Powder dilemma

[BrownBear]

If your usual charge is 70 grains of 3f, I'm guessing a charge of 85 grains or so of 1f will give comparable performance. You remind me that I need to try 1f in some of my rifles. Got plenty on hand because as already noted, I greatly prefer it for shot loads in smoothbores.

 

[Grenadier1758]

I do know of a member of my gun club that has shot some very respectable groups using his 36 caliber rifle and a ball pushed by 1f powder. I was waiting for him to show up with the target, but he expected to do better since his recent target had horizontal stringing due to wind on the range.

 

[BrownBear]

I do know of a member of my gun club that has shot some very respectable groups using his 36 caliber rifle and a ball pushed by 1f powder. I was waiting for him to show up with the target, but he expected to do better since his recent target had horizontal stringing due to wind on the range.

Much is made about the fouling with courser powders. In my experience with smoothbores, it's a non-issue with the right lubes to keep it soft. Seating remains easy and fouling doesn't build up shot by shot because each time you seat a load, the fouling is pushed down on top of the powder to be ejected with the boom. A lube that leaves the fouling hard is a problem worth avoiding, and I bet more and more so with smaller and smaller calibers. Haven't tried it in my rifles, like I said. But if my current lubes leave the fouling hard in a rifle, I'll be testing lubes right along with testing charges to find the right combo for accuracy AND soft fouling.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Our original poster (OP), Scoper05, was concerned about shooting 1fg powder in his 50 caliber rifle. He doesn't have a smoothbore or he wouldn't be faced with a "dilemma".

BrownBear has brought up a very valid point about the management of fouling. We don't want the fouling to build up into a hard ring at the breech or to fill the grooves making a change to the bore. Some of us wipe between shots, but that can (and will) push fouling to the breech and eventually block the touch hole/flash channel. One of the better ways to load is to load the fouled bore after the shot (although there is the unlikely but possible getting a flash from a lingering ember), put a wad over the powder of a size to push fouling down on top of the powder, and run the ball down, wrapped in a wet to damp patch to wipe more fouling to the breech. This is not wiping, but actually wiping between shots procedure. It works and does minimize the build up of hard fouling.

As most of us have stated, Scoper05 doesn't have a dilemma other than finding the time to shoot up 4 pounds of 1fg powder or figure out how to justify spending money to be able to use up his free powder.

 

[Carbon 6]

Nope.just have a 50 cal. rifle.

Plenty big enough...Shoot it as is, or save it for the day when you buy something bigger.

 

[Carbon 6]

Some of us wipe between shots, but that can (and will) push fouling to the breech and eventually block the touch hole/flash channel.

The way I wipe between shots is more like cleaning, it eliminates that potential problem. M.A.P is a beautiful thing.

 

[Scoper05]

If your usual charge is 70 grains of 3f, I'm guessing a charge of 85 grains or so of 1f will give comparable performance. You remind me that I need to try 1f in some of my rifles. Got plenty on hand because as already noted, I greatly prefer it for shot loads in smoothbores.

I'll give it a try.

 

[trent/OH]

Are you saying you usually load your 50 caliber rifle with 4fg powder??????

 

[Grenadier1758]

Are you saying you usually load your 50 caliber rifle with 4fg powder??????

I have only seen references to 1fg being substituted for 3fg. To whom are you referring?

 

[trent/OH]

I have only seen references to 1fg being substituted for 3fg. To whom are you referring?

There had been a statement from Scoper that he used 4f. I don't know where it went, but I blame internet gremlins.

 

[Pete G]

Looks like a great excuse too buy a smoothbore!

...or a small cannon.

 

[sgtprovo]

Single F powder is what cannon crews die for !!! We used to make up 1/2 lb. charge cannisters from paper mache for our 4 pounder
and show up at Town Re-enactments followed by pig roasts and fire off at least 10 rounds during the course of the Re-enactment.