flashpan powder

[dwhite113]

I am going to hunt with a flintlock but cannot find flashpan powder around and would like to know if I can crush fffg and make a fine powder to use?

[roundball]

dwhite113 said:

I am going to hunt with a flintlock but cannot find flashpan powder around and would like to know if I can crush fffg and make a fine powder to use?

Yes, one way is to use a 35mm film canister...fill it half full of 3F, put in a lead ball, snap the lid on, and while holding the lid on tight, shake it back and forth for 15 seconds...then check/look at it...should be pretty well pulverized...shake more as desired.


Also, if your 3F is some good Goex or Swiss, you can use that in the pan like it is and it'll work very well.

[mamaflinter]

Dwhite I've found that you don't need to crush the 3fg when using it as priming powder. I do this when shooting. I use 3fg as a main charge and a little as the priming charge (I normally use Swiss) and have found that it actually works just as well as using 4fg without the hassle of having to buy two grades of powder.

[Stumpkiller]

I use 3F for main and prime in my .54 to simplify my life ~ one horn for everything. I used to use 2F for all in my Bess, but she had a pan the size of a postage stamp and used 1-1/8" wide flints.

Tucked in my horn strap is a little corked metal tube to hold the priming that I refill from the horn as needed. It looks remarkably like an expended .30 cal centerfire rifle cartridge, but that must be just coincedence. ;-) I carry a spare inside the bag in case of loss. Not even worth backtracking if dropped, as the raw materials are free (broken cedar arrow shafting for the plug and Berdan primed, unreloadable, brass).

Just be sure to drop back 10 or 15% if swapping 3F for 2F as the main charge.