General discussion > Black Powder Shooting
Swiss 1-1/2F
Herb:
I used Swiss 1 1/2F in two .58 flintlock rifles. The first was built of Track of the Wolf parts, with a 36" barrel and a flint hooked breech. That breech plug had a 1 inch long by 3/8" diameter powder chamber, with the flash hole at the back end. The Swiss powder bridged at the mouth and the primer flame could not reach it to ignite it. I had (IIRC) 35 flashes in the pan out of 50 hammer falls. The cure was to drill the powder chamber out to 7/16 inch, which Track says can be done. That cured the ignition problems.
The powder is very dense. A measure cut to hold 100 grains by weight of Goex 2F held 118 grains of Swiss 1 1/2F, no tapping to settle.
Here is a comparison of powders, each 100 grains by weight:
.58 Hawken fullstock flintlock, 36 inch barrel:
Number of shots Average velocity Average extreme spread
Goex 2F Olde Eynsford 2F Olde Eynsford 1 1/2F Swiss 2F Swiss 1 1/2F
34 1608/37 30 1687/67 38 1651/58 6 1761/55 18 1487/47
.58 Leman flintlock 24 inch barrel:
8 1313/38 8 1527/45 8 1484/41 4 1598/18 4 1413/34
Swiss 1 1/2F is a good powder, but don't shoot more than 100 grains of it. If you do, the bore fouls so badly that after 3 or 4 shots you won't be able to get a ball down. The Mad Monk elaborated on this in one of his posts here.
Daryl:
--- Quote from: Herb on October 18, 2021, 06:31:28 PM ---Swiss 1 1/2F is a good powder, but don't shoot more than 100 grains of it. If you do, the bore fouls so badly that after 3 or 4 shots you won't be able to get a ball down. The Mad Monk elaborated on this in one of his posts here.
--- End quote ---
Herb - I think that likely depends on the bore size. DPhar uses 140gr. in his 16 bore, without fouling problems.
Greg Pennell:
I shoot 1 1/2f in my 16 bore fowling piece. I’ve had no issues with ignition at all…as a matter of fact I’ve shot several rounds with 1 1/2f in the pan, just to see if it would work. It’s noticeably slower (of course) than priming with either 2f or 3f, but the big round faced Chambers lock fired it right up.
Greg
smylee grouch:
When working up loads for my 62 flinter I shot 40 shots in one session, 110 gr. 1&1/2 Swiss with no fouling. Tight combo, 610 ball, 20/1000 patch with bear oil lube.
Marcruger:
I was just asking Bill Knight about this earlier this week. Herb, your information and timing are excellent, and many thanks.
I was indeed curious how Swiss 1.5f compared to Goex 2f considering powder shortages. I have found Swiss to be faster than Goex for a given f granulation, and therefore wondered if 1.5f Swiss was close to the same velocity as 2f Goex.
I infer from your helpful chart that in a shorter barrel, the 1.5f Swiss is a little faster than 2f Goex. As the barrel lengthens, it appears the 2f Goex is faster.
Of course, there are many, many variables in there, like the particular barrel characteristics and bore size, but this tells me they are not too far apart.
It sounds like folks with a stock of 1.5f Goex should give it a try side-by-side with 2f Goex to see if it hits near point-of-aim, and if the accuracy holds true.
Has anyone else done this comparison from the bench?
Best wishes, and God Bless, Marc
From Herb - "Here is a comparison of powders, each 100 grains by weight:
.58 Hawken fullstock flintlock, 36 inch barrel:
Number of shots Average velocity Average extreme spread
Goex 2F Olde Eynsford 2F Olde Eynsford 1 1/2F Swiss 2F Swiss 1 1/2F
34 1608/37 30 1687/67 38 1651/58 6 1761/55 18 1487/47
.58 Leman flintlock 24 inch barrel:
8 1313/38 8 1527/45 8 1484/41 4 1598/18 4 1413/34
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