Making 4F Powder from 2F Powder

[grant]

I was watching one of the "Sharpe's Rifle's" shows on DVD the other day and they showed one of the riflemen crushing some powder with a small rolling pin presumably to make some fine powder for priming. Does anybody know if this is something a soldier might have actually done in the Napoleonic period?

 

[Ridge]

I read about this somewhere once and supposedly, yes it was done.

I've done it myself.

 

[LRB]

I did for awhile using a spoon and saucer. Didn't want to spend the money for ffffg.

 

[shmrck1]

Wick,
I'm no expert by a long shot but I have
heard of a lot of folks even on this forum that
use 3fff for prime with great success so what
exact granulation are you crushing up. I think
3fff would serve most needs in a pinch IMO
snake-eyes :hmm:

 

[Claude Mathis]

I routinely load and prime with 2f. Crushing your powder may not be necessary, unless you have a gun that can't be primed with anything other than 4f.

 

[grant]

In the days of yore the typical Brown Bess toting soldier used a pinch of the powder from the cartridge to prime his weapon and I'm guessing the granulation of those days is similar to our present day 1F.

 

[Ridge]

In the days of yore the typical Brown Bess toting soldier used a pinch of the powder from the cartridge to prime his weapon and I'm guessing the granulation of those days is similar to our present day 1F.

Those big locks throw lots of sparks though....lots more than a large siler for example.

Lots of people on here have posted that they prime with 3F. It may work for them, but I have 2 large Silers and a Siler Colonial Virginia. My locks slow down significantly with 3F.

 

[musketman]

I was watching one of the "Sharpe's Rifle's" shows on DVD the other day and they showed one of the riflemen crushing some powder with a small rolling pin presumably to make some fine powder for priming. Does anybody know if this is something a soldier might have actually done in the Napoleonic period?

Things to please consider while grinding powder into finer grades:

1. Do small batches at a time, if it should ignite, it is much better to burn your fingers than it is to blow your whole hand off your arm...

2. Grinding powder finer will loose it's graphite coating, this could cause a powder flow issue later on...

3. Use non sparking implements to grind the powder, a spark may or may not set it off, but why take that chance if you don't have to...

4. Work a safe distance away from the main supply of powder, if the small amount was to ignite, you don't want it to flash over to the bulk horn/can...

 

[Old Ironsights]

Or, you could just sift your 2F with a 4F "Pass" screen. You should get a fair amount out of a 1-lb can of 2F. Cans of 3F can have anywhere from 20% to 80% 4F & fines.

 

[renovato]

Where would you find the pass screen, or the screen needed to make one?

 

[HarborMaster]

Since I do not have a local vendor who sells Black Powder within hundreds of miles from me., (Thank you FEDS :shake: ) I cant always just get a quick delivery for a pound with a 20.00 HAZMAT fee. I have therefore did a little experimenting and found some very interesting results that I am very surprised and pleased by.

The Myth:
There is NO WAY to get an imitation propellant (Pyrodex) to flash in a flintlock .

I found that not to be true anymore .

Myth Busted

I purchased a marble mortar and pestle of a 3" opening and put into it approximately 10 gr of a 2ff Pyrodex and I ground it into fine dust very quickly. We then tested it in the flash pan of an MTVC Ketland Trade Pistol and it provided FAST ignition. I am impressed. We then tried it down the muzzle., about 3 grains then the 2ff then flashed the pan WHAM the .60 ball fired ! Sure its not Black Powder., Yes I prefer Black Powder., but will Pyrodex work in a flinter ? Yes it will if you grind-it up :thumbsup:

 

[Old Ironsights]

Where would you find the pass screen, or the screen needed to make one?

CalGraf makes a kit[url] http://www.cal-graf.com/screen.html[/url] but you can probably use any good brass screen mounted taught in a quilting hoop.

Here are aproximate grain sizes in mm.:

2FG = 1.19””.59
3FG = .84””.29
4FG = .42””.15
5FG = .149

Mesh# Pass (inches) Microns mm
14 0.056 1400 1.422
28 0.028 700 .7112
60 0.0098 250 .24892
100 0.0059 150 .14986
200 0.0030 74 .0762
325 0.0017 44 .04318
400 0.0015 37 .0381

So for 3F you can use a standard 28 mesh and for 4F use a 60. For really fine 4F/5F use 100.

Have fun sifting.