Brands of powder

[AtlLaw]

There has been some discussion over in the traditional ML rifle forum about buying powder on-line and having it shipped to the purchaser.  That got me thinking about the reviews of different brands I've read, most of which say Goex is okay, but the Swiss (and German?) powder burns cleaner and is more accurate and powerful.     So naturally the first thought that came to my mind was that I wanted to do my own comparison, in my own revolvers.   
 
Unfortunately, my local BP store only carries Goex.     Therefore I would have to order several pounds of powder just to get one pound of Swiss FFFG.   
 
Instead of that I'll just ask here.  Does anyone have any experience with or thoughts on this subject; Goex vs Swiss that is.   

[Ranch13]

The bit about Swiss fouling less than Goex, is sort of right, but not completely. Swiss leaves a hard redclay like fouling that is especially pronuonced in the dry humidity we commonly shoot in here in the highplains/rocky mtn region.
 The higher velocity claims are only partially true as well Swiss and Schuetzen powders are for the most part smaller kernel than the corresponding "f" of Goex. When you actually shoot the same sized powders of both brands the velocity difference shrinks as does the supposed density difference., ie Goex 3f vs Swiss 2f.
 Swiss is a good powder but is at the same time highly overrated and over priced.

[AtlLaw]

Thanks Ranch!
 
Graf has Schuetzen on sale and I was thinking of getting 5 or 10 lbs.  Since that amount may be close to a lifetime supply for me, if Schuetzen isn't measurably better then Goex I don't know as it would be worth the initial outlay, real good price that it is.   

[Ranch13]

I like Schuetzen 2f, and have shot quite a bit of it, but I reduced the powder charge 5 grs from what I had been using in Goex 2f.(shooting in a 45-70) It leaves a grey fouling but not necessarily hard to deal with.I did try some Schuetzen 1f and it may have just been the guns choice, but there's not much sense in me shooting any more out of that can..
Grafs powder is Schuetzen with the labels changed on the bottle.
 

[Matt85]

as said above, every thing ive read says the main difference between Goex, swiss, and schuetzen is powder size. i dont remember where i saw it but a on a size chart swiss are schuetzen where the smallest. schuetzen being the smallest out of the all the powders on the chart, which is why i think it would be a good idea to reduce your powder charge by 5-10 grains depending on what you where shooting before.
 
as im sure you saw in my posts in the traditional ML rifle section, i just bought some 2F and 3F schuetzen and will provide range reports in due time using it in my pietta 1858 and my pedersoli long rifle.

[muznut 54]

Google Maine powder house and they can ship you any kind you want and if you order enough hazmat and shipping is free.

[Fingers McGee]

Scheutzen and Grafs (repackaged Scheutzen) are very clean burning and consistent powders in C&B revilvers and in 44-40 cartridge guns.  That's all I'm using nowdays.  I used to be a diehard Goex user for all my ML guns; but with Scheutzen, it doesn't take as long to clean my guns.

[AtlLaw]

Well, I did a little cal-q-laten and including haz-met fees, 5 lbs. from Graf's comes out to $19.68 a pound and buying 10 lbs. it is $16.34 a pound.   
 
You have to buy 25 lbs from Maine Powder to get free haz-met/shipping.  I don't think I'll live long enough to shoot up 25 lbs and I don't have any charcoal burner friends to share the cost with.   
 
So, as much as I'd like to test that foreign powder, for the can or so a year that I buy I guess I'll just get Goex locally when I need powder.      Maybe I'll stumble across the other stuff sometime.   

[FourBee]

After trying a few top recommended brands.  GOEX is in my opinion the best of propellents.  SWISS is hotter per grain.  GOEX ExPress was made to compete with SWISS, which is s10% hotter than regular GOEX black powder.  Yes SWISS is a cleaner burning powder, just like GOEX ExPress.  KiK, I don't like.  Too many cobwebs in my mind to remember why.  But AtlLaw, you ain't missin' nothin' by sticking with good ole GOEX regular.
 

[AtlLaw]

Thanks 4B!  I came to that same conclusion after thinking about it for a while.  Now I have your test to verify what I decided!   
 
At this point it's kinda like how my search for the perfect BP substitute turned out.  For years I tried every brand of substitute that came around looking for one that would equal BP.     Finally it got so I forgot what I was looking to improve!  Darn sure wasn't accuracy or ease of ignition!     So I went back to BP (goex) and never looked back!   
 
Then I found myself wondering which is the "best of the best" BP so to speak.  The Swiss was 'spose to be more powerfull and burn cleaner because of the wood they use for the charcoal and other such stuff as that.  But!  Goex is easily available around here and Swiss ain't!
 
So, in the final analysis, given that the Swiss may be hotter and cleaner, for me those advantages are outweighed by cost of the powder plus the hazmet fee and availability.   
 
I sure wish Graf's hadn't put that stuff on sale for... what?  $13-$15 a pound though...