BP questions

[longinosoap]

Been shooting subs now for three years. Last week was in a mom and pop store and bought a pound of Goex 3F. Right now I load 1.9cc Pinnacle and .3 cc grits in 44-40 and cover with 200 gr bullet. 1.9 cc pours 30-32 gr by weight. Reading past threads I am sure this will continue good results with Goex.

My question is really for 12 gauge. Currently I dump 2.8 cc of Pinnacle, WAA wad under 1 oz of shot. Been a good dependable load for me that's easy on the shoulder. I measured 2.8 cc of Goex and got 41-43 grains by weight. Is this enough for the Goex? One thread it was mentioned that anything over 40 grains weight is wasted. But others say they use the largest which is 4.3 cc works well for them. That pours 64-66 gr of Goex on my scale. Your thoughts and know how is appreciated.

[Jefro]

Howdy longinosoap, That should all work out just fine, and yer gonna like real BP better for the smoke, flames and softer recoil....IMHO I would not go any lower than 2.8cc for the shotshell.

    Check out post #23 of this thread for some of my favorite 12ga loads....Good Luck
http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,54436.0.html

Jefro Relax-Enjoy

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Equal volumes of powder and shot is the practical maximum in the shotgun WITH FFG granulation. In fact it leaves a muzzle flame visible in bright sunlight! 3Fg burns at much higher pressures, but is still likely safe in a modern gun proofed for 3 inch ammo.

as Jefro says, that 2.8cc load of 3Fg would be a great load and I use loads that are almost identical with very good results. Yes, 7/8 oz. of shot does the job with the same amount of powder. I hardly use anything over 1 oz. anymore.

[longinosoap]

Thanks all. Jefro, I just went back to the Claybuster 1100-12 pink wad. Finishing up the last of the CB 1118 white wads. Thought I would go to 1 1/8 oz but found it just wasted shot. And thanks for the post. I searched back 8 pages and read lots of good info, learning a lot. Figured it would be faster to just post a new question to get my answers and sure enough, wasn't disappointed.

I have been wanting to try the real mccoy for a while now. This small gun shop hasn't been open too long and it is on the highway out in the country on the way to see my kids (and new grandbaby), so thought I would check it out. His sign said he had Titegroup so I stopped in. No Titegroup but about 30 pounds of Goex 3f. And shotgun primers. So it was a good stop.

Think I will try 2.8 cc Goex, 1100 wad with 1 oz shot for starters, see how it goes. May have to go up to 3.1 cc but will wait to test.

Thanks again, pards.

[Noz]

50 grains by weight of FFg is a good load for 12 ga with a red wad equivalent and 1 oz of shot. FFFg can be substituted with no fear whatso ever.

Some one has decided that the difference in pressure between FFg and FFFg is so high that the FFFg load are dangerous.
Not so!
Don't over think black powder shooting. Put whatever appeals to you in a case or cylinder, place a ball or bullet on top of it and have fun. If it kicks too much lower the charge, if it is not noisy enough, add more powder.  Relax and have fun with it.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I have chrono'd loads in a .54 flintlock and in .44-40 cartridges. If loads were equal the mv was 25% greater with FFFg.  If mv's are equal, 25% more FFg is required than FFFg.  There must be greater pressure, but I can't say how much.

The thrust of my post was that while the loads discussed might be safe in a modern gun, excessive loads are not really any more effective.

The loads Noz suggests are effective and all one needs for CAS.

[Dick Dastardly]

A general rule, and the General has been known to lie, is that bores smaller than 45 Cal call for FFFg and bores over 45 Cal need FFg.  So, ok, then what about 45 Cal.  Seems it can use either one. .

For scatterguns I like coarser powder because with all that volume of bore to fill the coarser powder seems to give very uniform ballistics.  Having said all that, FFFg will take down SASS KDs just fine.  FFFg starts out a mite more abruptly and could be considered to have greater recoil but it's really a sharper rap, not more push.

Noz hit it dead nuts on.  Load some up and have at it.  You won't blow up a modern gun and your grin will tell others how much fun you're having.

DD-MDA

[pony express]

Did you ever use cannon grade for anything(other than cannons, that is) Local gunshop's got a bunch of it.

[Lefty Dude]

I use 3.1CC for 3F goex in my 12 ga. All brass shell loads, with 1 oz. of shot.
Works for me. By weight my 3.1CC dipper is 48-50 gr's. by weight with 3F Goex.

BTW; I would go no lower than 2.8 CC.
For a test, check your loads on your Clubs KD targets. If they go down smartly, then that is all that is needed.

I think 2.8 might be light for KD's.

[longinosoap]

I loaded up 25 hulls with 2.8 cc of 3f under a CB 1100 wad with 1 oz of shot. Was going to try it out for the first time tomorrow but it's 31 and freezing rain right now in the Texas hill country, the most bee-you-ti-ful place on earth, IMHO. So, will wait another week to see if the knockdowns get knocked around or if them sly devils become belligerent on me.