opinion on 1- f powder

[Mean Gene]

Hello gents I thought I might ask your opinion on shooting 1 - f bp in my hawken,

I have a small amount of it left over from 13 years ago, I'm sure it's still good because it's been in a sealed can.

It's quite corse compared to 2 or 3f, or should I try to crush it down to a smaller size.

 

[Billnpatti]

If it is still good, and it surely should be, it will work in your Hawken just fine. You may notice a difference in your POI due to the slightly lower breach pressure when compared to 2f or 3f. It will most likely be dirtier than either of the other finer granulations, too. Give it a try, it can't hurt anything.

 

[BrownBear]

It's my pick of the litter for shot loads in 20, 12 and 10 gauge (62, 72 and 75 caliber). Since I keep it on hand I've also tried it with round balls in 54, 58, 62 and 75 caliber, as well as with round balls in those three smoothies.

I didn't see any advantage in accuracy in the rifles, and in fact velocity was lower unless I really increased charges over 2f. It was just fine in the smoothbores with round ball, and I continue to use it for that simply because it's already in the horns. There's a bit more fouling in the rifles, but it's not insurmountable.

You don't say what make or caliber your Hawken is, but I'd be inclined to try it even in a 50 or 45 caliber just to see how it works out. If you start with the same charges you use with 2f or 3f and work up, I don't see any risk from over-pressure. Even if your rifle doesn't like it all that much, I bet it shoots well enough to have some fun while you use it up. If your rifle really likes it, you've learned something valuable.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

I use 1f in my large bore pistols. got a 24ga, 20 ga, 16 ga, a couple 12 ga and a 10 ga pistol. Also use it in the 75 cal boller pistol, 1 inch thunder mug,the 75 cal cannon and the 1.25 inch cannon. I started using 1fg in my original double 12 ga shot gun years ago.

 

[Rifleman1776]

All of what has been said so far is good information.
But with a caveat. :shocked2:
Not all powders are created equal. I had some Swiss 1 1/2Fg and could not get it to ignite in my flint fowler. It was a light gray compared to the black of most bp. Found out later it is intended for used in black powder cartridge rifles.
But, do use and try it out. It's a sin to waste good bp. :wink:

 

[eggwelder]

I used some 1 F goex and cannon grade? in my investarms .50
dirty , yes.
very satisfying "crump" sound to it and the absolutely massive amount of smoke was very much worth the extra fouling.

 

[Col. Batguano]

If you increase the charge to get the same velocities as you get with the smaller sizes, the pressures (likely) will be lower too. More than likely your POI will be mighty close to what you get with the smaller grades, but my guess is slightly higher, due to the slightly longer barrel dwell time of the ball. Recoil is moving the barrel up (and moving your aim point) the whole time the ball is in the bore.

 

[Mean Gene]

Thank you everyone, I will give it a try in my 50 tomorrow and have some fun.
I mainly was just wondering what to expect from it, now I have a better idea and may need to increase the charge a little as well as wipe between shots.
Thank you again everyone.

 

[trent/OH]

Depending on your accoutrements, you may find that it doesn't meter very well in your powder measures if they are of a smallish diameter. I have a couple of measures that it doesn't flow very well through. Others are just fine.

 

[smo]

Thank you everyone, I will give it a try in my 50 tomorrow and have some fun.
I mainly was just wondering what to expect from it, now I have a better idea and may need to increase the charge a little as well as wipe between shots.
Thank you again everyone.

Expect a little harder to clean & it should shoot just fine. :thumbsup:

 

[Tom Compton]

All of what has been said so far is good information.
But with a caveat. :shocked2:
Not all powders are created equal. I had some Swiss 1 1/2Fg and could not get it to ignite in my flint fowler. It was a light gray compared to the black of most bp. Found out later it is intended for used in black powder cartridge rifles.
But, do use and try it out. It's a sin to waste good bp. :wink:

Interesting. I ran out of BP on an extended trip. Bought a lb of Swiss 1 1/2 and used it successfully in place of FFg in my .40 flinter.

 

[Toomuch51]

For a main charge there shouldn't be any problem, but while 3f and even 2f can be used for flintlock prime I would have serious doubts priming with 1f. As has been said your POI will be off from normal and you will probably notice increased fouling build up.

I use it for loading cartridge rounds.

 

[Patocazador]

Like Brown Bear I use it in a SxS 12 ga. and it gives better patterns in my gun than the 2F. Never tried it in a rifle.

 

[Herb]

Neill Fields told me he built a rifle, probably some early Colonial type, that he could not make shoot accurately. He tried everything, finally used 1F Goex. He said it shot very accurately, the best load in that rifle. I don't remember the caliber.

 

[Mean Gene]

Well I shot the last of that 1f today and boy I had a lot of fouling, not so bad that I couldn't deal with but more than what I was used to.
I found accuracy was not bad at all, it was some of my best shooting.
I wouldn't prefer it but I wouldn't be afraid to shoot it either.

 

[BrownBear]

I wouldn't prefer it but I wouldn't be afraid to shoot it either.

Nice to have back-ups if you ever run across a situation where you can't get 2f or 3f, isn't it.

 

[wattlebuster]

I cant speak as far as for a rifle but both my 12 ga turkey guns digest 1f real well. I get my best patterns with it an as far as fouling goes I guess its is a bit dirtier but what does it matter :idunno: I got to clean it anyway an it takes the same amount of time regardless of the powder used. Pattern an accuracy is what im after an will worry about clean up after the longbeard gets dressed. Im a big fan of 1f :thumbsup:

 

[Mean Gene]

Yah I just haven't used 1f in a rifle and hadn't read of anyone having done it either, that's why I was looking for opinions.
The accuracy I had off hand shooting was very good, I had five shots in a four inch pattern, my only complaint was fouling plugging up the nipple.
After using 1f Goex I wouldn't purposely buy it to use for shooting in my rifle but if it was all I had.... you bet I'd shoot it.

 

[Golfswithwolves]

Like Brown Bear I use it in a SxS 12 ga. and it gives better patterns in my gun than the 2F. Never tried it in a rifle.

Same with my 12 gauge and a recently acquired 10 gauge. But I can't offer any experience with 1F in rifles.