[scrat]

In my quest to find the most information i can before my new toy comes in. I found a great site. By the maker of the gun i purchased. Take a look at the videos shown. Maybe this should be added to the top as a stickie.

Intro to black powder Hunting
http://www.otsecure.net/bpimedia/bp101/bp101_intro.html

Types of muzzleloaders
http://www.otsecure.net/bpimedia/bp101/bp101_types.html

Muzzle loader calibers
http://www.otsecure.net/bpimedia/bp101/bp101_caliber.html

Ignition systems
http://www.otsecure.net/bpimedia/bp101/bp101_ignition.html

accessories
http://www.otsecure.net/bpimedia/bp101/bp101_access.html

Muzzleloader Safety
http://www.otsecure.net/bpimedia/bp101/bp101_safety.html

Loading and shooting a muzzleloader
http://www.otsecure.net/bpimedia/bp101/bp101_load.html

Cleaning your muzzleloader
http://www.otsecure.net/bpimedia/bp101/bp101_clean.html

And for those of you like me who did not know what the F means in powder.

What are the different blackpowder granulations and which one should I use?
Answer: When using authentic blackpowder it is very important to use the correct granulation for your particular gun. Using the wrong granulation can be extremely dangerous and lead to severe injury or death. There are four types of blackpowder available:

FG (1F) - Is used in large gauge shotguns and cannons.
FFG (2F) - Is used in most muzzleloading shotguns, large bore rifles, and pistols .45 caliber and larger.
FFFG (3F) - Is used in rifles and pistols .44 caliber and below and all revolvers.
FFFFG (4F) - Is used only for priming flintlocks.

[Eric F]

Great post!

[bfhcards]

Thanks about to buy my first ML and hunt with it next year. Never fired one before this will be a big help

[4v50 Gary]

Thanks. Added to Black Powder Essentials.

[mykeal]

Yes, excellent post, will be most helpful to many people. But,
When using authentic blackpowder it is very important to use the correct granulation for your particular gun. Using the wrong granulation can be extremely dangerous and lead to severe injury or death.

So, using 2f in my .36 cal 1851 Navy or 3f in my .50 cal GPR is "extremely dangerous and (can) lead to severe injury or death"?

Do we really need to go through this again?

[scrat]

would you use 4f in your .36 cal what about 1f. If the answer is no then this is a good rule of thumb to use especially for a new person to black powder. With all that said as the years go by and you begin to experiment with different powders, grades, grains, volumns. This is called personal experience. Your personal experience may be different from the rule. However again as a rule of thumb especially for a new muzzleloader (go by the rule of thumb)

[mykeal]

I don't have any problem with "rule of thumb". I simply think that the hyperbole (extremely dangerous and lead to severe injury or death) applied across the board like it was is inappropriate at best. It's best if we tell the truth from the beginning.

A new bp shooter sees some old salt using 3f as both primer and main charge in his flint long rifle and thinks, "Gee, that's really dangerous." He asks about it and finds that's not the case at all; many people do it regularly with certain guns. So now he thinks that bp people exaggerate warnings and gets careless about seating the ball, or loading directly from the flask without putting out embers, or seating the caps on his revolver.

Let's not send that message. How about if we just try to tell it like it really is, especially in a tutorial for newbies.

[Pancho]

Good post Scrat and wouldn't we like to see a similar video done by someone without a sponser.

[Mac Attack]

Very informative videos.

[moooose102]

as a second time around new beginner, i applaud you! so much has changed since the last time i owned a bp rifle! thank you very much. makes me wonder what i ever did with the fffg i used to have though???

[Macmac]

no can do 56 k here..

[Mac Attack]

There is a video missing from the original post but from the same people. The video is called "Types of Propellants". This video fits between the muzzleloader calibers and ignition systems videos.

Here is the link
Types of Propellants (http://www.cva.com/media/bp101/bp101_propellants.html)

[gotgcoalman]

nice post very helpful. TY

[jrash]

Link to the missing video "Propellants" http://www.otsecure.net/bpimedia/bp101/bp101_propellants.html

[JBB]

Great post, Scrat. Been thinking about a muzzle loading rifle for a while. Good info.

[Smokin_Gun]

Scrat, have you got or can you get one of the older or maybe new Lyman Loading Books for Black Powder? They list several loads for ffffg .36 cal....Rule a thumb for BP Revolvers is you can not over load one as long as you use Only Black Powder.
Jus' passin' on what i know Pard to Pard.
Your post is excellant and the precaution you mentioned din't hurt nothin' a bit.

SG