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Author Topic: Should I use 2F or 3F in my 50 cal. carbine?  (Read 1664 times)

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Offline sman

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Should I use 2F or 3F in my 50 cal. carbine?
« on: November 20, 2008, 03:15:07 AM »
Hi everyone, I have a Traditions Buckskinner Carbine percusion with a 21" barrel with 1:66 twist.  Does anyone know which powder (2f or 3f) will work best in a short barreled slow twist gun.   
   Thanks for any tips, Steve
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Offline flintlock

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Re: Should I use 2F or 3F in my 50 cal. carbine?
« Reply #1 on: November 20, 2008, 03:50:58 AM »
Back in the 70s the rule of thumb was .45 and smaller FFF, .50 and larger FF...

In the past 10 years or so, many have gone to FFF and just reduced their powder charge by 10%...I have a .40 and a .54 flintlock...I use FFF in both as the main charge and as the priming charge, just makes it easier...

I've also noticed that FFF leaves less residue in the barrel than FF...Now, this might be because I've also reduced my main charge to 80grs FFF vs 100gr FF...

In your .50, shooting patched balls, 50 grs of FFF would be a good target load and 75-80grs would work well for deer...
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Offline bluecow

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Re: Should I use 2F or 3F in my 50 cal. carbine?
« Reply #2 on: November 20, 2008, 03:53:00 AM »
i used 3fg in my cva hawkins for years someone told me to switch to 2fg and i did.  can't tell the difference.  If you also use a shotgun i would use the 2fg and if a flintlock 3fg for ease of ignition.  if you use all the above plus you just have to have more than one powder horn and shooting / possibles bags.  I also have primed my flint with 3fg and still do so... but i can see quicker ignition with 4f primer
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Offline Swampman

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Re: Should I use 2F or 3F in my 50 cal. carbine?
« Reply #3 on: November 20, 2008, 04:39:04 AM »
I use 3F in everything.  Cleaner burning, and it takes less.
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Offline Trapper-Jack

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Re: Should I use 2F or 3F in my 50 cal. carbine?
« Reply #4 on: November 20, 2008, 04:55:09 AM »
I've used both 3f and 2f in my rifles.  Like said befor, the 3f will burn cleaner than the 2f but I let the rifle tell me what it likes best.  With my Lyman GPR (which I shoot most) I get better accuracy with the 2f.
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Offline gstewart44

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Re: Should I use 2F or 3F in my 50 cal. carbine?
« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2008, 05:45:00 AM »
I use 70 gr of FFF in my CVA hawken.   It is 50 cal, 1/66 twist, 26" barrel.   The 70 grains is a very accurate load, leaves little residue and is very easy on the shoulder with patched RB.   This load is good for pass thru lung shots out to 50 yds, but doesn't have enough oomph to pass through both shoulders.   

I shot a 6 pt three years ago at 20 yds with this load.  Hit square in the shoulder,  he pulled up his near side leg and ran off using the other three.   Never heard a crash.   Got down and checked for blood.  Not a drop.   Two buddies of mine came over and we looked for about 40 minutes, got real lucky and found the buck piled up in thick brush about 80 yds away.  Very little blood coming out the nostrils.   

The round ball punched thru the near shoulder, splintered some bone, punctured the lungs and came to rest inside the muscle of the far shoulder.    It definitely killed the buck but left no blood trail.   

This load is a lung shot proposition for me now.   I want to see  the blood trail coming from the 50 cal holes.
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Offline sman

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Re: Should I use 2F or 3F in my 50 cal. carbine?
« Reply #6 on: November 20, 2008, 07:31:58 AM »
I didn't know if a faster or slower burning powder would be better for a short slow twist barrel?
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Offline gstewart44

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Re: Should I use 2F or 3F in my 50 cal. carbine?
« Reply #7 on: November 20, 2008, 09:37:14 AM »
In most cases with BP a faster powder is needed to  burn more completely in a shorter barrel.   A slower powder will leave unburned residue in a shorter barrel.
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Offline nw_hunter

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Re: Should I use 2F or 3F in my 50 cal. carbine?
« Reply #8 on: November 24, 2008, 06:06:17 PM »
Quote from: sman on November 20, 2008, 03:15:07 AM
Hi everyone, I have a Traditions Buckskinner Carbine percusion with a 21" barrel with 1:66 twist.  Does anyone know which powder (2f or 3f) will work best in a short barreled slow twist gun.   
   Thanks for any tips, Steve


***************************************************
I never heard of a Buckskin Carbine in 1/66 twist.
I thought they only came in 1/48 twist.

I use 3F in everything I shoot from 50 cal to 62 cal. When you use 3F, use 10% less than you would use in 2F.
You get a quicker burn with the fine powder.
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Offline nw_hunter

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Re: Should I use 2F or 3F in my 50 cal. carbine?
« Reply #9 on: November 24, 2008, 06:18:33 PM »
Quote from: gstewart44 on November 20, 2008, 05:45:00 AM
I use 70 gr of FFF in my CVA hawken.   It is 50 cal, 1/66 twist, 26" barrel.   The 70 grains is a very accurate load, leaves little residue and is very easy on the shoulder with patched RB.   This load is good for pass thru lung shots out to 50 yds, but doesn't have enough oomph to pass through both shoulders.   

I shot a 6 pt three years ago at 20 yds with this load.  Hit square in the shoulder,  he pulled up his near side leg and ran off using the other three.   Never heard a crash.   Got down and checked for blood.  Not a drop.   Two buddies of mine came over and we looked for about 40 minutes, got real lucky and found the buck piled up in thick brush about 80 yds away.  Very little blood coming out the nostrils.   

The round ball punched thru the near shoulder, splintered some bone, punctured the lungs and came to rest inside the muscle of the far shoulder.    It definitely killed the buck but left no blood trail.   

This load is a lung shot proposition for me now.   I want to see  the blood trail coming from the 50 cal holes.



Have you tried stepping that load up to 80 grns 3F? That would equal about 90 of 2F, and I think give you two holes out to 50 yds with NO problem.

I use 60 and 70grns. for target shooting, but work up to around 80 for my deer load, if I don't start to lose accuracy. That 10 grns can make a big difference.   :)
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Offline Swampman

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Re: Should I use 2F or 3F in my 50 cal. carbine?
« Reply #10 on: November 24, 2008, 11:50:58 PM »
3f is hotter than 2f.....
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"Brother, you say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agreed, as you can all read the Book?" Sogoyewapha, "Red Jacket" - Senaca

1st Special Operations Wing 1975-1983
919th Special Operations Wing  1983-1985 1993-1994

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Offline gstewart44

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Re: Should I use 2F or 3F in my 50 cal. carbine?
« Reply #11 on: November 25, 2008, 03:24:23 AM »
NW hunter - I have tried numerous loads in my CVA starting at 60 gr and working up to 90 gr in 5 gr increments.   I settled for 70 gr because it has the best accuracy by a wide margin in my rifle.    I may need to work the other loads again and see if they will hold "minute of deer" rather than punching out the bullseye.   I'll give a report when I finish.
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Offline Snowshoe

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Re: Should I use 2F or 3F in my 50 cal. carbine?
« Reply #12 on: November 27, 2008, 03:48:59 PM »
If you try upping the charge, maybe a felt wad under the patched ball, or just a better patch would help with accuracy. In any case you will get more shooting, and that is never a bad thing.
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