Powder grade for Whitworth rifle
- Thread starter Alec
- Start date
Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:
rafterob
62 Cal.
Since it is basically a .45 caliber I would say 3f would be the way to go.
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2005
- Messages
- 7,135
- Reaction score
- 5,442
Yup, shooting mine since 1986 with 3Fg. Out at the longer range I used to load up with 80gr, but modern Swiss powder will probably make the velocity and distance with 70gr. You'll notice that Capandball on Youtube uses just 60gr for HIS Pedersoli version, but leaves out the brand name...mind you, he's only shooting out to 300m.
I have a lot of Whitworth lore, mainly culled over the years from people who shoot real and replica Whitworth-style rifles. Do a search - there is a LOT! What is your rifle make? If it should be a Parker-Hale, then David Minshall here [or I] would appreciate knowing it.
We are all nosy here, and like to know a little it about new posters, so a little enlightenment would be much appreciated. I'm guessing from your syntax that you are in UK - like me?
Welcome, BTW!!
I have a lot of Whitworth lore, mainly culled over the years from people who shoot real and replica Whitworth-style rifles. Do a search - there is a LOT! What is your rifle make? If it should be a Parker-Hale, then David Minshall here [or I] would appreciate knowing it.
We are all nosy here, and like to know a little it about new posters, so a little enlightenment would be much appreciated. I'm guessing from your syntax that you are in UK - like me?
Welcome, BTW!!
ResearchPress
45 Cal.
I'd start with FFg (you might also consider 1.5Fg). A typical charge used with the Whitworth would be 85 grains of FFg with a 530 grain paper patched bullet.
David
David
If you are talking about shooting a patched roundball, I would agree with you.
If your talking about shooting a heavy slug in a Whitworth, I do not agree.
Because of the heavy weight of a Whitworth or any long bullet, using a fast burning powder like 3F can raise the breech pressure to dangerous levels.
Hey gents, back again. Thanks for all the info guys. Well just for a bit of history, I am from Aus and shoot two muzzleloaders – a copy of an 1863 Richmond and the Parker Hale Whitworth. I have had the Parker Hale since about ‘96. I shoot a cannelured bullet of 576grns which measures 1 7/16” in length. The load I use is 85grn of 2f. I was talking with a mate the other day and he said to try 1f as he thinks I would give better accuracy. So I thought a call to the Muzzleloading forum will shine a light on the subject. I took TFoley’s advice and did some looking around on the internet and found an article by Broadarrow / Peter B. I see in that article that the Parker Hale factory recommends Fg. I will get bottle of that and see how we go.
Thanks again for all your input.
Alec.
Thanks again for all your input.
Alec.
rafterob
62 Cal.
Thanks Zonie for pointing that out. My head is in roundball land.
Not rude at all. Good question.
My Don Brown kits are a Alex Henry reproduction's and I was having ignition problems. It was bad enough that at times during matches I would not have the rifle go off or with a hang fire.
The design of the breach plug allowed it to foul and I could not get it out with a jag. Switching to 2F swiss made a huge difference from 1.5F swiss in the ignition.
I have also gotten better with managing the fouling down there. I now carry with me a Delrin rod with a small Dremel brush attached. I can get down in the flash area from the bore and clean out all the hard dry fouling. I do this between matches now.
Fleener
My Don Brown kits are a Alex Henry reproduction's and I was having ignition problems. It was bad enough that at times during matches I would not have the rifle go off or with a hang fire.
The design of the breach plug allowed it to foul and I could not get it out with a jag. Switching to 2F swiss made a huge difference from 1.5F swiss in the ignition.
I have also gotten better with managing the fouling down there. I now carry with me a Delrin rod with a small Dremel brush attached. I can get down in the flash area from the bore and clean out all the hard dry fouling. I do this between matches now.
Fleener
You can use either 2 or 3f. Keep in mind each has a different burn so if you use 3f, cut the charges by about 10%. You might even find that the fouling is less with 3f. I use 3f in my competition 58cal muskets and 69cal smoothbore. Service charge for the muskets was 60g 2f, my load is 42g 3f. The smoothbore is reduced similar percentages and shoots really really well when I show up mentally. In our game, fouling can make or break you on the firing line so we pay attention to it.
