2f vs3f

[jeager58]

I have a 58 cal rice barrel  on an English sporting rifle. I want to develop a hunting load for it. It is 58 cal d-weight barrel at 31"       being a shorter barrel and the burn time being reduced should I be using 3f powder....Phil

[BrownBear]

Shoot em both and let the barrel decide.  I've got several 58's ranging from 24" to 36" including two at 28".  One of the 28" shoots better with 2f and the other with 3f.  Interesting enough, they're the same model.  The 36" doesn't care and the 24" likes 2f a lot, but flat rings your bell with the noise.  I mostly shoot 3f in it and settle for 1" larger groups at 50 yards and a whole lot less ear flapping.

[Daryl]

My .24" Musketoon prefers 2F as well.  It is much more accurate with 2f. That might be due to it's progressive depth rifling, in which 3f is developing peak pressures too quickly, or just to much pressure in general.

My 30" tubes on the double rifle also prefer 2F - both of them.

Phil- if the hutning load is for deer only, at fairly close ranges  - about any load that will stay inside a pie plate at those ranges will suffice.  If for bear and deer, even only large black bears, I'd be using 100gr. minimum.  If my ranges were inside 75 yards, 85 to 90gr. will suffice.  If ranges are likely or could be beyond 75 yards, I like the flatteness of trajectory that increased powder and it's attendent increased accuracy delivers.

[northmn]

I also have a 32 inch 38 and use 2f in it but prefer Swiss.  We are getting enough powders such that powder brand also enters into the equation.  Swiss will burn cleaner and give a little more ooph than GOEX.

DP