Originally Posted by
nchawkeye
Real black powder has a lower ignition temperature than the subs...(Due to the sulfer)...This is why experienced flintlock shooters stick to the real thing...Thankfully, I live about an hour from a Goex distributor...I use FFF as the main charge in both my .40 and my .54 and have used both FFFF and FFF in the pan for both...When hunting, especially when damp and rainy I never use FFFF as the pan charge, I stick with FFF as it doesn't absorb moisture as readily...
Glad you mentioned that nc...
I got into a P-ing contest with a member on another forum a few years back because I mentioned that while shooting on an extremely humid day one summer, I was having trouble with my pan powder going off so I tried 3f (which I was using for my main charge) and never had a problem afterward. The only problem I had was it wouldn't "trickle" from my pan charger because of the larger granulation, I had to put it in a small plastic bottle with a spout that I cut the tip open a bit so it could flow out.
Black powder is somewhat hygroscopic, meaning it can or will absorb moisture from the air. My simple experiment on that humid day proved that to me. 3f powder has larger granules, hence there's more oxygen in a given charge of powder in the pan than there is with 4f. Even if the powder does attract some moisture, there's still some oxygen trapped in the charge to help it go off.
Well... this fella all but called me a liar and we went back and forth until I finally said OK, you're right and I'm wrong and left it at that... but we both know the difference!
I use 4f for the most part because I still have 1/2 pound left from my last purchase back when Moses wore little pants, but from here on out... I have no problem with 3f either!!
BPS