Im having trouble finding any FFFFg in my area any help would be appreciated Lehigh Valley PA
Thanks Swackhamer

What about Cabela's in eastern pa.?

I called this morning and was told they dont carry FFFF.
Bumer as I can always use an excuse to get there <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I just take some 3F and grind it up in a mortar-and-pestal. Any NON-SPARKING surface will do. Do about 20gr. at a time, away from the main supply. That way if for some dumb reason it does ignite, all that'll happen is you'll singe a few hairs on the back of your hand!

I usually just use 3F to prime the pan when out in the field. Doesn't seem to matter much.

I use 3F for priming and have for years. It works fine and reduces fumbling.

Order it online and buy several jugs of your normal powder to off-set the HAZMAT fee. Powderinc.com & Grafs.com are the first places I powder-shop on the net.

thanks guys ill be placing an order with Powder inc

Ok, but you don't need 4F.

They're right you can prime with 3F. Having said that I"ve always used 4F in all my flinters...old habits are hard to break. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I watched an old gentleman shooting his flint fowling piece, using 3f for both the load and the prime. Seemed the ignition was pretty much instantaneous. It was easily as fast as my Lyman GPR percussion rifle. The flash channel is more important than the granulation of the priming load.

Dan

I find that 3F works better in the pan during most hunting situations due to moisture in the air. Even w/ changing out the pan every half hour or so when things are damp, the 4F tends to become very compact and flat on the surface causing the sparks to bounce off. 3F gives you a more iregular surface to catch and hold the sparks.

GVA

During years of Revolutionary War re-ennacting we used paper cartridge blanks. Usually around 100gr. FFg.
SOP is to set the cock at half-cock, tear the cartridge w/your teeth, prime the pan, close the frizzen, dump the rest down the muzzle (ram the rest down the bore if NOT in a mock battle situation), go to full-cock, aim, fire.
Nary a problem. Even the FFg as priming worked fine. (Admittedly with a bigger lock/pan/flint than a typical sporting rifle.)
P.S. I know, it sounds dangerous. That method of priming is historically accurate. During 10+ yrs. of doing it, in closed ranks and open order, 1000's of shots, I never witnessed or heard of an accidental discharge attributed to that method. However I would not reccomend it outside of that venue. Just a little anecdotal info.

Buffalo arms

most of the fff i have is so fine it's close to air loft. i use ffff almost only for when i can't get a percussion to fire and need to fill the nipple. have had one pound of 4f 25 years or so . still 2/3 full.

Very little BP in stock these days.

Dang, old thread and funny too, was taking black powder inventory today, dont remember how or why, but i have 6 damn pounds of KIK 4F, guess i need to see Kaywoodie about a rec for a good Flinter! ; ]

Should wear out a lock with that many primes.

LOL, or maybe i should find someone within driving distance to sell it too.

Be grateful that you don't live across the river. Nobody ships bp to NJ, and it's against the law to buy it elsewhere and bring it into the State. I found only one gun shop here that had 4F. Only had one 1 lb. can and didn't know if-or-when he'd be able to get more in. I felt lucky to be able to buy it, even at $55 per pound!!!!

Damn, commies! if our old Buddy Biebs ever invites me out for a hoot and shoot AND eat, i'll get em to ya.

I have 4 and a half lbs I have "inherited” over the past few decades. Hell, even a pound of DuPont!

Always top shelf flinters for sale in the Contemporary Longrifle Assn. classified pages.

Figured you'd be set KW, and yes, i've lusted over those pages since you gave me the link moons ago, but, if we agree chevy makes a good pickup, i'd still need to buy you lunch and accompany me to the lot for the best year model of chevy truck to buy, Flinters, ie, Makers, Locks, Caliber, [i love 58] Barrel makes, twist, length, contour, swamped or not Frizzen hardness, proper flints to use, etc, etc.

I’ve had the hankering for something along the lines of a .58 cal (24 bore) Schimmel type Smoothrifle here lately. Big Queen Anne style lock. Around 7 lbs total weight. 44-46” barrel. Circa 1770-ish. Very basic.

Not that I need it or such.

Sounds nice, will a smooth bore get a man 60-80 good yards of hunting accuracy?

\need\............that heifer left a long time ago ; ]

For most folks. 😁. I don’t know why I even would consider such a gun. I have three 20 ga. Smoothbores (62 cal) that fill the bill just fine. I’m leaning more toward buckshot capabilities with my less than stellar eyesight! 🤣🤣🤣!!!

FFF and FFFF have long arms and grab all the moisture it can! Good for a handgun maybe but IMO not needed for rifle!

I find if I “feather" my touch hole with say a mesquite thorn for the evening, I get pretty sure ignition over the several days of a hunt. Been doing this for years.

If you work up a good load and practice a bunch.

Grafs has 4F in stock now

I just ordered 3F from them!

make yer own.

How would they know? Pay with cash and park around the corner.