Goes 2F or 3F in .50 ?

[GriscomRun]

Sorry if this might be a rehash, but I'd like some opinions after re-reading Dutch's book.
If I understand him correctly, he seems to like 2F for 50's. I've been using 3F at 70gr with no real smoke and plenty of crack.
So, I was thinking of taking the trip to Kempton tomorrow ( Thurs ) so I won't have to fight the store on Sat.

Your opinions please. And, Thx

 

[Zonie]

IMO, either 2Fg or 3Fg can be used in a .50 cal rifle.
If you've been using 3Fg powder, you will never know how the gun will shoot with the 2Fg until you try it.

Like different powder loads, ball sizes and patch thickness's, the granulation size of black powder also has an effect on the guns accuracy. Some guns work very well with one size and not so good with the other size. Some guns don't seem to give a hoot about which size of grains they are fed. They work well with either one.

I have noticed that the courser 2Fg powder does seem to make a little more fouling than the 3Fg powder does but here again, that is in my guns. Yours might be different.

One thing is for sure. Both powders will work in your rifle so if you feel a little daring, go ahead and buy some of the 2Fg powder. You probably will need to start figuring out what the best powder load, patch thickness and lube works best so figure on needing to start working up the best load, just like you were starting out from scratch. (Gives you an excuse to go do some shooting so, that isn't a bad thing.)

 

[Sidney Smith]

All my son and I have ever used in our guns is 2fg. His is in .50 cal. Mine are .54. I've gotten satisfactory results using 2fg and see no reason to change.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I've noticed that with my load of 70-80 grains of 3Fg in my .54 and .50, there is no advantage over 2Fg except that I like to use something smaller than 2Fg to prime the pan, and so I only need use one horn filled with 3Fg for both prime and main charge.... in my rifles. My smooth bores all get 2Fg from 20 gauge up to 11 gauge (.75 Bess).

Some folks have seen a quicker "drop off" of increases in muzzle velocity with heavy loads when using 3Fg in calibers larger than .54. Meaning that they were getting 100 fps+ increases in MV by increasing by 10 grains in loads when testing but found that those increases dropped to under 100 fps sooner with 3Fg. No idea if that would apply to other barrels in an equal manner. Since I doubt for what I do I'd ever exceed 90 grains, and when I go to 20 gauge I already switch to 2Fg...I don't think it will ever impact me.

LD

 

[BrownBear]

I'm in a place where consistent access to powder is a problem, so I come at it from a bit different angle. My goal in testing any powder is to figure out how to make it do the best it can. One powder might work better than another, but when the day most certainly comes that supplies are short, I know how to make the switch to a more abundant powder for the time being. You undoubtedly have better access to powder, but I still think it's an important thing to know about each gun. Heck, if you're as clumsy as I am, you might even get into the field someday with the wrong powder horn!

From that point of view, I'd sure work out all the kinks with 2f, just so you know. Only after working with 2f will you know which is "better" for your gun and your first choice. But you'll also know how to use 2f when the 3f is elsewhere.

 

[tenngun]

All my son and I have ever used in our guns is 2fg. His is in .50 cal. Mine are .54. I've gotten satisfactory results using 2fg and see no reason to change.

Good for you, we sometimes forget that there isn’t a one size fits all for ml. We look at our guns and we work out a ‘best’ load. However I doubt there is even one best load for our guns. Change a few components and you might find a different charge that works just as well as your ‘best’.
I use a lot of 3f, but historically I think we over use it. 1 and 2f would have been what even some very small calibers were fed.

 

[hanshi]

It's not supposed to be this way, but 30 grains of 2F in my .50 is squirrel-head accurate.

 

[Heelerau]

I use 90 grains of FFFg in my .50, shoots nice and flat for a hundred and a quarter !!

 

[Col. Batguano]

At those sorts of charge volumes / weights, both will work, but one might be more accurate than the other in your particular gun. I'd check your velocities with a chronograph if you have access to one, which is always sort of fun anyway. If you were doubling it, then you might be creeping up on pressure issues, or efficient consumption of the full powder charge. 3Fg will probably give you less fouling what ever the charge you use though.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Try both and see.

Only then will you truly know.

 

[hanshi]

Years ago I killed a couple of deer at 100 plus yards with a .50 and 100 grains of 3F. Recoil from the 9 lb rifle wasn't worth mentioning. But the results were. Accuracy was phenomenal and velocity was over 2100 fps. Nowadays my load 70 grains and still accurate. Velocity is 1700 fps and plenty for any deer I'll ever shoot.