Bart Slade Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 Howdy! I'm getting into loading BP (planning to "make the switch" to Frontier Cartridge in November or so)...and I have a question for those of you that are already doing this - I see a lot of advice about using 2F for shotgun shells rather than 3F. I'm wondering - what's the advantage? If the 2F and 3F are the same price per pound, why use the 2F? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheyenne Culpepper 32827 Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 2F will give you a longer flame, burns slower, less recoil too... imho Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 Either will work fine. OLG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Sam, SASS #34718L Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 what CC sez..... and you get more a few more loads per Pound w/ 2F than 3F Lumpys rite too.......... But I prefer 2F Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 When I haven't used BlackMZ, 1 use Grafs Reenactor. https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/23165 It's about the size of cracked corn. But cheapest black powder available to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
July Smith Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 I have used both. 3fg seems to be a little dirtier than 2fg in my 12ga loads, but not enough to make that big of a difference. The convenience of loading 3fg in my percussion revolvers, my 38s, my 44-40s and 12ga outweighs the slightly dirtier shotgun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene, SASS # 27489 Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 I haven't had any in a while, but I like Fg for shotgun only. Works fine for CAS and has a little more flame. Otherwise, yeah it all works. I had a lot more FFFg than FFg for a couple years and so used that in everything and really couldn't tell any difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amarillo Rattler Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 2F for 12 ga, Roll crimp trimmed hulls, 34 gr 2F + 3/4 oz lead for practice, 40 gr 2F + 7/8 oz lead for matches. plastic wads for 12 yds + fiber wads for - 12 yds. Reclaimed lead for all. Never use pre-lubed fiber wads, huge donut holes in pattern. Worked for me for 12 years plus. AA hulls are once fired and toss ‘em. Fiocchi hulls last for multi reloads, crimp first with plastic wads, then trim for fiber wads, and cleaner receivers. Just sayin’ Amarillo Rattler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Meadows,SASS#28485L Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 1F, 2F or 3F. I use what ever I can buy at the best price. J.M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McCandless Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 8 minutes ago, Johnny Meadows,SASS#28485L said: 1F, 2F or 3F. I use what ever I can buy at the best price. J.M. This +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bart Slade Posted September 11, 2019 Author Share Posted September 11, 2019 Appreciate all the advice! I'm loading one-fired shells, as well as experimenting with brass shells. I'll have to experiment with the charge - I've started with 60 gr, but sounds like I should be able to cut that back? With 1 oz 7 1/2 shot (sounds like I can trim that back a bit too). Using fiber wads, and experimenting with lubed and unlubed (sounds like unlubed is the way to go). Looks like that Graf reenactor powder will be worth a try, cheapest I've seen so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Branchwater Jack SASS #88854 Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 I buy it by the case e and load everything with the same powder. 2f Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 8 minutes ago, Bart Slade said: Appreciate all the advice! I'm loading one-fired shells, as well as experimenting with brass shells. I'll have to experiment with the charge - I've started with 60 gr, but sounds like I should be able to cut that back? With 1 oz 7 1/2 shot (sounds like I can trim that back a bit too). Using fiber wads, and experimenting with lubed and unlubed (sounds like unlubed is the way to go). Looks like that Graf reenactor powder will be worth a try, cheapest I've seen so far. Kind of depends on if you are shooting reaction targets or knockdowns. We normally shot reaction targets so any load will work. But we shot a match that had knockdown on one stage. Took all 8 shells I had in my slide to get them down. I use a light charge of BlackMZ but 1-1/8 oz shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bart Slade Posted September 11, 2019 Author Share Posted September 11, 2019 17 minutes ago, Warden Callaway said: Kind of depends on if you are shooting reaction targets or knockdowns. We normally shot reaction targets so any load will work. But we shot a match that had knockdown on one stage. Took all 8 shells I had in my slide to get them down. I use a light charge of BlackMZ but 1-1/8 oz shot. Good stuff to know - the 4 clubs I've shot with so far all have used knock-downs. I'm really looking forward to all the experimenting I'm going to be doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 Grafs Reenactor is rather corse powder. No problem scooping but will likely not feed well through powder measures. I use it for everything including my Confederate Navy 44s. (When I use real black.