4f priming powder...

[JB Books]

Interesting, most of the trapper camps had a library, maybe small but they had one. If nothing else, they had a Bible.

Keeping notes is value added, it stops stupid mistakes.

Chances of one or more in a group being literate is strong I'd say. But lots that couldn't too. This has been alluded to throughout history. Not downing those folks it was the times. Being a reloader of varmint cartridges I well know the value of notes, procedures and bench testing.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Well I'm just getting started in all of this and I have a crappy CVA 32 caliber squirrel gun and it will hardly fire at all with BP substitutes. Barley fires 3 out of 10 tries with BP 3f and 3f in the pan. 4f BP in the pan fires every time. With my limited experience it looks like the gun has a lot to do with what powder works or dosen't.

Even high quality flintlock rifles have trouble with the substitute powders.

Your rifle isn't so totally of mediocre quality if it fires every time with 4F black powder. A new touch hole liner with a tapered cavity that brings some more of the main charge closer to the pan. Also, if your rifle works with 4F and is not reliable with 3f powder, then stick with 4f continue shooting.

 

[MSmith]

What did they use in 1838?

The question is: Why not make 4f (finer powder) out of 2f or 3f courser powder, if it is of absolute importance to put a finer powder in the pan?

 

[BadDaditood]

Well I'm just getting started in all of this and I have a crappy CVA 32 caliber squirrel gun and it will hardly fire at all with BP substitutes. Barley fires 3 out of 10 tries with BP 3f and 3f in the pan. 4f BP in the pan fires every time. With my limited experience it looks like the gun has a lot to do with what powder works or dosen't.

I built a .36 last year, it’s not a crappy cva, it’s all quality parts, Davis lock and a new Colerain bbl. It’s the smallest caliber I’ve built and it’s a touch finicky. If I were you I’d try all 4f for a few sessions, see how long it runs before it gakks on it’s own fouling.
I Must use 3f main charge and pick the touch hole every shot. I doubt it cares what’s in the pan but I use 4f because I have acquired about 6 lbs of it- enough for several lifetimes.
At least it doesn’t make me swab after every shot or it would be on the Sale page!!

 

[Mr. Flintlock]

Just consider that all armies that were using flintlock firearms didnt bother with 4F for priming !

They weren't firing for accuracy, they were volley firing so it didn't matter
If they had slow ignition. Point and pull the trigger.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I use 4Fg because I have always used it. I believe it is faster than 2 or 3 but that is often disputed by tests. I still like it. And, it feeds better than coarser powders through priming tools. Mostly, it is a matter of preference and your choice.

 

[The Appalachian]

2F is slower than death.......apparently some folks think that's just fine.

4F is some kind of unicorn around here and buying online is just stupid expensive.

This is 2F ground up to about 5F with a cheap Amazon mortar and pestal. You be the judge how much you'd appreciate instant ignition. I know I do.

I don't worry about priming powder anymore.......

 

[Brokennock]

2F is slower than death....

Prove it.

 

[SciAggie]

Here’s something to look at.
Priming Powder Timing

 

[S.Kenton]

I’ve used 4f a few times, but soon realized that it was finicky in cold,damp weather. Now I just prime from my horn which is 3f goex and have no issues. I can’t tell a difference in ignition timing with either.

 

[user 49399]

Here’s something to look at.
Priming Powder Timing

Interesting. 0.039 vs 0.069 average.

I don’t think I could tell the difference.

Thanks for the information.

 

[The Appalachian]

Prove it.

I don't have to prove it to you or anybody else. I've tried it, it's slow, and that's as far as I need to go with it. I don't use it when I can make my own just as easy. Have a nice day.

 

[Brokennock]

I don't have to prove it to you or anybody else. I've tried it, it's slow, and that's as far as I need to go with it. I don't use it when I can make my own just as easy. Have a nice day.

You made a very definitive statement, in a manner indicating that what you say is unquestionable fact.
You're right. You don't have to prove it. But maybe take your ego down a notch and make your statement a little less like what you are stating is law, and maybe you won't be challenged on it.

 

[Brokennock]

 

[Brokennock]

I have to admit, when I 1st tried 3f in the pan it did "seem" slower. But, this could have been in my head because I expected it to be slower. Also, I filled the pan to a point that visually looked the same as when I had used 4f. When I used half or less of that amount (again visual judgement so, fallible) speed of ignition did "seem" to speed up.
I do still seem to notice that using a lot of 3f seems slower and more likely to hang-fire, but when I use just enough to coat the bottom of the pan,,, I can't perceive the difference.

Maybe some who think they can perceive a longer delay with 2f or 3f prime, are using too much?

 

[jefair1]

If you have ever looked at the manual of arms for British and Colonial troops, they bit the cartridge, primed the pan from the cartridge, and then loaded the musket. So whatever powder they had served as both.

 

[griffiga]

My understanding of the Revolutionary War, the soldier pulled out a pre-rolled paper cartridge, bit off the end, poured some in the pan and shoved the remainder down the barrel along with the ball. The powder they used then was equivalent to our FG.

 

[Nazgul58]

2F is fine for my Kibler Colonial lock. Normally use 4F because I have a bunch. I use 2F when hunting and moving around a lot. Less sensitive to moisture and doesn't fall out of the pan easily.

Don

 

[Grenadier1758]

Just to see, I used 1F in the pan of my King's Musket (Brown Bess) to see if there would be an adverse effect. None that I noticed. Of course, there is that huge pan with that equally huge steel directing sparks from a sufficiently large rock into that pile of 1F.

 

[The Appalachian]

Dear Brokennock,

Why does my opinion on the subject even matter to you? Enough to start an argument over? Am I priming your rifle? Are you priming mine? Do I provide your priming powder? Do you provide mine?

You've expended a lot of angst over something that has exactly zero bearing on either one of us.

Now you seem to be a cranky old soul who's desperate to be right about something, or anything really, or, you just need to piss off because me stating my opinion wasn't talking to you.

Have a nice evening.......