TC209x50
What I don't understand is why both the sticks (two 50 gr.) and the loose powder (100gr of Jim's gold fffg) shot high. I can understand the loose but the sticksI'm not for sure about.
Just a guess - because I have not seen the Gold, but have read a couple of articles, I believe the Gold is screened to a higher and finer quality of powder - the granuals may besmaller and are cleaner- therefor creating afaster burning faster peaking pressure - getting your projectile out of the barrel faster.
If your barrel (useable length) is 25" (
and really probabaly a little shorter than that by the time you add the powder and the projectile) and if you are shooting a tight or heavier projectile - I would think you gun would benefit from 3f powder. You may also be receiving somewhat of a bump by the fact that there is an air space between the projectile and the breech (almost like short starting), and as I remember the sticks, they occupy less space in the barrel than the Hodgdon pellets. Another reason some companies say crush and some do not.
The different coloring in the powder is cosmetic - so each company that APP contracts with will have something to claim of their own. I use to shoot the orginal clear shot and it was really pretty un-spectacular, but I am sure the formulation of it has been changed over the years.
(Asorbic Acid someone told me).
you are correct - and this acid either in the powder or the residue will be what eats (etches)the metal in your gun if it gets damp for a long period of time in your barrel. If the residue remains dry or the powder remains dry it will cause no errosion for that same period of extendedtime.
good luck - thanks for the post back