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Branchwater Jack SASS #88854 Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 As far as shot goes, I agree with @Amarillo Rattler, 7/8 oz is plenty to get it done. The only thing I disagree with him on is the wads. I used to use fiber wad columns, but switched to plastic wads for everything and regret nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Hombre Sin Nombre Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 I use 2fg. One time I loaded up some older 3fg just to use it up and my patterns opened up so much that spotters were telling me the wad only was hitting the target. These were further than normal sass distance as well so distance matters too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 1 hour ago, El Hombre Sin Nombre said: I use 2fg. One time I loaded up some older 3fg just to use it up and my patterns opened up so much that spotters were telling me the wad only was hitting the target. These were further than normal sass distance as well so distance matters too If you even shoot clays with these loads best to pattern them first. I have a stout load using Triple Seven that patterns just like a Gun Club. I use them when shooting black powder trap but shoot lighter loads at stationary targets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-BAR #18287 Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 One of the delights of shooting blackpowder is the freedom to experiment. Try several granulation sizes and brands and determine for yourself what gives you and your guns the most fun! I’m a 2F guy for everything, but make up your own mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamond Curly SASS#57086 Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 I tried FG one time because I heard it made a longerflame. I did not think it was any different to FFG so I went back to FFG in my brass shot shells. Any of the powders work so I agree shoot the cheapest you can find and have fun. DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 Your starting load is (in my opinion) a mite heavy. I like 2f for 12Ga. A touch softer recoil. You will want to find a good plastic wad with integral shot cup. Fiber wads with no shot cup will just blow holes in your pattern. I shoot ALL Brass (Magtech) 12Ga, 40Gr powder, a 10Ga Plastic wad trimmed to a 1 Oz payload. Has taken down every knockdown I've ever shot at. Provided of course, I HIT the knockdown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 Have tried most all powders - cheap and expensive- in various granulations.....MY opinion is: 2f GOEX does it all for cowboy action shooting pistol, rifle, shotgun needs. GG ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riverboat Red, SASS #71733 Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 I use 2F in everything now. .38, .44.40, .45 and 12ga. Last year I ran low on 2F and got some 1F, thought it would be OK for my shotgun, I was wrong. I use a SKB with an inertial reset trigger, the 1F didn't make enough recoil to reset for the 2nd shot. I went back to 2F and it goes bang (actually BOOM) every time. So, the cheapest/most available isn't always the best choice. Kinda depends on your gun. Also, be sure to pattern any load you make up. Years ago I discovered I was blowing a hole in my pattern. I backed off the powder a little and solved the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyesa Horg Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 I use 3F Goex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabez Cowboy,SASS # 50129 Posted September 13, 2019 Share Posted September 13, 2019 I use Goex 3f in full case loads in .44 Spl. , 38-40 , 45 Colt .... And 3.4 CC ( 52.5 Grains ) under 1 oz. of Shot in 16 Ga .... And 4.3 CC ( 66 Grains ) under 1 1/8 oz of Shot in 12 Ga .... And boy do those loads dump the Knock-downs right Smartly .... Jabez Cowboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff Posted September 13, 2019 Share Posted September 13, 2019 I still have a bunch of Goex "Cartridge", and will use it up in my 45 Colts & 12 gauge, then I'll go back to 2F. I use a Claybuster wad that replaces the old Winchester red, short column in AA hulls. Never a problem in 34 years! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trooper Ozzy Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 Started with this formula, then spent the summer messing around "to save lead and powder". HA! What a waste of time. For me the formula on the Lee Load All is green Gun Club hulls. Cheddite 209, Lee Dipper 4.0 cc any granulation BP from Renactor, 2F, 3F, it doesn't matter. Claybuster Shotshell Wads 12 Gauge CB1138-12 (Replaces WAA12R) , 1 oz insert for reclaimed 7 1/2 shot, firm pre crimp, firm crimp. Repeat and don't look back. I will never run out of those cheap Gun Clubs, I'm throwing out a 42 gallon bag full of hulls all colors of the rainbow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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