FFG vs FFFG

[rusticbob]

I know this is a strange question, and there should be an obvious answer, but I just found an old metal can of Goex FFG, unopened, that I had put away in storage many years ago. It has a 1987 date code, but being unopened I assume it’s still safe.
The question for the smoothbore shooters is will ,I find any constructive improvement in accuracy over the Swiss FFFG that I have been using now?

 

[tenngun]

I’ve never used Swiss, I understand it a little hotter then Go ex
I shoot 70 grains 3 f in my .62, or 80 grains 2 and it shoots the same for ball. 2 seems to give me better results with shot 70, and 1.5 Oz shot seems to give me my best.
So you might have to up your charge just a tad to use the GO

 

[david w]

It is still safe. I have a couple of can of Goex that are dated to 1978.

 

[Bushfire]

How would anyone know? Like all loads you'll just have to try it to see how it performs.

 

[Stub]

I had a couple of cans of black powder that got put in a damp garage when I moved. The storage was cold and damp in the winter and blazing hot some times in the summer. All in all, the powder has been stored under poor conditions for at least 20 years. I got back into muzzle loading this last year and happen to find the black powder in the garage. My ability to shoot off hand has faded over the years but the BP works just fine.

 

[rusticbob]

I’ve never used Swiss, I understand it a little hotter then Go ex
I shoot 70 grains 3 f in my .62, or 80 grains 2 and it shoots the same for ball. 2 seems to give me better results with shot 70, and 1.5 Oz shot seems to give me my best.
So you might have to up your charge just a tad to use the GO

I think this answers my question, a slightly larger quantity of FFG should shoot the same as my FFFG loads, thanks

 

[TDM]

I think this answers my question, a slightly larger quantity of FFG should shoot the same as my FFFG loads, thanks

Try the same load first and see how it does. You’ll likely need a bit more but maybe not.

 

[Lorne Johnson]

FFg is likely to tighten patterns some compared with FFFg, but patterning is the ony real way to tell. In all likelihood, using shot, you won't notice a difference between them.

 

[Brokennock]

It is still safe.
You should be able to meet or exceed your 3f rounball load performance with 2f powder, you may possibly need to go up in charge volume slightly. You may also notice a little less recoil but possibly more fouling, but this isn't always the case.
Most folks say that shot patterns improve with larger granulation powder, but energy decreases at the same powder volume. That decrease is probably not enough to worry about, especially of the pattern is better.

 

[Grenadier1758]

@Brokennock's comment is consistent with the old observation of less powder, more lead, shoots farther, kills dead. The pattern improvement increases the effeciveness.