Why 2F instead of 3F

[Saloon slug]

I have noticed that most of you are using 2F in your guns guns. Is there any particular reason? In front stuffers if it is .45 bore or smaller you use 3F even in the larger bores many shooters 3F even tho the manuals say to use 2f with great results. In my .50 ML I use 70-90grn of 3F or Pyro P and it shoots wonderfully. Why is 2F so popular in the cartridge world?

Sorry if the question seems simple just wonder what the difference was.

Thanks for any and all help

[Sir Charles deMoutonBlack]

I stock 2F, 3F, and a single can of 4F (for flintlock priming only).  It seems to me that some shooters like to keep it simple, and stock only one powder for most purposes.  If it were me, I'd likely settle on "CARTRIDGE", but 2F will do most any job.  It is safe to go slower (fewer F's) but loading faster powders than required can raise the pressures faster than muzzle velocity.

[Will Bison]

Generally speaking a ML rifle fires a lighter ball/bullet than does a cartridge rifle. As bullet weight increases so does pressure so we use a larger granulation of powder to slow down the burn.

[Saloon slug]

Ok I can see what you are talking about. But I talk to ML shooters often that use 3F behind 400+grn (409-490)conicals and these are hairy chested hunting loads. I am not trying to be argumentative just trying to scratch a mental itch.

Thanks for your info

[Lead pot]

The finer the powder the more heat it generates.
I use mostly 1F in all of my rifles from the .40 to the .50 and in the front stuffer.
If you can keep ahead of the fouling and keep it under control any of the granulation from 1to 3F will show great results.
I'm willing to give up a couple feet per second velocity to keep the heat down and keep the accuracy.

2F is a good powder choice in all calibers I even use it in the .50-90ss at times during cooler weather and the .44-90 sbn really smiles with 2F.

Kurt

[Saloon slug]

Ok that will work. I can see were heat would be an issue in a cartridge gun. In a ML its not that big a deal because of the time it takes to load. My ML's never get that hot I guess because I am slow as molasses when it comes to loading them . Thanks for the info.