Olde Eynsford 2F in my .58 flint Hawken

[Herb]

Yesterday I was up at the Fort Bridger Rendezvous and got 8 pounds of Olde Eynsford 3F, 2F and 1 1/2F from Bear River Powder. Today I tested it in my .54 Bridger Hawken but can't get that photo through PhotoBucket right side up. I also shot it in my .58 fullstock flint Hawken, 100 grains of weight calibrated measures, .562 balls, .021 linen that crushes to .014, no wiping at all. Shot at 100 yards, velocity was 1708 fps. I first shot the bottom target with lighter patching, the three off the paper blew. The ones on the paper with different patching held together, 1707 fps there. The bottom right two would have been in the hole above with shots 1,2 and 5, or bracketing it. This was not the same patching as the top target. The breech did not foul much, but it does with 100 grains of OE 3F and no wiping. The powder is hard on patches, much like Swiss. I hope to figure out the right combination and shoot a good group with this powder, but I especially like 2F and 1 1/2F in the .58.

 

[shguns]

nice shooting and report!
What did you use for patch lube?

 

[Herb]

A mix that I also use for bore cleaning, two parts Murphy's Oil Soap to about four of hydrogen peroxide and four of 91% rubbing alcohol. Kept in a dark squirt bottle because the hydrogen peroxide degrades in light. I have recently started cleaning the bore with water pushed out the flash hole when finished at the bench, then the other cleaner.

 

[George T.]

Man over 1700 FPS in a 58 is cooking. Do you mind if I ask what length the barrel is. Also the Swiss and this powder being hard on patches is new news to me. Does it burn hotter? I have a 1 in 48 58 that loves 110 grains but at 8 1/2 pounds it gives me the eye flutters after 6 or 7 shots. I am wanting to try the 2F and mine is a cap lock.

Geo. T.

 

[dbutch]

Herb..From range reports I have read most drop down there powder charge using OE. Less seems to be better.
Please keep us posted.....dan

 

[dbutch]

Geo T..Swiss gives higher velocity per volume measure compared to Goex.
I average 10-15 % drop in volume per load using Swiss for the same poi.
Night and day difference comparing Goex to Swiss.
Others are shooting Goex OE and reporting higher velocities compared Standard Goex...This I do not question.
Goex has introduced Goex OE to compete with the Swiss brand.

 

[Herb]

The rifle has a 36" Green Mountain barrel. With it I have tested Goex, Swiss and now Olde Eynsford in 3F, 2F and 1 1/2F. To know how they compare, I made measures that held exactly 100 grains weight of each powder and F-grade. There is no loading data supplied by Swiss, but Goex 2F is listed in the Lyman BlackPowder Handbook at a maximum of 140 grains. There is no specific loading data yet for Olde E. My weight-calibrated measure that holds 100 grains of Goex 2F holds 119.5 grains of Swiss 1 1/2F, 109.3 grains of Swiss 2F or 112.6 grains of Swiss 3F, averages of 10 measures. You can see why it is hotter- you're shooting heavier charges. But three or four of those and my .58 bore fouls so badly without wiping that I have to hammer the ball down to the seat. I cannot shoot those heavier charges without wiping the bore. So makeumsmoke- If less than 100 grains is better, these shots would all go through the same hole at 100 yards and nobody would believe that there were 8 shots there. But this test was for velocity first, patching needed as second and then accuracy. These were my first shots with OE 2F.

 

[dbutch]

Herb...Having a brain drain...
spaced the fact you were comparing the powders and velocities.
I'll go back under my rock now! :grin:
Looking forward to your results....dan

 

[Herb]

(I can't get a vertical photo through PhotoBucket, thus the landscape format). I again shot 100 grains of O.E. 2F at 100 yards, but this time I had 1 3/8" diameter patches rather than 1 1/2" square. They did not cut cleanly and had frayed edges, and must not have completely covered the ball. This might explain the much bigger grouping than last time and less velocity. I had a cleaning patch on the seating jag and that might have kept the velocity from increasing with barrel fouling, which might have happened last time. All shooting conditions were good, and my holding was equal to last time.
The middle target was with 100 grains of O.E. 1 1/2F. The first two patches(of a different material) failed, so I used .020/.013 red cotton duck from WalMart. Those patches were good. A damp cleaning patch was on the seating jag, and I cleaned the bore after each group.

A closer view of the top two.

The bottom target is the same red duck but with 100 grains of O.E. 3F. Four out of six patches blew, one was good and I couldn't find the sixth. This 3F must burn hotter, but notice the velocity is the same as with 100 grains of O.E. 1 1/2F. This is the second test that showed that. (You can enlarge the photo by hitting Control and the plus sign).

 

[jamesthomas]

I just received 5lbs of Old Eynsford 2ff myself. I'm taking it to the range tomorrow an see how it does. I'll be shooting a .50 cal.