Loose Triple 7 Powder

[Troutman10]

I've been comparing the two different powders that 777 has. I noticed there's FFg and FFFg. The velocities for the FFFg seems faster than the FFg by almost 200 fps with 100 grains. Are both ok to use out of my Triumph? I know the difference is the size, but why are there two different products? Is one better over the other?

[sabotloader]

Troutman10

I recently ran a velocity test with a 45 cal rifle and a fairly light projectile (200 grain). There is no doubt the velocities of T7 and BH would increase if the bullet were heavier.

The large difference between T7-2f/3f is the size of the granual. 3f is so small it is almost a fluffy powder, while 2f is little courser. Because 3f is so fine it ignites faster and get to peak pressure sooner and should boost the velocity - but on the other hand it also burns out faster. In most guns it will burn slightly cleaner than 2f.

I personally use 2f in all of my inlines and 3f in the sidehammers as it is easier to ignite.

I would suggest you shoot some of each and see which you and your gun prefer...

[Semisane]

Your finding that the finer grain of powder (FFFG) produces higher velocity than the corser powder (FFG) is pretty typical. Is one better than the other? Maybe - mabye not. It seems to depend on the gun and load. Some guns shoot one better than the other. Some shoot them about the same. Some shoot light bullets better with one and heavy bullets better with the other. Why are there two different products?? Well, so we can play, of course.

[Troutman10]

That's some great info. Thanks again.

[Mr.Flintlock]

Although I use GOEX black powder instead of T-7 the principle is the same. I use 3f in all of my long guns from .32 to .62. I have found that I can acheave the velocities that I want with less powder when I use 3-f instead of 2-f. This gives me more shots from a pound of powder and it burns cleaner.

[Grouse45]

I still prefer fff over ff for hunting. The biggest reasons are more readily available and it produces higher velocities.

[spaniel]

Did you get this 200fps increase from your gun and a chronograph or somewhere else? While I've seen some people claim increased like that for 3F I have never been able to reproduce it in my gun. In fact with 200-250gr projectiles in my 50cal Omega 3F was very slightly SLOWER.

[cayugad]

3f works good in some rifles and not so good in others. I have some rifles that shoot better with 2f, while some other rifles like 3f. All you can do is try.

[Troutman10]

spaniel,
I went to the Hodgdon website and read the manual about their products. I was comparing the 250 gr. Hornady bullet to different amounts of powder while looking at their tables. The tables showed a 100 gr. load of FFFg loose powder had somewhere around a 100-200 fps difference vs. two 777 pellets. I'm sure it's not always true because every gun is different, but it's interesting to me.

[oldsmellhound]

I use FFFG because it shoots more consistently for me. It also produces higher velocities when you use 100 grains or less. From sabotloaders results, it looks like if you shoot heavy charges (120 grains+) then FFG catches up to and surpases FFFG. I also think it shoots a bit cleaner (FFFG).