Shifty, I do buy and use Olde Eynsford, either 2F or 1 1/2F, not much difference, though I like 1 1/2F better. Goex is good, but OE gives more velocity. Swiss is also very good, but even if it gave superior accuracy, I don't need that. I don't do chunk shooting or shooting for X's, just string cutting at 100 yards.... All the powders have to be cleaned, so powder fouling is of no concern. In my test shooting I seat the ball with a damp patch on the jag, thus wiping the bore as the ball is seated. No other wiping, though sometimes I clean the bore between powders, such as Goex or OE and Swiss. The first shot or two with the clean bore is usually lower in velocity and sometimes not in the group that follows, but that is shown on my targets both in the velocities and ball impact on the target.
OldMtnMan- you mean there is variation in Swiss powder? No, I don't have it. I only use it in comparison testing. These tests were not for accuracy, just to compare powders of equal charge weights to see what velocity they gave. If I wanted to refine a load for accuracy, I'd go on from there. But many of these loads would be great for hunting. In a .54 I have shot 80, 100, 110 and 120 grains of 2F loads for deer, elk and antelope hunting. The velocity allows one to use ballistic programs, such as Hornady's, to calculate bullet drop with various sighting distances at reasonable hunting ranges.
