Q: About FFg vs FFFG

[Deadheadted37]

Hello,

I am new to black powder shooting and have some questions about powder.

FFg is for rifles and FFFg is for pistols. Besides granular size, what the difference and can I use FFFg in my rifle?

Thanks

 

[kartoffel]

Hi Ted, I'm a Ted too.

Looks like you understand it just fine. FFFg is ideal for small bore rifles. Squirrel guns generally like it better than FFg. There's no strict rule as to how big a bore you need before switching to FFg. Generally, though, .45 and under tends to work best with triple F and 50 and bigger like double F. I've heard of people getting good results with FFFg in guns as big as .54, but using slightly less powder than their usual FFg load.

FFFg in big bores: Risk of overpressure. Use a reduced charge and be careful.
FFg in small bores: Inconsistent velocities due to uneven burning, but otherwise not harmful.

 

[Cap n Ball]

I've got a .58 cal smooth bore flintlock pistol that eats 3f or 2f just fine with adjusted loads.

 

[sundance44s]

My 54 cal rifle shoots ok with 3f powder ...But it shoots best with 2f .
I`m talking target loads though ...I wouldn`t put large 100 or 150 gr. loads of 3f under a 54 cal ...might be a bit much .

 

[GunTech]

I shoot FFFg in my revolvers and FFg in my rifle, with FFFFg for priming. After talking to several people, I discovered that FFFg works fine in all three roles, so if you only want to carry one powder, you can probably get my on FFFg.

 

[JCT]

an equal charge of FFFg just has more surface area than FFG. It may develop slightly higher pressures since it's burn rate is slightly faster. I've read that FFFg is good up to 50 cal rifles.
Some actually mix a can of FFFg with a can of FFg to get an inbetween mix.

 

[BIG BEAR]

the FF?FFFwords

I shoot 3f in my 50cal kentucky rifle. prime the pan as well with 3f. target loads 35-60 gr. and 60-80 for hunting. NO miss fires. WORKS EVERY TIMEso far).MAKES LIFE A LOT SIMPLER WITH ONE POWDER. 4f seems to be getting hard to find on VANCOUVER ISLAND. i do not ind ANY difference with 3f as a primer CHEERS BIG BEAR

 

[1911 guy]

I use FFFg only.

I've gone to using FFFg for everything. 40gr in my .36, 70gr in my .50 and a dash in the pan for priming. Makes life a lot easier to not have three different powders (FFFFg, FFFg and FFg) laying around.

FFFg does burn faster than FFg, so you'll need to knock down your loads by about 10-15 percent to keep pressure in the reaonable range. With a .45 cal conical, 80gr FFFg made more pressure than 110gr FFg. I'd only use it for round balls. Conicals make the pressure spike higher due to their weight.

 

[Wildfire]

Good to go.

Hey There:
I do not use the real stuff. But will say this. I use Pyrodex "P" in my Encore .50 cals. It is more accurate the RS. You wont get away with 150 grain loads. but within reason this works very well. I use 80 grains of "P" with 300 gr. bullets. My groups are extremely tight. Well under 1" at 100 meters. If I get seriuos on a bench I can get the holes to touch. 80 grains of "P" runs about the same velocity as 100 grains of RS in my guns. You will aslo get more consistant charge weights or measures with the finner stuff. And it rarely hangs up in the powder measure. You also get a somewhat shorter powder collum and this aids in the accuracy of any rifle. The PSI curve in "P" is more consistant then with RS. So I would assume this to be true with 3F over 2F.
I can not help on the never clean your gun powders. Trip-7 etc. I tried some and could not get any accuracy and they stink worse then Pyrodex or black.
I always clean my gun so their claims were of no value to me.
I should say that in magnum MLs 120 grains of "P" is a MAX load and not very pleasant to shoot. If it is an older gun I would not go there.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

BIG BEAR and I are of the same school..., I use one horn to pour as well as to prime. I shoot a .530 patched round ball over 70 grains of 3Fg, and prime with 3Fg too. I get 3" groups at 100 yards. Using 100 - 150 grains is a waste of powder (imho) when shooting round ball with open, iron sights. So far the deer don't show any difference when hit with a ball having a MV of 1300 fps vs a ball having a MV of 1800 fps. (My shoulder does notice)

LD

 

[hamourkiller]

Let your rifle tell you which is best, just reduce the FFFG loads by 15%

100gr load FFG - 15% = 85gr FFFG and you will be fine. Each rifle is a law unto it self. Some 62 cal's like 3F and some 40 cal's like 2F. Experiment and use the most accurate.

 

[pohill]

From an old Colt Industries pamphlet:
"FFG black powder is best for large and medium-size revolvers, and FFFG for the small pocket models, but any grade that is available will work reasonably well."

 

[Tony4VA]

I have won a number of matches using FFFG in my .69 cal. Model 1816 repro flintlock musket with no problem as the modern steel barrel handles it OK and it burns cleaner with less fouling. Most North-South Skirmishers use FFFG in their .58 cal. muskets for this reason.
I use FFG in my original .69 musket because of its lower pressure and less strain on the original barrel.
So: As a rule, I find FFFG superior in almost all repro/modern made guns and FFG in the larger originals for lower pressure. However, muzzle loaders have their own peculiarities and there's no predicting what a particular gun will prefer.

 

[.44walkersabot]

I've never shot ffg in my life. I have a CVA .45 and the .44 Walker. I use Triple Seven fffg and have always seemed to have good luck with it. Plenty of power...Okay...