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??????

The different burn rates of the different granulations cause different amounts of pressure and the pressure curve jump is steeper/faster with 3F than with 2F.

The industry standard rule of thumb to manage the pressure differences to approximately the same levels is to reduce the 3F load by 10-15% below the 2F load data.

Example:
Ifa 2F load data is 100grns...just use85-90grns 3F in it's place.

In the specific case of your 120grn example, a 10-15% reduction for 3F would be a max load of 3F in the range of 102-108grns.

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.

Unless that percussion sidelock is an original T/C with factory209 primer application, no othersidelock should be using pellets. Ignition cannot be trusted - even with musket caps in sidelocks without drums.

So can you get more shots out of a pound of FFFG than FFG? My grandpa used Pyrodex FFFG out of the rifle he gave me. Doese is soak in moister a little more though?

The sidekick will shoot well with pellets I am sure. Their inline design and the 209 ignition will create a positive ignition. As for sidelocks, the T/C Firestorm claims to shoot pellets even as a flintlock, but I believe they advise you to duplex the load with a little loose black powder down by the vent hole first. Also the Tradition's PA Pellet will also shoot pellets as a flintlock. Again, a duplex is probably a good idea. I never monkeyed with them so I can not say.

Don't try shooting the FFFFg out of a rifle. That is mainly for pan flash. It is far to fine to control as a main charge. Yes, many people shoot FFFg out of .54 calibers. I do. I also shoot Triple Se7en out of them. They will shoot about anything. You just have to try them out and see what works. As for absorbing moisture, all powders will. Some are worse then others. So far of all the powders I have "played with on the range" but not in a hunting situation have not gave me moisture problems. Actually I have never had a problem with any powder in hunting situations yet.

There are others here that can give you a much more details list of what powders are better or worse when it comes to powder or moisture.

Take Cayugad's advice on the powder. The 3f APP powder is a little more course than 2f 777. I can only imagine what the 2f APP looks like.