Priming Powder, 4F or ?

[TDM]

I’ve always gone along with the general consensus that you can prime with whatever black powder your loading with. It works, and I know many muskets were always loaded that way. But, I’ve always had 4F on hand since I started shooting flintlocks about 8 years ago and always used that to prime, until today. I was doing a fair amount of shooting with my .45 SMR and .54 WR, towards the end my little priming flask was empty and I was too lazy to walk a 100 yards back to the shop to fill it. So I primed with the Swiss 3F I was using, same pan volume. I used the 3F for 3 shots, there were no hang fires, but there was a noticeable delay on each shot. I promptly walked to the shop and refilled my flask with 4F.

So what has been your experience? Was this slight delay normal or just an abnormality that I had today?

 

[IanH]

What you think is happening is not what is actually happening.

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

I crush a small amount of what ever I have into a small tin. Use a lee scooper . Works fine.

 

[mike54]

I use 3f and 4f and notice no difference between the two.

 

[nchawkeye]

I usually prime with 4F and I also think I can tell a difference, but, if I am hunting on a humid, rainy day, I prime with 3F and change prime every hour or so...At my age, I'm probably on my last pound of 4F, why leave it to the kids??

 

[garypl]

I always shoot a mixture of 3f and 4f in the pan. Mostly because I have 2 or 3 lbs of 4f but in very humid weather it tends to cake up a bit so I mix 3f with the 4fin my priming horn and I get the best of both…

 

[stikshooter]

3F stays in the pan in wind and lasts longer before turning soupy /Ed

 

[Banjoman]

India made Fusil de Chasse with 2f for main charge and prime.

 

[TDM]

India made Fusil de Chasse with 2f for main charge and prime.
View attachment 261965

That’s pretty good, about the same ignition time I had with the 3F. Maybe I’m too picky.

 

[Banjoman]

That’s my squirrel gun and none of them ever thought it was slow.

 

[The Appalachian]

Crushed and sifted 2F

 

[Jim K]

I’ve shot with guys priming with 3F and their locks seem fast. When I try 3 F it seems a tad bit slower to me than 4. So I stick with 4F.

 

[TDM]

Crushed and sifted 2F

Fast!

 

[Dobegrant]

I use 3 f most of the time, it works

 

[SDSmlf]

I used the 3F for 3 shots, there were no hang fires, but there was a noticeable delay on each shot. I promptly walked to the shop and refilled my flask with 4F.

Use what you are CONFIDENT with and know works. Use something else and it may get in your head, no matter what others say. If you don’t believe something works, it doesn’t work.

 

[WALT53]

India made Fusil de Chasse with 2f for main charge and prime.
View attachment 261965

What size is your touch drilled out to on your Indian fdc .

 

[TDM]

Use what you are CONFIDENT with and know works. Use something else and it may get in your head, no matter what others say. If you don’t believe something works, it doesn’t work.

Sound advice.

 

[Brokennock]

I used the 3F for 3 shots, there were no hang fires, but there was a noticeable delay on each shot

Use less.

 

[Jimbob]

I’ve always gone along with the general consensus that you can prime with whatever black powder your loading with. It works, and I know many muskets were always loaded that way. But, I’ve always had 4F on hand since I started shooting flintlocks about 8 years ago and always used that to prime, until today. I was doing a fair amount of shooting with my .45 SMR and .54 WR, towards the end my little priming flask was empty and I was too lazy to walk a 100 yards back to the shop to fill it. So I primed with the Swiss 3F I was using, same pan volume. I used the 3F for 3 shots, there were no hang fires, but there was a noticeable delay on each shot. I promptly walked to the shop and refilled my flask with 4F.

So what has been your experience? Was this slight delay normal or just an abnormality that I had today?

My experience is the same as yours. I can't understand why folks say there is no delay when using 3F or 2F to prime with. I shoot matches. I shoot a lot and there most definitely is a delay.

 

[jdw276]

My experience is the same as yours. I can't understand why folks say there is no delay when using 3F or 2F to prime with. I shoot matches. I shoot a lot and there most definitely is a delay.

Yes there is a delay. Of course. The other side is can the human brain really tell a difference in that time span of thousands of seconds?

Larry Pletch did extensive studies, timing all different grain size, manufacturer, placing the prime, time locks, percussion also. Well worth the reads for you scientific geeks.

https://www.blackpowdermag.com/priming-powder-timing/