What powders to get?

[Jaepheth]

So I just got my first flintlock rifle in .44 caliber (made by Euroarms). I was wondering what powder(s) I should get?

I was thinking of trying this selection from powderinc:
Swiss FFF
Schuetzen FFF
Schuetzen FF
Kik FFF
Goex FFFF


Should I stick with the Goex 4F or go with Kik 4F? How do those powders compare?

Should I skip the 2F and get another pound of 3F? Would it be worth waiting for them to get more Goex 3F?

What ratio of 4F to 3F or 2F do you guys order? Will the 1 pound of 4F last through shooting the other 4 pounds of powder?

Should I skip the variety pack and get a single brand?

 

[rafterob]

If cost is not a big deal, just buy Swiss
They also have null b which is better than goex 4f. You don't need any 2f and 1 can of priming powder will last a very long time, at least through 15 pounds of main charge powder. Goex is the best of the mid priced powders IMO. In my rifle Schuetzen creates more fouling. Have not tried KIK.

 

[Twisted_1in66]

So I just got my first flintlock rifle in .44 caliber (made by Euroarms). I was wondering what powder(s) I should get?

I was thinking of trying this selection from powderinc:
Swiss FFF
Schuetzen FFF
Schuetzen FF
Kik FFF
Goex FFFF


Should I stick with the Goex 4F or go with Kik 4F? How do those powders compare?

Should I skip the 2F and get another pound of 3F? Would it be worth waiting for them to get more Goex 3F?

What ratio of 4F to 3F or 2F do you guys order? Will the 1 pound of 4F last through shooting the other 4 pounds of powder?

Should I skip the variety pack and get a single brand?

I wouldn't bother with either the 2F or 4F powder. 3f should work best in your .44 cal rifle and it works fine for priming too. If you must get 4f for priming, 1 can (1-lb) of 4f will last about 25 cans of main charge. Don't make the mistake of putting the 4f in the main charge.

4f is actually slightly quicker igniting than 3f when used for priming powder, but the speed is so close, you have to have scientific instruments to find the difference.

Swiss and Goex would be my two first choices. I've used lots of Schuetzen for blanks at reenactments but have no idea how it would work with live firing. Shooting blanks with it always puts a lot of green fowling on my rifle.

Twisted_1in66 :thumbsup:

 

[Jaepheth]

I didn't realize I could prime with fff.

Fantastic, I'll only need 1 powder for both my rifle and my colt navy!

Thanks for the advice guys.

 

[rfdr]

I didn't realize I could prime with fff.

Fantastic, I'll only need 1 powder for both my rifle and my colt navy!

Thanks for the advice guys.

you could prime with 2f, too. HOWEVER, all guns and shooters are unique in some way, and some rifles really will work best with a specific powder down the tube, ball and patch sizing, powder in the pan, touch hole diameter, and even flint/frizzen. there are a whole bunch of other technical considerations, as well.

without a doubt, if you want to pursue consistent accuracy, experimentation is Mandatory.

aren't muzzle loaders such SIMPLE fun? :shocked2: :grin: :hatsoff:

 

[jamesthomas]

IMHO, I think you should get some KIK powder in 3fff, it shoots better Again IMHO, than Goex an is easier to clean afterwards, plus A 10 lb. order is cheaper than Goex(I think) $170.00 delievered. Me an Matt85 an I think Vearl use it an love it. I'll be getting 10lbs come the first of the month with 1 lb of 4ffff thrown in. I think you will be plesently surprised.

 

[Zonie]

I didn't realize I could prime with fff.

Fantastic, I'll only need 1 powder for both my rifle and my colt navy!

Thanks for the advice guys.

IMO, needing to use 4F powder in the priming pan is the most overrated crutch I've seen on the Forum.

It ignites maybe six or seven thousandths of a second faster than 3F.

The only time numbers that small mean anything is at the finish line at a race.

 

[George T.]

They are right about 3F working as a primeing powder. It is for sure what you want in a 44. One thought more however. A pound of 4F will work very well and last a very long time. The Swiss Null B was covered here a while back it sure sounded good.

By the way I have friends that use KIK and I'm useing Schultzen. We are all shooting well. I am going to break down and try Swiss soon! Geo. T.

 

[hanshi]

I usually prime with 4F because I have plenty; still got a can of Dupont I've had since the 1960s. It works in the small priming devices I have where 3F will not. Having said that I've been priming with 3F the past few months with complete satisfaction. Side by side shooting does seem to favor 4F for prime but a goodly number of shots are required and the difference is right at imperceptible. What I need to do is make up a primer that will dispense 3F. Maybe something out of antler.

 

[Dphar]

So I just got my first flintlock rifle in .44 caliber (made by Euroarms). I was wondering what powder(s) I should get?

I was thinking of trying this selection from powderinc:
Swiss FFF
Schuetzen FFF
Schuetzen FF
Kik FFF
Goex FFFF


Should I stick with the Goex 4F or go with Kik 4F? How do those powders compare?

Should I skip the 2F and get another pound of 3F? Would it be worth waiting for them to get more Goex 3F?

What ratio of 4F to 3F or 2F do you guys order? Will the 1 pound of 4F last through shooting the other 4 pounds of powder?

Should I skip the variety pack and get a single brand?

I would use Swiss Null B for priming if you can get it.
If you have Swiss and Schuetzen KIK is likely a waste of time.
I pound of priming powder will last pretty well. I suppose I have run 8 pounds or so in nearly emptying my bottle of Swiss Null B.
Dan

 

[BlackNet]

You want swiss NULL-B powder.

Left is FFFg, Right is FFFFg, middle is Null-B, powder INC does stock it fyi.