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2Fg or not 2Fg (Read 339 times)

1Hawkeye Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 292 Location: South end of Northern Virginia Joined: Jun 29^th, 2019	2Fg or not 2Fg Sep 7^th, 2026 at 1:34pm	Print Post
	What would be the better powder for .40-65, .45-70,& .50-70? I've tried 1Fg in the .50-70 and 2Fg in the .40-65 but I'm wondering if one is better than the other for the 3 calibers that I'm thinking about going to the dark side to load. I've got great smokeless loads for the .40-65 and .45-70 but I'm struggling to find one for the .50-70.


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jimmy Oldtimer Offline Now available in Oklahoma. Posts: 511 Location: Skiatook Joined: May 12^th, 2009	Re: 2Fg or not 2Fg Reply #1 - Sep 7^th, 2026 at 3:59pm	Print Post
	2F for the 50 but try 3F. See which one shoots better. 3F for the others but try 2F also. Usually 50 and bigger is 2 and smaller is 3. That's the old saying.


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George Babits Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1158 Joined: Sep 27^th, 2012	Re: 2Fg or not 2Fg Reply #2 - Sep 7^th, 2026 at 5:11pm	Print Post
	Any of the black powder granulations will work fine, especially in the 50-70. A lot depends on the rifle and bullet you want to use. then factor in what your want to use the rifle for and your tolerance for recoil. I've been using 60 grains of Fg in an original Sharps 50-70 carbine and can usually see 1.5 inch groups at 75 yards from the sitting position with the original sights. In my 1870 Navy rolling block 50-70 I've found 67 grains of FFg and the 450 grain government bullet to work very well. I use that same rolling block load in my Farmingdale 50-70 infantry rifle. In the 45-70 I use mostly FFFg or FFg depending on the rifle and bullet. You won't find a magic combination without doing a lot of experimenting yourself. George


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fjrdoc Junior Member Offline Posts: 50 Joined: Dec 14^th, 2019	Re: 2Fg or not 2Fg Reply #3 - Sep 7^th, 2026 at 6:20pm	Print Post
	My Miroku Winchester 1885 seems to prefer 3F powder.


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1Hawkeye Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 292 Location: South end of Northern Virginia Joined: Jun 29^th, 2019	Re: 2Fg or not 2Fg Reply #4 - Sep 7^th, 2026 at 11:02pm	Print Post
	I've tried 3Fg and none of them did well with it especially my shoulder and I'm not recoil sensitive.


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jimmy Oldtimer Offline Now available in Oklahoma. Posts: 511 Location: Skiatook Joined: May 12^th, 2009	Re: 2Fg or not 2Fg Reply #5 - Sep 7^th, 2026 at 11:23pm	Print Post
	Forgot about the recoil. My black powder shooting is with round ball in a muzzleloader. So less recoil. 1F is a slower push. I've wondered if a lot of compression changes the different grain size characteristics.


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silver Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 255 Location: Central wi, Joined: Sep 20^th, 2016	Re: 2Fg or not 2Fg Reply #6 - Sep 8^th, 2026 at 8:21am	Print Post
	I use 1.5f in my 40-65 and 45-70 with good results. Can’t say about 50-70 I don’t own one.


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1Hawkeye Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 292 Location: South end of Northern Virginia Joined: Jun 29^th, 2019	Re: 2Fg or not 2Fg Reply #7 - Sep 8^th, 2026 at 8:40am	Print Post
	A round ball has way different characteristics than a 450gr slug especially with recoil.


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Ranch13 Oldtimer Offline Posts: 649 Location: East Central Wy. Joined: Jan 20^th, 2018	Re: 2Fg or not 2Fg Reply #8 - Sep 8^th, 2026 at 9:38am	Print Post
	If you're just looking to have one powder on hand 2f isn't a bad choice, 1 1/2 may be just as good or better in some cartridges. 3f will work in many cartridges, but keeping in mind that it burns hotter, and will cause hard dry fouling so a lot more effort involved in fouling control


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cadyk Participating Member Offline Posts: 18 Joined: Apr 13^th, 2026	Re: 2Fg or not 2Fg Reply #9 - Sep 8^th, 2026 at 9:59am	Print Post
	I use both 1.5F and 2F Swiss in my .40-65. My .40-70 does well with 3f GOEX Express, but my supply is getting low. cadyk


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Old Soldier Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 378 Location: North Pole, Alaska Joined: Oct 17^th, 2015	Re: 2Fg or not 2Fg Reply #10 - Sep 8^th, 2026 at 8:44pm	Print Post
	jimmy wrote on Sep 7^th, 2026 at 11:23pm: Forgot about the recoil. My black powder shooting is with round ball in a muzzleloader. So less recoil. 1F is a slower push. I've wondered if a lot of compression changes the different grain size characteristics. I use Swiss 3F in 45-70-535 Yes it kicks. Just grit your teeth and close your eyes. Compression makes a big difference.

	"White man have very strong Medicine. Shoot today maybeso kill you tomorrow." Esa-Tai Commanche warrior
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jimmy Oldtimer Offline Now available in Oklahoma. Posts: 511 Location: Skiatook Joined: May 12^th, 2009	Re: 2Fg or not 2Fg Reply #11 - Sep 8^th, 2026 at 9:16pm	Print Post
	Old Soldier wrote on Sep 8^th, 2026 at 8:44pm: jimmy wrote on Sep 7^th, 2026 at 11:23pm: Forgot about the recoil. My black powder shooting is with round ball in a muzzleloader. So less recoil. 1F is a slower push. I've wondered if a lot of compression changes the different grain size characteristics. I use Swiss 3F in 45-70-535 Yes it kicks. Just grit your teeth and close your eyes. Compression makes a big difference. Sometimes what works, works. 🤣 Should keep your eyes open though and enjoy the experience. 🤣


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RJ-35-40 Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 369 Location: Saint Augustine Joined: Dec 7^th, 2016	Re: 2Fg or not 2Fg Reply #12 - Sep 8^th, 2026 at 10:29pm	Print Post
	Stocked up on Swiss 2 F many years ago. Because I'm traveling I don't have the powder handy IIRC my Swiss 2F is the original European grading designation which I think is in todays Anglo-American Scale (U.S. Classification) 1 1/2F. I make mention of the difference in case others are not aware of the change in nomenclature. European Grades 1-5 Anglo American 1F, 2F, 3F, 4F The differences are probably small but different non the less Ranch13 wrote on Sep 8^th, 2026 at 9:38am: If you're just looking to have one powder on hand 2f isn't a bad choice, 1 1/2 may be just as good or better in some cartridges. 3f will work in many cartridges, but keeping in mind that it burns hotter, and will cause hard dry fouling so a lot more effort involved in fouling control


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George Babits Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1158 Joined: Sep 27^th, 2012	Re: 2Fg or not 2Fg Reply #13 - yesterday at 4:16pm	Print Post
	if I remember right, the European numbers are backwards from ours. That is, Swiss #4 is what we call 1 1/2 Fg. George


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