It would be helpful to know what gun you are using and what type powder you are referring to...
In my case, I use Goex FFF in both my flintlocks (a .54 and a .40) and in my Knight Disc inline...I've found that FFF burns cleaner than FF and since I am able to reduce my charge, less residue is left in the barrel...In my .54 I can shoot more shots by without cleaning the barrel then I could with FF...
I also use FFF in the barrel as well as the pan which keeps thing simple...
This is all Plagiarized from various sources, but here goes:
F = "Fine", g = "granulation"
The "F" designation is just the screen size used in manufacture and the resultant grain size (coarseness).
Here is one recomendation:
There are four (4) types of black powder which are designated by granulation.
• 1f or fg - used with cannons and large gauge shotguns.
• 2f or ffg - the most commonly used powder in muzzleloading rifles, shotguns and pistols of .45 caliber and larger.
• 3f or fffg - used in muzzleloading rifles, pistols and revolvers of .44 caliber and below.
• 4f or ffffg - used to prime the pan of a flintlock
But, 100 grains of black powder is not equal to 100 grains of pyrodex is not equal to 100 grains of tripple 7. So you have to do your homework (read the accompanying documentation).
As I understand it the more F's in the formula the finer the granulation of the powder. Therefore FFFG is "finer" than FFG. If I understand this correctly it means that you'll get more granules of powder in the same volume of space which means that you'll get a faster burn/more bang from FFFG than FFG.
Another search lead me to this:
"FFFFg is the smallest popularly employed grain; it burns fast and was used primarily in handguns. FFFFg is considered flintlock pan powder. FFFg and FFg were a bit larger; they have long been used in rifles and shotguns. Fg was the largest: used in very large bore rifles."
You got my curiosity up on this one. I had never studied the topic before. So this is just a compilation based of a quick scan on the internet.
Good luck!
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It basically is the size of the grains of powder. 1F is cannon powder. 2F is rifle and musket powder. 3f is small bore rifles and pistol powder. 4F is for the pans of primers. There is said to even be a 5f which if for blasting, but I have never seen it.
The reason some people burn 3f in their rifles is, they get a faster burn. Now you would probably never notice the difference looking or listening, but some claim a more complete burn. You also get a slight increase in pressure which is helpful shooting conical bullets.
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I use T7 FFFG as opposed to FFG because I've gotten better accuracy with FFFG. Supposedly there is an increase in velocity as well, but I don't have a chrono to back that up.
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This question is on the hunter safety course in order to get your license , (at least in my state) so read up.
My state does not require any one born before 1967 to take hunter safety.
The reason I am asking is I see some guys or gals on here say they use FFG for target, but use FFFG for hunting.
I started muzzleloading about 17yrs ago with a 85 CVA Hawkens, but quit two yrs later when I moved to Ohio (didn't have any where to shoot). I have moved back to Central Missouri and got back into Muzzleloading. There wasn't a whole lot of info in the subject on the internet back then, so I didn't learn alot. Now there is alot of info and you guys to learn from. I own a 85 CVA Hawkens 54 cal, 99 CVA Hunterbolt 50 cal (non Mag) and now a 2010 CVA Wolf 50 cal. that I just traded a Buckhorn for. The wife shoots the Hunterbolt. I am here to learn and will more than likely ask dumb quetions. I don't have alot of money that I can just go out and buy supplies for testing. So I am just trying to pick your brains on the best way to spend my money wisely.
i used 2f in my hawkins .50 cal for 45 years.i now use 3f in it because of testing done by dave and roundball and others .3f is little cleaner and burns faster with higher pressure which some feel is better on accuracy in my hawkins flintlock.
Why FFFG?
