here with roundballs. What is the pro's and con's of each other than more kick from the 3F. I am mostly interested in hunting whitetails with a load of powder and projectile to a maximum distance of 75 yards. Any input or information is appreciated :blah:

I use Goex 3F for deer hunting in .45/.50/.54cals because it's faster and fouls less than Goex 2F for me.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Always use FFFg Goex 70 gr. charge with either a PRB or a 370 gr. T/C Maxi-Ball in my Lyman Trade Rifle .50 cal. I chrono'd the Maxi at 1394 fps...that's a power factor of 499+, roughly the same as a 20 ga. 3/4 ounce rifled slug! Your rifle has a shorter barrel than mine, therefore you will benefit more by switching to 3F than I did, it's that simple. The more complete the burn , the more efficient the burn and the less residue in the bore. If I can shoot a whole box of Maxi's in a match, I'm sure you can shoot one or two at a deer . Let us know how you make out, Dave

 

[Wes/Tex]

What Roundball said! Just remember to back off 10% to 15% when switching to FFFg. Gets more velocity and pressure with equal amounts of powder by volume. :winking:

 

[longrifle78]

I shoot fff because it fouls less and i can shoot longer in between cleanings, in a huntin situation where your only going to be shootin 1 or 2 shots i dont see any advantages of fff over ff.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

I shoot a .50 and have had better ignition with 3F. when loading I dump the powder charge in and whack the breech area couple times with my hand to jar some grains into the drum - it lights off better that way.

 

[Seeking Trad Deer]

There does seem to be a decent amount of residue when I am shooting the Swiss FFG.

 

[wikinger]

Same as Blizzard. I had trouble with ignition with my TC 50 cal Hawken using 2F. Switched to 3F and problems went away.

 

[hobbles]

Mornin std,
With 2 f rs I used to get miss fire's, with 3 f p I don't,, (so far)

 

[shmrck1]

STD,
I use 3fff Goex in all my rifles because it
works and I only have to worry about buying,
storing and shooting one powder.IMO
snake-eyes :hmm:

 

Check out the numerous testimonials for 2fg powder use even in smallbores on the American Longrifle site. I personally use 2fg in bores >.50, but would have no problems using it in .45 or .50 as well. Some rifles shoot better with 2fg over 3fg. Many folks see no differences in fouling (see the ALR site)--me included. One advantage of 3fg in flinters is that you can dispense with a priming horn/flask and prime and load with one powder. [you can do that with 2fg, too, but most prefer not to]. 3fg is versatile and usable in most calibers, but it may not be the best choice--only experiment will prove what is best for your gun.

 

[scott k]

What Mike said :grin:
2 F works better for me in my Lyman trade gun. More accurate for me.
Lehigh..

 

[blacksmithman64]

When a gun freak friend of mine chronographed my .50 haines flintlock with a colerain "c" 42" barrel it shot 1240 fps with 65 grains ffg and 1740 fps with 65 grains fffg, a difference of 500 fps. I also don't have to rely on "kentucky windage"that much on long shots out to 140 yards. I didn't reduce the 3f charge 'cuz I got a heavy barrel! And probably why it zips'em out 500fps faster!

 

[roundball]

When a gun freak friend of mine chronographed my .50 haines flintlock with a colerain "c" 42" barrel it shot 1240 fps with 65 grains ffg and 1740 fps with 65 grains fffg, a difference of 500 fps. I also don't have to rely on "kentucky windage"that much on long shots out to 140 yards. I didn't reduce the 3f charge 'cuz I got a heavy barrel! And probably why it zips'em out 500fps faster!

To be honest I'm surprised at that much of a difference in velocity just from a gtranulation change...I would have guessed maybe 100fps difference

 

[paulvallandigham]

I agree. I have never seen that much difference between the two loads. I would expect something around 60-100 fps difference at that powder load, assuming the same ball and patch combination is used.

 

[blacksmithman64]

All I know is what his computer printed out; and what I saw of the flatter trajectory of the 3f compared to the 2f due to the higher velocity. I'm no Sam Fadala by a long shot and don't much care for scientific principles involving flinging lead down range but I'm stickin' with 3f in my rifle. :thumbsup: :surrender:

 

[paulvallandigham]

;Pease don't take my comment as any kind of insult, or criticism. You have just motivated me to check out the two different powders again with my own .50 cal. rifle. If there is a 500 fps second increase using 3Fg powder, that would explain why my gun is more accurate shooting 2Fg.

The faster a ball leaves the muzzle, the faster is slows.

All the air turbulance involved in a fast ball slowing makes the surface condition and weight much more a factor in how well a particular load groups. That turbulance is present at a much lesser amount with the slower velocity . I have been shooting 65 grains of FFg for more than 20 years in my rifle. I now forget what it clocks on the chronograph, but I will make note of it, and then try FFFg powder using the same components, and note the differences.

 

[Musket]

The general rule I've always been told is that the caliber dictates the powder. Anything under 50 should use 3F and .50 cal. and above should use 2F. The reasoning is the ignition pressures that build in the barrel when using heavy powder charges. Now this does't mean that you can't use either or that one is better than another for accuracy. Every gun has it's own best charge for accuracy/grouping and it could be either. I think the main thing to consider is the safety factor in using heavy charges, possibly for hunting. Barrels of above .50 cal can have much higher breech/barrel pressures when using the finer grain 3F powder as compared to 2f. If using HEAVY charges in a hunting rifle, better to use the courser powder for safety sake, I'd say...

 

[lightsky]

i use 3f in all my rifles from .25-.58 cal.
when i started shooting bp ,i went to the books
and used 2f,I didn't like it fouled too much.
been using 3f since 1972 without trouble.
just adjust your loads 10-15% less

 

[Runner]

So much depends on the bullet, patch, lube, and the intended purpose of the load.
Mountain rifle using Pyrodex P and RS as 2f and 3f, BB or similar lube, 495 in a .015 patch. Shooting fouled with heavy lube at a match, 3f will be better. Swabbing between shots at the match, 2f is more accurate.
12 guage with 90 grains of 3f under 120 of number 5's is a flinch teacher that hurts. Same load with 2f, better pattern and much nicer to shoot.

I don't record velocity data on anything but the air rifles, and then not very often. I don't know just how much difference there is in the different barrels. 70 grains of 2f out of a 28 or longer barrel in 50 caliber is good for anything I am going to do with a roundball. 90 grains of 2f under a medium weight conical will do anything I will attempt with the sights on the gun. Now, in the 36 if you were looking for speed, you would absolutely want 3f. 2f even works in it as a target load. Most of my guns are caplocks. My little flinter doesn't seem to care what you feed it as long as it is real black!