For priming a pan in .54 cal?

[sumoj275]

Can 3F be used for priming the pan in a .54 cal? I have no 4F and will have to order if not.
Thanks

 

[Paul_R]

I've used 3f in my Lyman. Completely functional but I prefer 4f.

 

[nchawkeye]

Yep...any flinter will work with FFF...

 

[Coot]

3f will work fine. Many use 3f for both prime and main charge.

 

[B.Habermehl]

FFFg works fine especially with big locks. BJH

 

[Zonie]

This topic is a fine example of why I hate to see everyone talking about 4F powder for priming their pans.

People new to flintlocks read the posts on our forum and end up getting the mistaken idea that 4F is the ONLY powder that will work for priming their flintlock when that is not true.

3Fg powder works GREAT for priming a flintlock.
3Fg powder is the only powder needed for shooting a flintlock of any caliber. It works fine for priming and for the main powder charge too!

2Fg powder will work too. After all, the French, British, Germans and Colonialists all fought wars where everyone was using course grained powder like 2Fg to load and to prime their flintlocks.

I'm not saying that 4F powder is as useless as teats on a bore but it certainly isn't needed for most of the shooting people do.

 

[nchawkeye]

It's been going on for decades...

My first flintlock was made by Bob Watts, I bought it from him in the 70s...He suggested I keep it simple and just use FFF for priming and my main charge...That's what I did...

For several years that gun was all I used so I got to know it quite well...I shot in my first organized shoot in the early 80s...While cleaning my barrel between shots one of the regular members walked up and suggested I use FFFF for prime as the gun would go off much quicker and I would be more accurate...He was just a bit arrogant in his approach, obviously because I was the new guy....

I sure enjoyed beating that fellow... :grin:
I took first place at 25 yards and 2nd at 50...

Even funnier...They informed me when I checked in that I would be competing with percussion guns at 50 and they would have an advantage...I told them that this is the only black powder gun I have...

One of the older gentlemen reminded the crowd of that statement as they were handing out trophys..

The fellow that beat me at the 50 yard over the log event was named John Braxton...His guns have won a few trophys at Friendship...

 

[irishtoo]

i only buy and use (prime and main) 3f goex. have for some time and try to keep things simple. works fine.

 

[Eljay]

Yeah, it's remarkable how you hear all of these set in stone rules about various granulations and then the longer you do this the more people you run into who don't do it that way. :grin:

I'm running everything on 3F right now. It definitely works and I'm happy with the ignition times on the flintlocks. You might very well want to try something finer eventually but don't feel like you have to or like there's any rush. It's probably more important to play around with amount and location of the powder in the pan - Lord knows you'll find conflicting advice on that.

 

[Many Klatch]

I only use whatever is in the horn to prime. 3F in my 54 and 2F in my Bess. I gave away a pound of 4F as a prize at a blanket shoot a few weeks ago. The guy that picked it up was PO'd when he saw that it was 4F.

Many Klatch

 

[Claude Mathis]

Can 3F be used for priming the pan in a .54 cal?

Caliber isn't the issue. I've used 2F to load and prime several calibers and it worked fine. Use up whatever you have, but try to figure out what your rifle likes best.

 

[tenngun]

All I've ever used was what I was shooting,2 or 3.Muskets and military rifles used what ever was in the cartridge. :wink:

 

[kopfjaeger]

I've used 3F in all my flintlock's pans, from .32 to .50 caliber and have not seen much difference.

Also I've used a wooden pestle and mortar to grind 3F down to a finer powder for use in the pan. But be sure not to use anything that can cause a spark and only grind a little at a time for safety.

No matter what powder I use ( 3F or 4F ) I do not prime from my main horn, I use a small priming horn. In case of a mishap I'd rather have a small explosion than a big one.

 

[FPDoc]

I use the same powder in both main charge and pan. 2F in My .54 GPR flinter. I'm too lazy to carry more than one grade of powder.

 

[sumoj275]

Thanks guys. The other day I did pick up two lbs of 2F and a lb of 3F. I will try a combo of them and see what the rifle likes the best. This is part of the reason I wanted a flinter was to mess with--the centerfires are fine but are no fun anylonger. Now, if the rifle shows up tomorrow I will need to find some .54 cal balls and try to hit the range this weekend. If not, I will have to wait until week after next as school is coming to an end and no free time.

 

[rfdr]

who really cares?

as long as the gun goes "bang!" and the ball consistently hits the mark, all is good. if it doesn't, you try something else or just stay a poor shot.

all this stuff can be, and usually is, as personal and as opinionated as anything else in life.

as always, have a ball.

 

[nchawkeye]

Order you some .530 balls and a dozen flints from Track of the Wolf, might want to pick up a loading block as well and a short starter some .015 and .018 patches and ....

See, that's the fun of this sport, who says only women should enjoy shopping??

 

[Black Jack]

3F works fine and some people prefer it in damp weather since it absorbs moisture less readily than 4F. If shooting in a paper target match for score, 4F will give a tad faster ignition.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I simplified my loading procedure, and started using 3Fg for priming about 20 years ago..., no worries.

LD

 

[Claude Mathis]

who really cares?
all this stuff can be, and usually is, as personal and as opinionated as anything else in life.

More than personal opinion, I believe the deciding factor will be what the gun prefers. :wink: