When to Use FFg vs. FFFg

[coloradoclyde]

One "operative" word you forgot: LAWYER !!!

Your probably right.....some idiot probably poured 200 or so grains of 4f down the barrel and blew himself up. As a result everyone had to come up with guidelines to keep from being sued.... :shake:

 

[Artificer]

I admit I have trouble thinking in drams. So taking the information from the Mid 19th century chart you provided, I converted drams to grains for each gauge listed. I thought it might be interesting to compare the recommended load of shot to the weight of a bore sized round ball in each gauge and added that.

20 Ga, 2 drams = 55 grains, ¾ oz. shot
.615 Round Ball = .800 oz.

16 Ga, 2 ½ drams = 68.75 grains, 7/8 oz. shot
.663 Round Ball = 1 oz.

14 Ga, 2 7/8 drams = 79.06 grains, 1 1/16 oz. shot
.693 Round Ball = 1.143 oz.

12 Ga, 3 drams = 82.5 grains, 1 1/8 oz. shot
.729 Round Ball = 1.333 oz.

Note: The recommended powder granulations for all these calibers was either FFFg or FFFFg

So it seems in 20 and 16 gauges, the weight of the shot load is a bit less than a bore size round ball. However, in 14 and 12 gauges, the weight of the shot load is more than a bore size round ball.

I do wonder what kind of pressures these charges developed?

Gus

 

[Snow on the Roof]

MMy understanding is that 3F produces higher pressures than 2 F. I presume in the days when shooters used guns of somewhat questionable origin that these excessive pressures where considered unsafe in larger bored arms which oft times where loaded heavier. With today's superiority of manufacturing and quaility steel barrels this should be less of an issue if at all.

 

[Alden]

And that despite being on the right path about pressure and what the powder makers, informed muzzleloaders, as well as most gun manufacturers themselves (except from India who point out theirs aren't "shooters" to begin with) say...

Interesting belief system.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Ignoring the gratuitous comment by Alden...,

Replying to Colorado Clyde:

I always wondered how that stuff worked when shooting a projectile

It's recommended for "recreational" shooting...I think as they can't determine how much 3Fg to how much 2Fg is in the "mix" in each measure of powder that one uses...you may get enough velocity variation to open up your group...not enough say to be a problem for hunting or plinking or a hit/miss target in a woods walk, but enough to drive a target shooter with a paper target, nuts.

LD

 

[Alden]

Thanks for all the info Dave. However, "gratuitous" would be encouraging others to ignore the guidance of current manufacturers because of one's own emotions about antique metallurgy.