This may seem silly to you seasoned folks. But I'm brand new to black powder. Really just doing this so I can hunt more, and the guns are cool. But how do I choose what powder and caps I use? I just got a traditions Kentucky rifle. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
How the heck do you choose powder and caps?
- Thread starter Oakarrow
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Grats on your new rifle and welcome to the forum.
Even more so, welcome to your new addiction. :haha:
That's how I started not so awful long ago... now I'm ruint for anything other than muzzleloading. :surrender:
In my opinion real blackpowder is more reliable and easier to clean up than any of the substitute powders that I have tried. There are those that will argue both points... There is, however, no arguing the fact that real blackpowder is REAL blackpowder. :wink:
I'm guessing your new rifle is a .50 caliber. Either 3F or 2F powder will work. Your particular rifle may like one over the other. You just have to experiment and see which kind and how much. Also what size thickness of patches and what kind of lube.
As far as what kind of caps, just about any #11 caps should do just fine. Get what you can find. I like the Remington brand caps myself.
Just to get started, pick up some 3F powder, some pre-lubed .015 patches, some #11 caps, and some .490 roundballs (assuming your rifle is a .50).
You will also need a powder measure, short starter, a nipple wrench, and a cleaning jag. And read a lot on the forum. :thumbsup:
Even more so, welcome to your new addiction. :haha:
That's how I started not so awful long ago... now I'm ruint for anything other than muzzleloading. :surrender:
In my opinion real blackpowder is more reliable and easier to clean up than any of the substitute powders that I have tried. There are those that will argue both points... There is, however, no arguing the fact that real blackpowder is REAL blackpowder. :wink:
I'm guessing your new rifle is a .50 caliber. Either 3F or 2F powder will work. Your particular rifle may like one over the other. You just have to experiment and see which kind and how much. Also what size thickness of patches and what kind of lube.
As far as what kind of caps, just about any #11 caps should do just fine. Get what you can find. I like the Remington brand caps myself.
Just to get started, pick up some 3F powder, some pre-lubed .015 patches, some #11 caps, and some .490 roundballs (assuming your rifle is a .50).
You will also need a powder measure, short starter, a nipple wrench, and a cleaning jag. And read a lot on the forum. :thumbsup:
Welcome to the forum. :hatsoff:
First, you do not want to buy any of the pellet powders available. They are made for the modern style muzzleloaders we don't talk about here.
Pellets also limit the powder charge making fine adjustments to it impossible.
Your percussion rifle will shoot fine with either real black powder or with most of the modern synthetic powders. (One, named for a shotgun primer works poorly with the simple percussion cap our traditional guns use.)
Your did not tell us what the caliber of your gun is but the rifle will work with either a 2Fg or 3Fg black powder or their equivalent.
(2Fg powder is fairly course and works best in bores .50 caliber and up. 3Fg powder is finer and is usually used in .45 and smaller calibers and pistols. 3Fg powder will work in rifles 50 caliber and larger but it's best to reduce the size of the powder charge about 15% under a recommended 2Fg powder charge.)
You will need percussion caps.
For a rifle, #11 work best and if your going to use a synthetic powder, I recommend using the Magnum caps if they are available.
If you don't have one, you will need to buy a powder measure.
I recommend an adjustable one that can measure at least up to 100 grains of powder.
You will also need a cleaning jag to use with cleaning patches to clean the bore.
You do not need any magic solution to clean your gun. Plain water and a little dish washing detergent works as well or better than any of the "bore cleaners" on the market.
First, you do not want to buy any of the pellet powders available. They are made for the modern style muzzleloaders we don't talk about here.
Pellets also limit the powder charge making fine adjustments to it impossible.
Your percussion rifle will shoot fine with either real black powder or with most of the modern synthetic powders. (One, named for a shotgun primer works poorly with the simple percussion cap our traditional guns use.)
Your did not tell us what the caliber of your gun is but the rifle will work with either a 2Fg or 3Fg black powder or their equivalent.
(2Fg powder is fairly course and works best in bores .50 caliber and up. 3Fg powder is finer and is usually used in .45 and smaller calibers and pistols. 3Fg powder will work in rifles 50 caliber and larger but it's best to reduce the size of the powder charge about 15% under a recommended 2Fg powder charge.)
You will need percussion caps.
For a rifle, #11 work best and if your going to use a synthetic powder, I recommend using the Magnum caps if they are available.
If you don't have one, you will need to buy a powder measure.
I recommend an adjustable one that can measure at least up to 100 grains of powder.
You will also need a cleaning jag to use with cleaning patches to clean the bore.
You do not need any magic solution to clean your gun. Plain water and a little dish washing detergent works as well or better than any of the "bore cleaners" on the market.
hanshi
Cannon
Another welcome for you. I agree; only real black powder. Others may not agree, but I've found just about any of the #11 caps will work fine. I haven't used anything other than CCI, however, in a long time.
