Help me pick the lesser of two evils, powders for a .36 C&B

[sharps54]

OK, after looking through my gear I realized that the only powders I have for the shoot next weekend are Pyrodex RS and Goex 2F. Well I have some 4F as well but I know better then to use it!
Anyhow I was wondering if anyone has used 2F or Pyrodex RS in a .36 C&B (I'm shooting a pair of 1858s and a 1862, all Piettas) and what kind of results they got. The budget is tight so I won't be running out to buy Goex 3F if I can get by with what I have. I was thinking I read that 2F will work OK in a .36 C&B and it is what I will be using for .44-40, my .62 smoothbore double barrel fintlock pistol (shame the barrels are too short to use as a shotgun in SASS!), and my .577-450 so I just bought 2F and no 3F a while back. Now I'm second guessing myself. I had the Pyrdoex RS for my .50 Renegade from a while back (before I saw the light of using Holy Black) but it is an option if it will work better.
Thanks in advance,
Mild Myles

[Lucky Irish Tom]

Myles, drop a PM to Arcey.  He shoots Goex 2F and I know he has some .36 C&B's he shoots occasionally.  You should be fine with it.

[44caliberkid]

   After years of using different granulations for different calibers and purposes, I finally settled on just using Graf Brothers 2F for everything.   I've shot a lot of it in .36 C&B's and could never tell the difference from 3F.

[River City John]

Go for the true black in your 2f granulation. All I shoot is .36 in c&b and it'll do fine.

I stopped using Pyrodex years ago. The guns just seemed harder to clean and needed more immediate attention, and fouled sooner. Seemed to be a lot more 'ash' with Pyrodex.

[sharps54]

Thanks everyone! 2F it is.
Mild Myles

[Pony Racer]

Myles, if for some reason, you want to try 3f let me know - I have about 5 lbs of it.

Next time you want to buy some powder let me know.  Sometimes it is easier to buy a bulk order if there are 2 or more cowboys who want to split it.

Heck there is a guy in winchester that we can make a bulk buy from, and mix whatever granulations we want and I'd be happy to pick it up for delivery - so no shipping and hazmat fees!!:)

I shoot 2f in everything but my 38spl.

I will probably shoot 3f in my 44's - cause I have some much for how much I shoot.  You will find that you use up alot of 2f with shotgunning.

PR

[sharps54]

PR,
Sounds good, I will probably take you up on that "group buy" offer. I have been buying it at Gander Mtn. I will probably save the Pyrodex RS I have (about 1 1/2 lbs) for shotgun and then stick to Holy Black after that is gone. I'll just use the 2F on Saturday, that way I can preload my "speedloaders" and won't have to mess with a powder measure at the match.

[Arcey]

Reckon it ain't nuttin' but 'nother ditto.

I use 2f Goex in everythin'. The '51 or the .36 caliber '58 have never complained. They'll both run a six stage shoot without bindin' or foulin' out with that cruddy lube I blend that Tom loves so much.

Sumthin' ta keep in mind, I shoot nothin' with Black Powder (always capitalize Black Powder) other than main stage CAS. Others, I'm sure, have more experience with the more precise disciplines.

[Dick Dastardly]

FFg Holy Black will do ya fine for CAS shootn'.  If yer tryin' to get the most oomph out of yer C&B pistols you could use FFFg and get a little more velocity and a little less fouling.  I use what I have in the flask and never worry about it.  Probably for me, it's usually FFFg but I'd not worry about it if it were FFg.

Now, that's clear as mud.  FFg will be fine.  Save the sub/replica stuff for yer scattergun.

DD-DLoS

[sharps54]

Thanks all! I will let you know how everything went after the shoot on Saturday!
Mild Myles

[hellgate]

The only problem I can see with FFg is the coarse grains sometimes "bridge" or get hung up in a narrow powder spout and throw a light charge. Be sure to tap or agitate your flask as you make your pours so the powder settles and fills the spout. A 15 or 20 gr spout that throws 15 or 20 grs of FFFg might throw 13-14 grs and 17-19 grs or FFg respectively even when shaken.

[Fox Creek Kid]

...agitate your flask ...

You &%$#^& flask!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There, that oughta agitate it!! 

[River City John]

An old trick is to hold open the gate with the thumb and with your index finger over the spout, 'throw' your hand down to your side to fill the spout, then let close the gate. A bit more consistancy in each charge that way.