2fg or 3fg For 20 ga Smoothbores

[Jerry]

Would like to know if the majority uses 2fg or 3fg powder in their 20 ga  smoothbores. Many Thanks in advance. Jerry

[P.W.Berkuta]

I use 2F in calibers or gauges above .54 and 20 gauge.

[L. Akers]

I use 3fg in everything from .31 cal to 12 ga.

[Brokennock]

I use 3f in everything, including the pan.
Have been playing around with some 2f loads with roundball in one of my 20 gauge smoothies, still happier with my 3f groups.

[Longknife]

I use fff in everything, .32 to 11 bore, that includes a 20 bore a couple of 16 bores, several 12 bores. I just load about 10% less for equivalent velocity of FF,,, I prime with it too....Ed

[Keith Zimmerman]

I use 3F in my 36 40 45.  2F in my 50 54 58 62.

[martin9]

I always try both and have had guns that seemed to prefer 2f.....normally I'm a 3f shooter though.

[Daryl]

Nowadays, I use 3F in the .36. In the .50 and above, including the smoothie, I use 2F as I find it more accurate.
I had both 2f and 3F accuracy loads in the .40 and .45 I had.
I've yet to work up accuracy loads in the .36 using 2F, but that will happen in warmer weather - like Spring, which means April/May here.

[utseabee]

I have had really good luck with 1 1/2 F Swiss in the smoothbores.

[Jerry]

I have had really good luck with 1 1/2 F Swiss in the smoothbores.

Acceptable results were acquired in what smoothbore gauge? Thanks, Jerry

[Austin]

Like in beer and cigarettes, ya gotta smoke what ya got!

[rich pierce]

I think most granulations can be used successfully in most guns. An excellent shooter in our club got nice groups with 1F in a small bore rifle on a lark. I think it was a .36. 

I did find that 1F gave a softer recoil in my .69 smoothbore. Maybe it was giving lower velocity. It’s a 50 yard gun at best for me anyhow with round ball. I wish I had a few more pounds of 1F. It’s in my list.

[Brokennock]

I've seen frequent reports of improved shot patterns with larger granulation such as 1f,,, but that they lacked killing power. I've also noticed more and crustier fouling with 2f than 3f, especially in shot loads.

[Standing Bear]

FFg in everything pistols, flinters, .32-62.  Won many aggs w FFg.  I have some fff to try in my BPCR but first run shows good results with FFg.

[Prairie dog shooter]

2-f  I tried both, I believe the 2-f ignites just a bit faster. 

[T*O*F]

3F is more "sudden" than 2F.  Depending on how your wad stack is, it can blow the center out of your pattern.

[Jerry]

3F is more "sudden" than 2F.  Depending on how your wad stack is, it can blow the center out of your pattern.

Dave, What is your preference for patched round ball? I’m shooting a .595 round ball, with .015 Ox Yoke patching, with 65 grs 3fg. What would you change with my load? Thanks, Jerry

[Nessmuck]

90 grains 2F here….patched .600 ball in my 20 bore…010 patch…can push it in with my thumb.  Powder / nitro card/ parched ball

[Jerry]

Nessmuck, PM sent. Jerry

[T*O*F]

Dave, What is your preference for patched round ball? I’m shooting a .595 round ball, with .015 Ox Yoke patching, with 65 grs 3fg. What would you change with my load? Thanks, Jerry

Jerry,
I never shot round ball in my double 20, but I also have a .62 cal. rifle.  with an Orion barrel.  I used a .610 ball, .017 patch, and 75 gr of either 2f or 3f.  Accuracy was acceptable with both for woodswalks.  Sometimes I just used 1/2 a measure for closer targets.  I shot 2 bare balls in a "cut the post" station.  Another station called for using a .45 ACP case as a powder measure at a hanging target 5 yards away.  I opted to shoot last since I wasn't even sure the ball would clear the bore.  Instead, it broke the, albeit rusty" chain.  It was a very versatile rifle under many different conditions.

[Tony N]

I use 2F on everything over .50

Tony

[Jerry]

I use 2F on everything over .50

Tony

Thanks Tony, Does the 2fg create extra fowling? Thanks, Jerry

[Nessmuck]

Jerry...2F is easier on the shoulder....and some say, more consistent

[Pukka Bundook]

2 F in everything except a percussion pistol.

Slightly lower pressure than 3F, so better patterns for me  in a 20 gauge.
Some best patterns with heavy charges in an original flint double 19 bore, were with 1F and 1  1/ ounces of no 7.

[Daryl]

I use 2F on everything over .50

Tony

Thanks Tony, Does the 2fg create extra fowling? Thanks, Jerry

I have not found that, but others say it does. I've been using 2F in most of my guns, since 1973.
In the .40 and .45, there was no difference in the fouling that I could tell, between 3F and 2F.
In the .69 rifle, way back in the late 80's, I used 3F up until about 90 gr. If I used heavier loads than that with 3F, it burnt the patches, while 2f never did, no matter what the load,
right up to 165gr. I assume that was due to the 3F igniting/burning with a faster pressure rise, perhaps before that large ball obturated. It is still a mystery, to me, but I do not
like 3f in the large bores. I actually get higher velocities with 2F, using identical loads. Tested that just a few years ago, with Taylor (my bro) using his chronograph. The difference
wasn't much, but was there.
That higher vel. with 2F, was in the .69.  This does not happen in smaller bores, as to get the same speed in the .40 and .45, using 2F, I had to increase the charge of 2f by 10gr. over the 3F load.  Then, the poi and velocity was identical. I was also using a slippery lube, LHV, which also has an effect on velocity.