Flintlock powders-
 

what are you using & where are you getting it?

For example:
the only 4F for pan priming I can find is Goex, none locally.

With that, I might duplex 5 grains with Triple7 2F as a main charge.

4fg goex. Bought it at a local mountain man store near colorado springs back in 2006. It lasts a LONG time.

that was my plan but none available within 100 miles which means 1 lb will cost @ $65...

wondering about 3f Triple7 as a pan primer?

btw, what is your main charge?

Depending on the rifle my charge is 80 - 100 gr of FFg. You can get by easily using just FFFg as both your main charge and your pan. Give it a shot!!

MP...

FFFg will work as a priming powder, but the granules are larger so it won't trickle from a charger very well. You may have to use a small horn or another device as a pan charger and put just a few grains in the pan, don't fill it up!! If the vent hole is on the small side you may not get good ignition and may need to open it a bit or replace it with one that has a larger hole (.068-.078) is good.
There have been a number of studies and observations made to prove that 4f is faster than 3f when used as a priming powder and it is faster by 1000ths of a second. The difference is so miniscule that it's indiscernible.

BPS

Using T7 in the pan would be like spitting into a 100 acre forest fire.

In my flintlocks, I use 2fg goex or olde eynsford.

You know you can order around 5lbs of the real stuff for around $125-135 shipped right? Mix and match powder grades as well.

graf & sons, powder inc are two of the main places folks order from.

I use 4f Goex. But if you can't find that 3f will work fine. But use black powder only. The sub powder just have too high of a flash/ignition temperature to work.

So, T7 as a pan primer is out altogether?

How about as a main charge?

out & out.

MD's correct... save the sub-powders for the percussion and in-line guns. When you think flintlock, think BLACK POWDER ONLY!! :happy0001:

BPS

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

that reminds me, gotta pack an old ear plug to keep over my nipple while hunting!

Which one? :biggrin:


BPS

the right ear plug. It contains more waterproofing wax ;)

Opinions are like internet connections- everybody has one....


with that thought in mind:

Goex?
Swiss?
Scheutzen?
???

edit to add: Grafs?


What say ye?

I never liked 4F in the pan. As was said it sucks up moisture like a sponge and always find someplace to leak out when hunting.

I use Goex 3f for pan and main charge and get fast ignition. It also stays in the pan when hunting.

I buy from Graf's and Son. The more you buy the better the price, because it absorbs the HazMat fee.

I agree that T7 in the pan would be no ignition.

Do any of you all ever notice any difference in the flash upon ignition between 3 and 4F in the pan?

I only use black powder. GOEX 3f for my main charge and GOEX 4f or Swiss Null B for prime. I order my powder from Powder Inc. ships to my front door Via Fed X.

If you have powder leaking out from your pan, you have a problem!!! Especially if it is leaking between the barrel and the lock, sooner or later you will blow the lock off that gun...Fix the problem!!! The pan should fit tight enough that powder doesn't leak out...

It wasn't leaking between the barrel and lock. I did fix it. I used 3F.

Investarms should learn how to build a flintlock. They've been doing it long enough to get it right, but they're content to continue to make crap. Just like the rest of the foreign junk.

Well Pete, if you want to get downright technical, All American made firearms, in reality, is foreign :D But I get your point.

3f even in .50 &.54?

All?


.........

My flinters don't leak powder. I also use 4f as it's the most consistent in my rifles.

Yep, 30grs in my .40 and 80grs FFF in my .54...

Back in the 60s and 70s the theory was use FFF in .45 and below and FF in .50 and above...It's not necessary to do that and since black powder leaves a fouling residue you can cut from say 100grs FF in a .54 to 80grs and have a cleaner burning load, leave less residue in the barrel and get about the same velocities...

Leaking pans are easily fixed by mating the base of the frizzen to the top of the pan with a file...

powders
 

I use 3f in my .50 cal hawken .In pan 4f and on wet day I dump it out a lot and put in dry ...