4F black powder

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  • firemn260

    Active Member
    Sep 15, 2015
    354
    Harford County
    I have been priming my flintlock with 3F since I started shooting them because I have had a tough time finding 4F. I got the lock tuned pretty well and the 3F does ok but when I’m shooting or hunting I have to be very mindful of keeping the powder from not laying up against the flash hole because that seems to slow my lock time a bit. I would like to test some finer powder and see if there is much of a difference.

    If anyone has some they could spare I would appreciate it. I have a lot of black powder supplies to trade if you need anything including a couple thousand #11 caps, 2f,3f, pyrodex, 777, 209, and more. I no longer shoot percussion or modern muzzleloader so I have a abundance of supplies I’m not using.

    If it comes down to it I can grind a little 3F up finer and try that but I’m thinking consistency would be the issue there.
    Thanks
     

    Threeband

    The M1 Does My Talking
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 30, 2006
    25,231
    Carroll County
    I think your answer is to grind your own.

    Years ago, an N-SSA friend told me about another guy who was making FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFg priming powder by processing normal granulations in electric blenders. It produced incredibly fine dust which worked amazingly well for priming.

    Supposedly, he would get old blenders cheap at yard sales and run very long extension cords to the blenders, plugging them in from a safe distance. Explosions were frequent, thus his constant yard sale purchases.

    Could be the guy blew himself up years ago. I always enjoyed the story of human... ingenuity.
     

    firemn260

    Active Member
    Sep 15, 2015
    354
    Harford County
    I think your answer is to grind your own.

    Years ago, an N-SSA friend told me about another guy who was making FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFg priming powder by processing normal granulations in electric blenders. It produced incredibly fine dust which worked amazingly well for priming.

    Supposedly, he would get old blenders cheap at yard sales and run very long extension cords to the blenders, plugging them in from a safe distance. Explosions were frequent, thus his constant yard sale purchases.

    Could be the guy blew himself up years ago. I always enjoyed the story of human... ingenuity.

    Geez I was thinking maybe 50 grains at a time in one of those stone grinding bowls. I’d be pretty upset to see a pound or two go up in a blender pipe bomb these day with the shortages and all lol
     

    Boats

    Beer, Bikes n Boomsticks
    Mar 13, 2012
    4,073
    Howeird County
    An adjustable slow RPM coffee burr grinder may be the answer here to reduce the amount of heat generated when grinding 3f to a smaller grain size.

    Maybe some type of nitrogen purge chamber.
     

    Threeband

    The M1 Does My Talking
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 30, 2006
    25,231
    Carroll County
    An adjustable slow RPM coffee burr grinder may be the answer here to reduce the amount of heat generated when grinding 3f to a smaller grain size.

    Maybe some type of nitrogen purge chamber.

    Electric motors produce sparks.


    I think 50 grains in a ceramic mortar and pestle would be the way to go.


    Though I shall always admire the guy with the blenders.


    Amazon product ASIN B08GKD19WX
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,721
    Socialist State of Maryland
    I have been priming my flintlock with 3F since I started shooting them because I have had a tough time finding 4F. I got the lock tuned pretty well and the 3F does ok but when I’m shooting or hunting I have to be very mindful of keeping the powder from not laying up against the flash hole because that seems to slow my lock time a bit. I would like to test some finer powder and see if there is much of a difference.

    If anyone has some they could spare I would appreciate it. I have a lot of black powder supplies to trade if you need anything including a couple thousand #11 caps, 2f,3f, pyrodex, 777, 209, and more. I no longer shoot percussion or modern muzzleloader so I have a abundance of supplies I’m not using.

    If it comes down to it I can grind a little 3F up finer and try that but I’m thinking consistency would be the issue there.
    Thanks
    Here is what I have been using since the '60's to make priming powder from 2 or 3 f. It will set you back less than $10.

    It is entirely safe to do as long as you don't pound the powder. If you want to prove it to yourself, just pour about a pea sized amount and grind the hell out of it and you will see that you can't set it off by normal hand grinding.

    One caution, make sure your mortar and pestal is clean before grinding. If you were to have some sand in it, you could possibly set off the BP.
     

    The Saint

    Black Powder Nerd/Resident Junk Collector
    BANNED!!!
    Dec 10, 2021
    611
    Baltimore County
    I have been priming my flintlock with 3F since I started shooting them because I have had a tough time finding 4F. I got the lock tuned pretty well and the 3F does ok but when I’m shooting or hunting I have to be very mindful of keeping the powder from not laying up against the flash hole because that seems to slow my lock time a bit. I would like to test some finer powder and see if there is much of a difference.

    If anyone has some they could spare I would appreciate it. I have a lot of black powder supplies to trade if you need anything including a couple thousand #11 caps, 2f,3f, pyrodex, 777, 209, and more. I no longer shoot percussion or modern muzzleloader so I have a abundance of supplies I’m not using.

    If it comes down to it I can grind a little 3F up finer and try that but I’m thinking consistency would be the issue there.
    Thanks

    I have a pound of Goex 4F I'd be happy to trade/sell. I'll send you a message.
     

    303_enfield

    Ultimate Member
    May 30, 2007
    4,647
    DelMarVa

    The Saint

    Black Powder Nerd/Resident Junk Collector
    BANNED!!!
    Dec 10, 2021
    611
    Baltimore County
    Just buy it.

    That's fine if you need 10+ pounds....but a single pound of 4F damn near lasts a lifetime...and after hazmat is plain not worth buying less than 10lbs. I got him sorted...as I bought in bulk years ago and have far too much still.
     

    pre64hunter

    Active Member
    Mar 19, 2010
    642
    Harford County
    I have been priming my flintlock with 3F since I started shooting them because I have had a tough time finding 4F. I got the lock tuned pretty well and the 3F does ok but when I’m shooting or hunting I have to be very mindful of keeping the powder from not laying up against the flash hole because that seems to slow my lock time a bit. I would like to test some finer powder and see if there is much of a difference.

    If anyone has some they could spare I would appreciate it. I have a lot of black powder supplies to trade if you need anything including a couple thousand #11 caps, 2f,3f, pyrodex, 777, 209, and more. I no longer shoot percussion or modern muzzleloader so I have a abundance of supplies I’m not using.

    If it comes down to it I can grind a little 3F up finer and try that but I’m thinking consistency would be the issue there.
    Thanks
    I have been priming my flintlock with 3F since I started shooting them because I have had a tough time finding 4F. I got the lock tuned pretty well and the 3F does ok but when I’m shooting or hunting I have to be very mindful of keeping the powder from not laying up against the flash hole because that seems to slow my lock time a bit. I would like to test some finer powder and see if there is much of a difference.

    If anyone has some they could spare I would appreciate it. I have a lot of black powder supplies to trade if you need anything including a couple thousand #11 caps, 2f,3f, pyrodex, 777, 209, and more. I no longer shoot percussion or modern muzzleloader so I have a abundance of supplies I’m not using.

    If it comes down to it I can grind a little 3F up finer and try that but I’m thinking consistency would be the issue there.
    Thanks
    I'm in Harford county, I have nearly a full pound 4F. PM sent.
     
    Last edited:

    Blacksmith101

    Grumpy Old Man
    Jun 22, 2012
    22,154
    Swiss Null-B granulation is better than 4F for priming flint locks:

    Scientific testing of various priming powders:
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,721
    Socialist State of Maryland
    Swiss Null-B granulation is better than 4F for priming flint locks:

    Scientific testing of various priming powders:
    Null-B is faster but also harder to find locally. Fort Chambers has it from time to time as does the Back Creek Gun Shop.
     

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