Testing Different granulation ( 2F - 3F - 4F ) of Powder in Flintlocks...

[BlackPowderManiacShooter]

Testing out Swiss and Schuetzen various powder granulations in the Lymans Great Plains Rifle.
Various powders are switched and tested in the barrel and in the pan.

[Rob DiStefano]

They all good one way or t'other!

For the commercial powders I only use Swiss 1-1/2F in both the pan and tube for my smoothbores of .615, .662, and .750, and also when I had some .540 rifles as well.  This makes for loading out of one horn and I get really fast ignition.  Another factor is that larger powder kernels attract less moisture on those hot summer days.  I settled on Swiss 1-1/2F as it's also my powder of choice for the .45-70, so one powder does it all extremely well.

For the cap 'n' ball 1858 .44 pistols it's Swiss 3F all the way, hard to beat.

[BlackPowderManiacShooter]

I totally agree about the moisture.

Several years ago while shooting at the New Years Day Event in Indiana,
it rained all day. Shooters were using 2F & 3F to keep the flintlocks working.
It was fun laughing at each other trying to keep the guns working.
The cap locks weren't working any better either.

Those are the days one doesn't forget...LOL.

[Rob DiStefano]

For all trad muzzleloaders, no matter what the ignition system, humidity and rain are nasty Rascals!    

[No Powder]

Having a hard time finding a HA umbrella. Guess the ole cows knee is gonna have to do.

[Rob DiStefano]

Cow's knee might help with rain but is useless with humidity.