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FFg in a small bore

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wolfram

32 Cal.
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May 7, 2006
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I've read about people using FFFg black powder in large bore MLs, but I haven't read anything about people using FFg in small bore rifles. I know that using FFg in a small bore will give lower velocities, but how's the accuracy with FFg?
 
The smallest bore I've used 2F in is .45. It wasn't impressive. 3F gave more consistent accuracy. If my experience was caliber related, I can imagine it only gets worse as the bore gets smaller.
 
I have a .40 Lancaster flintlock somebody made from parts from Dixie Gun Works that I got at a pawn shop. It has a 44" x 7/8" Douglas barrel, 1-66 twist. 40 grains of Goex 3F and four different sizes of balls did not group especially well. So I upped the charge to 80 grains of Goex 2F, just to see. Nine shots averaged 2191 fps (dropping the first of the 10 because it was about 90 fps slower), and at 50 yards from rest, 10 shots made a 2.6" group. Six of them went into 0.6".

A week later, same load of .395 Hornady and pillow ticking and 80 gr. Goex 2F with no fouler, 6 shots averaged 2178 fps and went into 1.75".

Next group of six the same except for "super muslin" patches, all holed or torn. Mean velocity was 2153 fps, group was 1.6".

Next group was .395 Hornady, back to thick pillow ticking, and 90 grains of Goex 2F. Five shots averaged 2303 fps, 42 spread, five shots in 1.5" with one blown patch, four shots in 1 1/16". Thus the Goex 2F gave me the best accuracy so far. I think this slow twist needs high velocity and while 3F might do as well, 2F did very well.

I have also used 40 grains of Swiss 2F in .40 calibers with good accuracy.
 
When I tried 2f in my 12 guage, andfound out how much better the recoil is with heavy loads using it, I started changing all my guns over to 2f. I hate carrying two powders. I use 2f in all my guns now, from my 36 to the 12 guage.
 
I gave it up, the larger chunks of unburned charcoal caused the barrel to foul up faster and require wiping after every shot. :(
 
Slamfire said:
I gave it up, the larger chunks of unburned charcoal caused the barrel to foul up faster and require wiping after every shot. :(


I had the same problem and in the process found my 50 liked 3F too! :thumbsup:
 
I use Goex 2Fg in my .451 bullet rifle, get more consistent accuracy than with 3Fg. However, have found 3Fg works better in my .56 & .58 rifled-muskets.
 
Along the lines of using just one poweder.......

I got to the range with my 32 and 36, but discovered I had brought FF by mistake. Went ahead and tried it, but even with hot loads fouling was a really bad problem. My 50 is happier with FFF, but works just fine with FF. My 54 is happiest with FF for heavy hunting loads, but prefers FFF for target loads and for lighter small game loads.

I keep the FF in a separate place from the FFF now, and it only comes out when I'm readying the 54 for hunts. Otherwise I use FFF for everything.
 
Was at the range yesterday and tested WANO PP (similar to Schuetzen FFg) in my Kentucky flint pistol .45, and my cap and ball revolver .44. Out of the revolver with wad it worked pretty well (24grs). Also the flint pistol shoot well with 24 grs. At 25 meters I get groups with 5 shots at about 2 ''. Fouling and recoil were vwery scarce. On Saturday I try it in my .45 GPR and .54 Investarm Hawken.
 
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