Where in Florida might you be? There are a number of fellas on this here forum from the Sunshine State.
timothy prouty
40 Cal.
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YES you size11 cci Magnum or if you can find some rws they are super mags and they are good for Pyrodex
Unfortunately there usually isn't allot out there to choose from unless you order specifically what you want. I have used Pyrodex when I couldn't get the real stuff BP. I have both now and Black MX but haven't tried the latter yet. Caps, I have tried several kinds and they all have worked well for me. Good luck and have fun.
robinsroost
50 Cal.
Oakarrow, welcome to the forum. I have used caps from RWS, Winchester, Remington and CCI and they all go bang. You can get real black powder at Buffalo Bill's Wild west store in downtown Orlando, near the court house. I believe that the Bass Pro Shop, on International Drive has BP, but you will have to ask for it because it is illegal to display. Another place to shoot is the Titusville Rifle and Pistol Club, off highway 50. Keep yer powder dry......robin :wink:
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ohio ramrod
75 Cal.
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Most prefer real black powder, Goex is made usa , KIK is comparable and cheaper. But pyrodex will work if it is all you can get. As to caps all brands work if the nipple is sharp. :idunno:
Hello Oakarrow,
Welcome to this great site!
A few points I would like to add.
(1)Do not use any amount of smokeless powder ( no matter what your brother-in-law says )
(2) Do not use a brass brush in the barrel ( it will most likely get stuck )
(3 ) Get several spare nipples and do not dry fire your gun without some form of protection on the nipple.
(4) It is not a magnum rifle, it never will be. Keep you charges moderate and your gun will last.
(5) To get the most out of your gun get the Dutch Shoultz (spelling??) manual. About $20
The best $20 spent since the last wedding ring you bought.
(6) Last but not least......ask lots of questions here. You will get great help, and you will enjoy you gun much more.
You will most likely find a shooting buddy close by.
All the best!
Fred ( Old Ford )
Welcome to this great site!
A few points I would like to add.
(1)Do not use any amount of smokeless powder ( no matter what your brother-in-law says )
(2) Do not use a brass brush in the barrel ( it will most likely get stuck )
(3 ) Get several spare nipples and do not dry fire your gun without some form of protection on the nipple.
(4) It is not a magnum rifle, it never will be. Keep you charges moderate and your gun will last.
(5) To get the most out of your gun get the Dutch Shoultz (spelling??) manual. About $20
The best $20 spent since the last wedding ring you bought.
(6) Last but not least......ask lots of questions here. You will get great help, and you will enjoy you gun much more.
You will most likely find a shooting buddy close by.
All the best!
Fred ( Old Ford )
- Joined
- May 6, 2014
- Messages
- 17,489
- Reaction score
- 16,602
Welcome to the forum,
It has been decades since I shot percussion guns a lot, but the brand of cap IS important to both reliability and accuracy.
I must admit that I wince when I read that all caps will make the gun go bang or comments like that. Caps vary in both how well they set off the rifle and how uniformly they do it. The latter is as important as setting the gun off. The more uniform the cap, the better accuracy one will get.
When I shot percussion rifles, muskets and revolvers a great deal; RWS caps were both the "hottest" or could always be counted to set the charge off AND were the most uniform - so they gave the best accuracy.
So I suggest one tries a can each of different caps to see what will give the best accuracy in the rifle or other gun.
Gus
Edited to add: I and other shooters found it was not unusual at all for either the group size to change or the POI of the groups to change, when using other brands of caps.
It has been decades since I shot percussion guns a lot, but the brand of cap IS important to both reliability and accuracy.
I must admit that I wince when I read that all caps will make the gun go bang or comments like that. Caps vary in both how well they set off the rifle and how uniformly they do it. The latter is as important as setting the gun off. The more uniform the cap, the better accuracy one will get.
When I shot percussion rifles, muskets and revolvers a great deal; RWS caps were both the "hottest" or could always be counted to set the charge off AND were the most uniform - so they gave the best accuracy.
So I suggest one tries a can each of different caps to see what will give the best accuracy in the rifle or other gun.
Gus
Edited to add: I and other shooters found it was not unusual at all for either the group size to change or the POI of the groups to change, when using other brands of caps.
Anyone who transports black powder on any airplane is committing a felony.MattC said:
Black powder is not allowed in "carry on" or in ones luggage which is placed on-board an airplane.
The same can be said for the black powder substitutes and percussion caps.
Quoting from the Transportation Security Administration,
https://www.nssa-nsca.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/firearm-transport.pdf
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While it's a big learning curve and much to take in as far as shooting goes, you'll want to read up on cleaning, too. Just like the shooting, it's an entirely different ball game from modern stuff. Living in Florida, it'll be particularly important due to the humidity.
All this might sound like a pain, but you will definitely end up liking it. Nothing like shooting well with a traditional weapon!
Welcome to the forum. There is a wealth of info here which you will find useful. (We talk about cleaning these things a lot lol)
Have fun!
All this might sound like a pain, but you will definitely end up liking it. Nothing like shooting well with a traditional weapon!
Welcome to the forum. There is a wealth of info here which you will find useful. (We talk about cleaning these things a lot lol)
Have fun!
I may be turning over my "business " To a child for a while. The child has no BP Accuracy Experience and will just be forwarding my literature.
They don't know if it's kidneys or heart but there is a strong possibility it may be both..Should I survive I will extend my surprise to all and sundry.
Dutch Schoultz
They don't know if it's kidneys or heart but there is a strong possibility it may be both..Should I survive I will extend my surprise to all and sundry.
Dutch Schoultz
