ORIGINAL: y_not5
my question is when I buy powder does the ffg or fffg matter in terms of saftey if my rifle is rated for 120 grains of loose ffg can I use 120 grains of fffg? my concerns are mainly for my fathers sidekick and my omega z5 I know my omega is rated for 150grains loose or pellets and the sidekick is rated for 120 loose and 150 pellets, but in booth manuals says nothing about fffg, what would my restrictions be if any using fffg insted of ffg or can I use the regulations for ffg for the fffg??????
There is a slight presssure increase when you use the FFFg powders VS the FFg. Depending on the powder some are extreme and others only a minor increase, but an increase all the same. For that reason you do need to take the finer grain size into consideration.
The next issue is whether or not your rifle will like the 3f over the 2f. The only way to learn this is to try some of the other grains on the range. For instance, Goex Pinnacle and APP I would always suggest using the 3f powder since the 2f is like fish tank gravel. I shoot a lot of pyrodex P instead of RS or Select. Not in all rifles mind you, but certain rifles like the finer grade.
I have found that my inline rifles normally prefer the finer grain of powder. I shoot Goex 3f, Pinnacle 3f and Pyrodex P in most of the inlines. I lower the powder charge by 10% and figure my loads that way. So if your rifle is a 120 grain rifle in loose, then back it off about 10-12 grains of powder and you should be in the safe zone.
On many powders you will only get between 50-100 fps better in the projectile, the real difference comes in that fact that the cleaner powders burn cleaner and leave less fowling which makes shooting easier, swabbing easier, and just over all clean up a little more forgiving.
Give the 3f in 50 caliber or less, some of the .54 calibers like 3f also. Again, all this is learned by trial and error.