New Flintlock Need FFFFg powder

[Rifleman1776]

But on 4F, if all you have is 2f or 3f but REALLY want some 4F then just pour a little of what you have into an empty can/bottle and drop in a few round balls, swirl it around a bit and you will end up with FFFF to FFFFFFF for the pan.

What you end up with is ground up bp and a lot of dust. Bp granulations are made during the manufacturing process with wet screening. BTW, I have a genuwine bp grinder and it makes good dust.

 

[deerstalkert]

You have a stutter problem?

yyyyyeth!

 

[Grenadier1758]

Goin' off Half Cocked.
Yup, that would ruin a day for sure.
But that is the way reenactors teach it, they leave it up the new guys to figure out the risk (they think not loading a ball makes it 'safe')

But on 4F, if all you have is 2f or 3f but REALLY want some 4F then just pour a little of what you have into an empty can/bottle and drop in a few round balls, swirl it around a bit and you will end up with FFFF to FFFFFFF for the pan.

Sorry, Mad L, that may be the message that seems to be the message from the reenactors, but I can assure all that with respect to my unit and the safety regulations of the unified organizations we belong to, we only prime before loading the main charge when we are loading blanks and if we are demonstrating the loading procedure, we make sure we mention that this practice is the historical procedure and that for purposes of safety priming before loading the main charge is not the procedure followed in the current practice when shooting live rounds.

 

[nit wit]

Never use 4F in your barrel. # F, if you need finer than 3F take a glass or wood bowl and crush it with a spoon.
Nit Wit

 

[Coinneach]

2f for larger than 40 cal, but I use 3f for everything.

Usually can carefully grind down larger powder. We do that for the quills for the cannon. It's dangerous, but it's the only way to get 7 or 9f for the task.

well ffff that! or even fffffff!

Hush yo muth chile, there Ladies, LGBT; Rainbow boys; PC and Woke reptiles about.

 

[Coinneach]

Sorry, Mad L, that may be the message that seems to be the message from the reenactors, but I can assure all that with respect to my unit and the safety regulations of the unified organizations we belong to, we only prime before loading the main charge when we are loading blanks and if we are demonstrating the loading procedure, we make sure we mention that this practice is the historical procedure and that for purposes of safety priming before loading the main charge is not the procedure followed in the current practice when shooting live rounds.

The same practice her among reenactors in Australia.

 

[DuncNZ]

Black Powder TV did a video on this. He shows them all in sequence at the end.

I use 3F in the bore and pan. (45cal)

I am intrigued to see the jet of fire from the touch hole deflected upwards by the edge of the pan .

 

[DuncNZ]

A mate who makes his own powder gave me some fines left over from his last batch , they worked perfectly as a pan prime powder . and are free .

 

[Gkarp429]

I just received some Swiss Null B from Maine Powder House. I know I don’t need it. Have plenty of other powders. But I can’t wait to try it out!

 

[Doc]

It’s true many use 2f or 3f in their pan. It actually is more historically correct in as much in the early times that’s all they had. Some will not notice a very small hang fire but it will affect their scores and shooting. If you’re serious about shooting and want to be as good a shot as you can be stick with 4f.
Doc,

 

[stephenprops1]

Anybody know of a place selling FFFFg blackpowder Just bought a flintlock (first one ever) and I need a lb of ffffg powder

Try Deer Creek Products. The last time I checked with them they still had some. There's also Graf and Sons.

 

[Twisted_1in66]

I forget the gentleman's name, but he did a fairly thorough test several years ago between 4F, 3F, and 2F (both GOEX and Swiss).
The difference between 4F vs 3F in the pan is literally just a few milliseconds.

YES, exactly. Difference in speed of burning has to be measured by scientific instruments to detect the difference because you can't tell any difference by looking at it. I have used 3f powder for my main charge and priming powder since 2004 in both of my .50 cal. longrifles. No need to use 4f for priming, ergo no need for a second powder horn.

 

[kyron4]

When using 2f or 3f to prime the pan what are you using to dispense the powder and control the amount as not to over fill ? I've read those little spring load priming flasks only work with 4f.

 

[Tumbledown]

OK devils advocate here. The OP stated it is a CVA flintlock. They have a small frizzen and as a consequence a limited amount of spark. They are not going to get the shower of sparks that a brown bess or a good premium lock would get. Finer priming powder is a big help to lower end production locks

I have a .50cal Traditions with a small frizzen. I use 2F in the pan without issue.

 

[toot]

3 f will work just fine in the pan.

I agree with you. back in the day, they only carried one grade of powder, at least that is what I read!

 

[Brokennock]

It’s true many use 2f or 3f in their pan. It actually is more historically correct in as much in the early times that’s all they had. Some will not notice a very small hang fire but it will affect their scores and shooting. If you’re serious about shooting and want to be as good a shot as you can be stick with 4f.
Doc,

You sound infallibley sure of yourself.
Can you prove your thesis?

 

[CTShooter]

I bought 2 pounds of 4F when I was doing group buys in anticipation of getting a flintlock because that’s what I was told I needed. Got powder.

 

[Grenadier1758]

When using 2f or 3f to prime the pan what are you using to dispense the powder and control the amount as not to over fill ? I've read those little spring load priming flasks only work with 4f.

Most use the same horn that we use to pour the main charge into the measure. For those that want to exercise a little more control in pouring powder into the pan, Track of the Wolf has a small free flow flask for priming with the coarser grained powders.

Flint priming flask, with free flow valve, brass - Track of the Wolf

 

[Brokennock]

I have two methods I use for days I seem to be having trouble pouring prime from my main horn, or with horns that make it tough.
One, pour a small amount into the powder measure, pour into the pan from that using index finger to control flow.
Two, a small antler priming flask without the plunger tip.

Behold the prime ejaculator, lol
The end plug is held in by the round leather thong that goes through a hole drilled straight through antler and plug. Pipe bowl used for scale.

There are options.

 

[Doc]

You sound infallibley sure of yourself.
Can you prove your thesis?

Do I have a slow-mo of this, no but I will say that at the world championships where even factory teams are entered 4f as far as we could find out was used in the pan exclusively. I am absolutely sure they had slow-mo readily available to find out the best and fastest ignition for their locks.
Doc,