This has probably been hashed over a lot but maybe the specifics of this question gives it enough of a twist to make it a viable topic.
I picked up BP while it was recently available at Graff's. In that group I picked up 1 lb of 4f for the priming of the single flintlock I own. A turn off trade pistol that predates 1816 when they stopped importing them from England.
I do reload 22 short in black powder for a H&A revolver made for black powder and wonder if the finer powder would be more appropriate in the 22 short case. What I have read in my search is that some do use 4f in 22 caliber. I expect the 4f would be more energetic and that is a drawback for this little revolver. It never has to go fast. But i wonder if it would be a little more consistent than the 3f I have.
I have a Remington pocket in 31 caliber, have my eyes on an 1862 Colt in 36 caliber and either a 31 or 36 Kentucky long rifle hopefully in the future. Are there any applications for 4f in any of these?
I also have both 32 and 38 S&W top break revolvers that were made for black powder that I want to load for. None of the above needs to be a high pressure/high speed.
I did a basic search here on THR and the use of 4f as a main charge seems to be done despite the basic '4f is for priming only' rule. In my mind using 4f in the smaller calibers follows the basic premise of larger calibers use courser powder. Cannon 1f, muskets/big bore rifles 2f, pistols 3f. I dont want or need higher pressure/speed.
EDIT - changed the end date to the correct 1816 for the Turn Off Flint Lock pistol. Duh....
I picked up BP while it was recently available at Graff's. In that group I picked up 1 lb of 4f for the priming of the single flintlock I own. A turn off trade pistol that predates 1816 when they stopped importing them from England.
I do reload 22 short in black powder for a H&A revolver made for black powder and wonder if the finer powder would be more appropriate in the 22 short case. What I have read in my search is that some do use 4f in 22 caliber. I expect the 4f would be more energetic and that is a drawback for this little revolver. It never has to go fast. But i wonder if it would be a little more consistent than the 3f I have.
I have a Remington pocket in 31 caliber, have my eyes on an 1862 Colt in 36 caliber and either a 31 or 36 Kentucky long rifle hopefully in the future. Are there any applications for 4f in any of these?
I also have both 32 and 38 S&W top break revolvers that were made for black powder that I want to load for. None of the above needs to be a high pressure/high speed.
I did a basic search here on THR and the use of 4f as a main charge seems to be done despite the basic '4f is for priming only' rule. In my mind using 4f in the smaller calibers follows the basic premise of larger calibers use courser powder. Cannon 1f, muskets/big bore rifles 2f, pistols 3f. I dont want or need higher pressure/speed.
EDIT - changed the end date to the correct 1816 for the Turn Off Flint Lock pistol. Duh....
You know, for so many years, 4fg was like "taboo" or bad ju-ju to use for anything but priming. It would blow your face off, it was often stated. But any evidence of that never surfaced, as far as I know. And, over the years I've "discovered" more people who use 4fg, but don't really admit it often. I've kind of come to believe that 4fg is what was known as, or referred to as "fine pistol powder", and I think it works great, in a pistol. I'm getting good accuracy, and super-clean burning, so I'm pretty much switching to 4fg for my revolvers. My .50" Plains Pistol I'll stick with 3fg.
Last edited: