FFF powder in a .62 caliber smoothie?

[Onojutta]

I have a Rice .62/20 gauge smooth barrel and FF is the recommended powder load. However, I have several pounds of FFF on hand that I bought for a smaller caliber rifle that I no longer use. Can the smaller grain FFF powder be safely used in a .62 smoothie or will that create too much pressure?

 

[Rató:rats]

3F is all I shoot in my .62. 70gr seems to be the sweet spot in my 42’ Colerain barrel

 

[ajbennettnc]

I charge and prime with 3F in my .62 and it has been fine for me. Shot just fine Monday when I was at the range. 80 grains behind a tow wadded .595 have me a good ~4" group of 4 shots shooting offhand at 25 yards, even factoring in my contributory flinchthat im working on and lack of a rear sight. I've never chronographed it, but I have seen no difference in using 3f in bore and pan versus using 2f in the bore or 4f in the pan. I'm content with what I get out of 3F all around, from my .45 up to my big muskets. That said, I don't charge any of my guns with more than 85 to 90 grains, and mostly am just plinking for fun.

 

[springfield art]

I have a Rice .62/20 gauge smooth barrel and FF is the recommended powder load. However, I have several pounds of FFF on hand that I bought for a smaller caliber rifle that I no longer use. Can the smaller grain FFF powder be safely used in a .62 smoothie or will that create too much pressure?

I agree with Rato:rats. Can't let good powder go to waste! Saw a PBS program on the Guy Fawkes plot from the BBC with Lucy Worsley. Very informative! But I'd guess the plotters didn't have any trouble getting 33 barrels of gunpowder! The didn't have percussion caps in that era of history, or they'd have been in REAL trouble!

 

[oldramrod]

I sometimes use FFF in my shotguns, reducing the loads by 15%, I notice a small increase in groups but not much.