TC Hawken .50 Cal BP Rifle & FFFg BP?

[jtrade]

As some of you may know my uncle gave me a TC Hawken 50 Cal BP Rifle. I know nothing about BP.

My neighbor has a huge BP Cannon and does Civil War Reenactments. Today he brought me 100 pack of #11 Caps & a 1lb can of Goex FFFg Black Powder.

In the manual I downloaded is says that FFFg is used for under .45 Caliber Rifles.

Would it be safe to use FFFg for my .50 Caliber Hawken? Or should I trade up or try to find some FFg BP?

J

[Brass Nazi]

I was alway told that FFFg was too fine for the half bore guns also but I am far from an expert. I am pretty sure that FFg would perform better but I cannot answer the question of FFFg being safe for use.

[jtrade]

Thnx... Just curious what does half bore mean?


I was alway told that FFFg was too fine for the half bore guns also but I am far from an expert. I am pretty sure that FFg would perform better but I cannot answer the question of FFFg being safe for use.

[Brass Nazi]

I was using slang for .50. A .25 caliber is quarter bore..........

[jtrade]

Ok thanks for the info as I didn't know that....

Still new to the whole BP thing....

I was using slang for .50. A .25 caliber is quarter bore..........

[Blackdog]

I did a bit of research (google is your friend), and it appears that FFFG can be used for light loads, but is generally too fast (smaller grain size=more surface area=faster burning) for 50 cal. I've always viewed 3f as a pistol powder, and have only used FFg in my .50.

BD

[Brass Nazi]

Also, FFFg supposedly shines when used in the .32cal small game rifles.

[jtrade]

Ok thnx. Instead of spending an hour or two "googling" I figured I would just ask here since I thought there were some BP shooters here....

Been trying to get everything ready to finally do taxes today so spent a lot of time yesterday tracking down receipts, etc.

J

I did a bit of research (google is your friend), and it appears that FFFG can be used for light loads, but is generally too fast (smaller grain size=more surface area=faster burning) for 50 cal. I've always viewed 3f as a pistol powder, and have only used FFg in my .50.

BD

[MONTEGOD7SS]

I firmly believe you couldn't pack enough of any black powder down the barrel to actually hurt anything. I've seen a guy load up so much that the ram rod only went bout half way down the barrel and all it did was make more smoke. Granted, this isn't something I'm recommending you do, just that's how I feel about it.

[jawjaboy]

Nor would I recommend that.

[creekwalker]

BP rifles and cannon's have had spectacular failures, with horrific injuries, I chose to be cautious in handling them. Modern forged steel may be a wonderful thing compaired to the past, but bad things can still happen when least expected.