4f in .36

[camerl2009]

ok so i found some load data for a .36 Percussion Pistol and it uses swiss #1(4fg)
at 10-12gr i can only get goex here


http://www.black-powder.co.uk/swiss/pistol_percussion.htm

[oldhickory]

Lyman's "Black Powder Handbook" (1975) lists loads for 7.5" .36 revolvers with FFFFg, (G-O) and 81gr. .375 ball.

14.0gr.-884fps. to 27.5gr-1090fps.

With a 150gr. conical.

9.0gr.-559fps. to 15.0gr.-787fps.


FFFFg, (C-H) and 81gr. ball

14gr.-873fps to 27.5gr-1002fps.

With a 150gr. conical.

9.0gr.-544fps. to 15gr.-758fps.

[camerl2009]

Lyman's "Black Powder Handbook" (1975) lists loads for 7.5" .36 revolvers with FFFFg, (G-O) and 81gr. .375 ball.

14.0gr.-884fps. to 27.5gr-1090fps.

With a 150gr. conical.

9.0gr.-559fps. to 15.0gr.-787fps.


FFFFg, (C-H) and 81gr. ball

14gr.-873fps to 27.5gr-1002fps.

With a 150gr. conical.

9.0gr.-544fps. to 15gr.-758fps.

well i dont think i can use .375" but i know i can use .350 with a patch

i'll give it a try a 9mm case should do the job

[Nobade]

Looks like you guys are talking two different types of pistols! The first is a single shot and the second a revolver, right? That said I would not use FFFFg in one unless I had to. Usually it sells for more than FFFg and charges do need to be very small. One thing to keep in mind is what sort of breechplug does your pistol have? If a patent breech with a cavity in it you want it filled up and the ball seated on the powder, no air space between the two. With small charges of FFFFg you may run into that situation. My TC Patriot 45 cal. is that way - it needs at least 25gr. of powder or the ball is inside the breechplug, not in the barrel. As for Goex, that works fine too. No need to use Swiss if you can't get it, though it is very nice stuff.

[oldhickory]

Yes, the data I posted from the 1975 Lyman book is for .36 "Navy" revolvers. They list no data for single shot pistol .36 pistol, or rifle with FFFFg.

[gnoahhh]

I have an unopened can of DuPont FFFFg from about 35 years ago. I have fired countless thousands of shots through more guns than you can shake a stick at and never felt the need to open that can of powder. I don't even prime a flintlock with FFFFg. Just no earthly need for that granulation as far as I'm concerned. If you lived here I would give you that can of 4F just to be rid of it once and for all!

[northmn]

Single shot pistols using patch and ball can vary according to their make. Afew were made with sawed off rifle barrels and may take a little more charge than one made with a faster twist pistol barrel. Usually the 45's we played with would shoot with about 30-35 grains of 3f if a rifle twist. The fast twist ones were made for targets and would do OK with about 20-25 grains of 3f. The 36 I would expect to do OK with about 15-20 grains of 3f or so. 4f worked fair in my 25 squirrel rifle but was self priming in the flintlock. If you look at the Lyman data for the 36 C&B you see little or no gain using 4f whcih I think might hold for a single shot. In any case load it with 3f until it shoots well. Start at about 15 grains and work up if needed.

DP

[missionary5155]

Greetings
I guess I am of the other mind.. I tend to use the coarser granulars. I really had no reason why at first.. just that was what dad did. Then years ago I read Mr. Roberts fine little book on Muzzleloaders and discovered there is a reason. Not that I can hold a rifle so fine that I can see a difference . But I figure if Mr. Ned said his target rifles shot better with coarse powder that is good enough info for me.

[northmn]

In rifles it might make a diffeence, in light charges for pistols I doubt it. When I chronographed some rifle loads I found that in the larger bores 2f gave about half the velocity variance of 3f. For my 54 I use 2f for that reason.

DP

[mazo kid]

I would NEVER use ffffg powder for a load. It can cause inconsistent pressures due to being so fine. IMHO it should only be used for priming.