Buying BP, What is your order ratio?

[Little Rabbit]

I'm about buy black powder, by mail, for the 1st time. Given hazmat, and shipping in general, what is the ratio of ff (to be used in a flintlock rifle and a fowler, right?) and ffff you order to minimize the number of orders you have to make? 9 to 1? 19 to 1?
Thanks, as always, for you help!

 

[nchawkeye]

100% fff... :grin:

 

[tg]

I don't know what you are shooting but if the guns are under .66 I would go with all 3f some use the 3f in a 11 or 12 bore I found it not to work as well as 2f in the 12 bore I had,a can or two of 4f would not hurt just to see if you like it over the 3f for priming.

 

[Stumpkiller]

100% FFFg for my flinter (a .54) also. Much easier to prime with the same powder as the main charge.

I get FFg for my .54, .50 and 12 bore cap guns.

Otherwise, figure 3 grains to prime and 75 to 90 grains or so for your main charge. 25:1 to 30:1. (7000 grains per pound).

 

[grizs50]

7000 grains of powder in a pound.

70 grains 3f main charge means 100 shots per pound.

4f priming is 3 grains= 2333 shots per pound.

23 pounds of 3f would yield 2300 shots.

So in this case 23 pounds 3f and 1 pound 4f

 

[ohio ramrod]

I buy a case (25) at a time 24 FFF , 1 FFFF. or 25 FF. The reason is I shoot only FFF in the rifles, And FF in the caplock shotguns. One lb of FFFF will prime 24 lbs of FFF in most rifles and even have some left over.

 

[Snakebite]

I bought 10 lbs of powder from Black Powder Inc, (they paid the hazmat fee). 4 lbs of FFF 51 Navy and my .40 cal flinter (and 2 lbs of FFFF) 4lbs of FF for my .54 Hawken and .54 pistol and 12ga SxS. the FFFF will probably last me forever. I shoot the .54 and the .40 about the same amount of time.

 

[Dphar]

I'm about buy black powder, by mail, for the 1st time. Given hazmat, and shipping in general, what is the ratio of ff (to be used in a flintlock rifle and a fowler, right?) and ffff you order to minimize the number of orders you have to make? 9 to 1? 19 to 1?
Thanks, as always, for you help!

You will get a lot of shooting from a pound of FFFF. FFFF give slightly faster ignition and will trickle through the vent easier if you load without powder.

I tend to shoot FFF in most rifles though FF may give better accuracy in some.
I suppose 2 pounds of FFFF for 25 pounds of powder is OK but this is highy dependent on how much powder you use in the main charge. 100 grains is 70 shots to the pound. 30 grains is 233 shots per pound. If using 3 grains per shot (I use more when hunting) then you get enough shots for 10 pounds of powder with the 30 grain main charge.

Dan

 

[JJB22]

I'd go with the 100% 3F ratio also. I have no problems with 3F in the pan so I buy just one type nowadays. I shoot 32, 45 in rifle and 31, 44, & 58 in pistol. All love the 3F.

 

[Jim/OH]

I agree with most of the posts already. For each case of powder, have one can of 4F put in. That is a good starting place, maybe over time, depending on your use, you may have to adjust that. Hope this helps. :thumbsup:

See ya, Jim/OH :hatsoff:

 

[Darkgael]

Generally, for every ten pounds, I order one of FFFFG, two of FFFg, six of FFG and one of Fg.
That's pretty much a standard.
Pete

 

[Coot]

In a case order of black powder, I would not get more than one can of 4f. As others have mentioned/calculated, that is likely enough prime for the rest of the case. You should also get a couple of cans of 3f. That way you can experiment with using 3f for prime and/or for main charge. More than a few have decided that 3f works well as a "universal" powder in all their guns and as prime as well. Personally, I use 3f as prime and main in .50 & under rifles and all pistols and 2f as prime & main in fowlers & my blunderbuss. For me, the ease of using only one horn per gun outweighs any potential performance issues. Try using 4f, 3f and even 2f for prime and 2f and 3f for the main charge & decide for yourself what works for you & your guns. One can of 4f might be a lifetime supply!

 

[Little Rabbit]

Thanks for all of the very helpful, and thoughtful, replies! :bow: