1f in a .50?

[Woodsrunner79]

Like the title says. Is 1f a feasible powder to be used in a .50 cal? My local LGS has 10lbs of schutzen 1f on the shelf. Wondering if it's worth my time.

Woodsrunner

[Mike Brooks]

Nope. But that wouldn't stop me from buying the powder if it was cheap

[alacran]

If the price is right buy it. You can always use it to trade. Of course, I would still try it in the .50.

[Marcruger]

The ancient ones determined the accuracy load for a .50 was 2f, and some find happiness with 3f.  Being relatively faster, 1.5 Swiss seems to behave very similar to 2f Goex.  1f?  Sounds like a musket or big bore powder.  If it is inexpensive, grab it.  As was mentioned, trade later. Reenactors would like it if nothing else.  I predict it will be dirty in a .50. God bless, Marc

[Eric Krewson]

A few years ago, I over bought 1F thinking I was going to go strictly smoothbore, that fad faded quickly. I had 8# of 1F and found you just about can't give it away. I offered it at $15 a pound several times and had no takers, even offered it at 2# of 1F for 1# of 3F and had no one wanted to trade.

I tried it in my .54, not the best but I could get minute of deer accuracy at 50 yards but I just loaded the gun and shot with no load workup.

This past January Iwas able to move my excess 1F at the Alabama Kentucky rifle show for $15 a pound when powder everywhere else was in short supply and was going for close to $30 a pound if you could find it.

Just a cautionary tale about buying lots of 1F, if you know a lot of smoothbore shooters go for it, if not you may have what you buy for a very long time.

[jgraham1]

Buy it, try it and if it works, keep it to shoot.  If not, then do some trading.  You can't go wrong.

Jerry

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

It won't be cheaper next year, if it's still on the shelf.
During the 70's, I was stationed on Haida Guaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), and bought my first muzzleloading rifle, a T/C "Hawken" in .50 cal.  Powder was very difficult to find, but I acquired some Fg Meteor cannon powder in Prince Rupert on the mainland during a prisoner escort.  I used that cannon powder for main charge and pan powder for several years until I was able to find some finer powder, and I shot dozens of deer with that rifle and that powder.  I used 70 gr. and a tightly patched .495" pure lead ball.  Most of my shots were less than 50 yards...all DRT!

[wattlebuster]

You wont know for sure how it will do in a 50 unless you try. You might accidently like it. I dont figure it would be the best but it would beat nothing at all. If it dont do a decent job then trade it.

[Woodsrunner79]

Thanks for the input guys! I did buy 1# cause it was just too good of a deal to pass on. That and I haven't seen true BP here "in the wild" in almost 4 years. Nobody carried it locally for a long time. I'll try it and tell y'all how it fares.

Woodsrunner

[Daryl]

Better go back and grab it. I would.

[DGB]

I could not resist another small bore experiment after reading this post about 1f powder.
I just got back from the range.
Specs:
.36 cal. Douglas barrel,
.350 balls,
Heavy denim patch,
Range 50 yards, shot off bench,
Ten shots, all in two inch black square target,( this is the small black square target sold by the NMLRA.)
Should do just fine a fifty cal.
Regards,
DGB

[Marcruger]

DGB,  I hear you. That said, all rifles are different.  Yours was a sample of one.  People like to root for the under dog, or prove a rule wrong. The old hands 200 years ago came up with rules of thumb for blackpowder for a reason. Lots of experience proved certain things to be true.

I think it does new shooters a disservice to say a small bore will shoot great with 1f.  Yours did.  MOST smaller bores will shoot better with 3f. 

Would you advise the new owner of a turbo Ferrari to use regular gas?  Sure it will run, but we know in most all cases premium will run better.

I just try to think of inexperienced folks when I post.

Way too much wives-tales shared around in muzzleloading to begin with.

God bless, Marc

[DGB]

Marc,

I am not trying to do a dis-service to new shooters.
The OP's question was is it feasible?
I say probably is feasible.
I enjoy muzzle loading because of the ease of experimenting and learning what works for me.
Trying different ideas is never a bad thing.
DGB

[Woodsrunner79]

Marc - I hear what you're saying. I wouldn't want anyone to take what I'm doing as par for the course. Just trying to do the best I can with what I've currently got access to. I'm must admit that I am bolstered by the success of others in this endeavor. But never fear, as soon as I can get my paws on 2f or 3f I'll shoot that.

Woodsrunner

[MuskratMike]

I heard today Buffalo arms has Swiss in stock. 5 Lb. minimum. In stock is 2F not sure about the other grades.

[Woodsrunner79]

MM - Many Thanks!