Today I tested Goex Old Eynsford 3F and 1 1/2F in my .54 Bridger Hawken, 68 degrees and rest at 50 yards. I used my baseline measure that holds exactly 100 grains of Goex 2F, but it held 106.4 grains of OE 3F (average of 10, spread of 1.5 grains). I used the same patches as with my previous test, .021 linen that crushes to .010. All patches blew. The sun was right overhead and gave chronograph reading problems. The Oehler 35P reads the velocity at 2 feet from start and a second 2 feet. If the readings vary by a certain amount, the reading flashes to say there is a problem. On the sighter target, you see the two readings, where I fired 3 shots. They also show on the tapes, which you can't read. I don't know which one to believe. On my computer, I can hit Control and Plus, and the image enlarges. I did not wipe upon loading, and there was no fouling.
The left target is with 106.4 grains of OE 3F, and I show my measure. With no wiping or cleaning, I fired the second target with 100 grains of OE 3F (weight calibrated measure). All patches blew. I used a wool Over Powder Wad for the last two shots, which are considerably faster. Then I cleaned the bore and shot 100 grains Goex 2F W/M volume of OE 1 1/2F ( 102.6 average of 10, spread of 3.4 grains) at the middle bottom target, after two foulers on the top right target, using a wool OPW, and no wiping or cleaning. All patches good, average of 1815 fps.
The bottom right target was with 100 grains weight-corrected volume measure of OE 1 1/2F and five shots averaged 1794 fps with 46 spread. Thus 12 shots of 1 1/2F OE with no cleaning or wiping. A good clean powder, better than this same charge of Swiss 1 1/2F, which is really dirty with heavy charges. When I cleaned the bore at home with water, the water was clear. There was little fouling in the bore. The 1 1/2F OE is bulky, and if I tapped my measure, the powder would settle about 1/4", but I didn't tap and refill it. It is large-kerneled, and the OE 3F is very fine kerneled.
