grinding powder

[gnkanun]

Is it possible to grind 2f to about 3f safely, if so how?
Thanks, Mike

 

[strongarm]

get a small mortise and pestal made out of porcelein. some people will use a wooden pestal made out of hardwood. Use a small quantity at a time AND TAKE YOUR TIME!. No more than 30 grains at a time and press and turn the pestal; lift check the results and try a different area. One trick is to get all the powder of equal size BEFORE trying to make it smaller otherwise you will end up with some, 2f,3f and 4f all at once and won't be able to do anything more with it. :winking:

 

[Birddog6]

Possibly so, but it would be so much safer to just trade someone the 2F for some 3F.

:thumbsup:

 

[sniper68]

I'd say no!! To hard to be constiant. I have a porcelein mortice and pestal that I use to grind FFF for priming. I dump the LIGHTLY ground FFF onto a paper towel to catch the dust and from there to my priming horn. Seems to work great for range and DRY weather hunting. Really can't tell much if any difference from FFF, FFFF or my ground priming, I just have to play around a little. :m2c: :results:

 

[musketman]

FFg and FFFg are coated with graphite, grinding FFg will destroy the coating and make it more susceptible to moisture...

 

[Tahquamenon]

FFg and FFFg are coated with graphite, grinding FFg will destroy the coating and make it more susceptible to moisture...

Exactly correct. :agree:

Plus you are not likely to achieve good consistancy.

 

[gnkanun]

Well, let's say I use 2f instead 3f at the same charge, is that possible?

 

[Birddog6]

Well, that all depends on what ya are shooting it in. I have found 2F a lil easier on my shoulder in the .54 cal rifles & accuracy actually better for offhand shooting on mine.
You have not stated what you are shooting it in so spill the rest of it & tell us what you are shooting & etc.

:hmm:

 

[gnkanun]

I'm shooting a Pedersoli .45 cal Penn. flintlock. I guess I could try 2f. What's the worst that could happen?

 

[Birddog6]

Oh heck yes, try it. Worst that will happen is it not group as well ......... so what....... May have a lil more fouling with the 2F vs. the 3F. Try it out & use the same load or just ? 5 grains more than the 3F you would normally use & see what it does.

If you have allot of it, trade it to someone with some 3F. If just a can or two, shoot it up.

:results:

 

[gnkanun]

Believe I will, I was just reading in Buckskinning Vol. II and it appears .45 cal. can go either way. Thanks alot, Mike.

 

[musketman]

Believe I will, I was just reading in Buckskinning Vol. II and it appears .45 cal. can go either way. Thanks alot, Mike.

It won't hurt you or your gun... (as long as you stay within the recomemded loads)

 

[crockett]

I guess the most important question is what are you trying to accomplish? If you shoot percussion and have a misfire you could maybe grind up a few grains, remove the nipple and feed it into the bolster, replace nipple and try again. Other than that everyone else is right. There will be no consistency in the ground powder and you won't be able to duplicate your efforts in the future AND there may be issues of safety. Nearly all the old powder companies blew up at least once. Black powder is dangerous stuff- respect it.