3f Black powder in a 50 Cal.

[MikeW319]

Is there any reason not to shoot 3 F powder in a 50 Cal. percussion rifle? I look at a couple of manufactures of black powder and they state it is best for 45 Cal. and below.

 

[sepiatone]

My 50 cal shoots best with 3f. I use 3f in all my othe rifles.

 

[Ken Rummer]

My Lyman BP Handbook and Loading Manual lists 3F loads for both 50 and 54 cal. but not 58.

The Lyman Users manual ( included when you buy a gun) lists 90 gr 3F as max for 50cal and 100gr 3F for 54 cal.

I use 90gr 3F in my 50, 54 and 58. Works fine and no problems

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

My .50 cal TC Hawken likes 3F better than 2F. The 3F burns cleaner for me also.

 

[majg1234]

I used FFFg for years in my 50cal investarms...deer didn't seem to mind :rotf:

 

[tiger955]

Kinda backwards but, my .50 GM barrel prefers 2f where my .54 CVA barrel prefers 3f. Either will work. I would work up a good load with one, then try the other later just to see what happens.

 

[cowpoke1955]

In all of my .54's, I shoot FFg. I have shot FFFg in them, but the FFg give me better groups. I took my friend out to shoot his .54 CVA Hawkens for the first time. I gave him some FFg to start. He was shooting shotgum patterns at 50 yards. I then gave hin some FFFg to try. He started shooting one ragged hole groups at 50. Like tiger said, try both and see which one your rifle likes best.

 

[russecv58]

another vote for 3f. i use it in my 50 cal cva hawken with excellent results. :thumbsup:

 

[brubincam]

I use 3f in 32 cal up to 58 cal and 12 guage--have a 69 cal rifle I'm gonna use 3f in--- :idunno:

 

[Rifleman1776]

No reason to not use it.
Do wat works for you.

 

[rr11]

If it shoots well in your rifle go for it. In my .54 3f shoots better than 2f I know it is backwards but I go with what works in my rifle.

 

[MSW]

well, the only true way is to try it and see. this is, at the end of the day, an empirical and a results- oriented sorta thing.

 

[gifford]

Another vote for 50 grains fff in a .50 caliber. I shoot that load regularly. As others have said, try both and see what shoots best. I know one shooter that uses ff in a .45 caliber with excellent results. Let the rifle tell you what load works best.

 

[August West]

I have a fine big doe on the back patio right now courtesy of 60 grains of 3f and a .490 patched round ball. Chris

 

[William O.]

My .50 doesn't like 2f so I save that for my .54, which does.

 

[bob4st]

...my TC's and Pedersoli's all seem to work well with 3F...

 

[Ron_T.]

All 3 of my .50 caliber rifles (a standard cap-lock Hawken, a cap-lock Hawken Carbine and a flinter Long Rifle) "like" FFFg and shoot it accurately in loads from 25 grains to 90 grains.

You shoot what your rifle "likes" and shoots accurately. Just be reasonable with your loads since equal amounts of FFFg powder obviously yields higher pressures than equal amounts of FFg and also yields higher muzzle velocities due to these higher pressures.

As with many other things, there's no "free ride".

Jus' my 2¢... :v


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.