Re: MtMan-List: Black Powder

[Frank <Buckskinner@gbis.com>]

JD,

I'm sure glad you included "others",  I've been called a smart ass but never
a "wise one"!
I shoot fff in my 54 but right off I'd like to say I have a custom gun with
an expensive american made barrel.  My load is 70gr and I personally
wouldn't go over 90gr with fff.  That's just my opinion for myself and this
particular gun.  That load gives me very good accuracy and does allow me to
shoot quite a number of shots without being hard to load.  At the end of the
day it isn't as dirty as with ff, but the reason I shoot fff is because it
just shoots better for me!
I sure wouldn't use fff in any "inexpensive" gun as defined by all the
emotional textual commentary recently seen on this list.  With any gun/load,
work your way up to an accurate load slowly, starting with approximately the
same number of grains as the caliber i.e.: 50gr for 50 cal etc.
Again, that's just my opinion and in great fear and trembling of the
wrathful disdain of the "wise ones" I humbly submit this reply.  SHEESH!

Medicine Bear

jdsteach@dwave.net wrote:

> Greetings, Wise Ones and others,
> Along the shooting line I heard a skinner claim that he liked to shoot
> fff in his 54 cal.  I, being the novice, asked why.  He claimed that it
> shot cleaner and he used less powder.
> Is this a good idea?
> I know that fff creates more pressure in small cal. rifles.  I would
> assume that it would be the same in a large bore.
> Historically, what was the grade of the powder used by the early
> explorers?  I find it hard to believe that there were 4 grades of powder
> back then.
> Any ideas?
>
> Thanks for your time and thoughts.
>
> Pilgrim JD