Can you look at black powder and tell the differnce?

Hi,I have some black powder that I cannot tell if its FF or FFF.Can I tell by the size of the grains.Thanks,Squib

Yes you can but you might need some of each to use for comparison.

When I need a reminder about what is in my horns I compare the two. However three F is pretty fine compared to 2 F. I know one guy that mixes the two and shoots very well with it. Geo. T.

I can, and I'll bet a lot of others here can also, but I don't think we can tell you the size of the grains and so forth. I'm not sure how you could even measure the grain size. There are screen sizes used, maybe you can look that up and tell what size you have.

Like Hawkeye mentioned, the easiest way is to compare it to some known size (grade). :idunno: Bill

Why even consider doing that? Plainly marked canisters are all I go by. I use a lot of paper powder packets for hunting and before waxing the packet, the powder granulation and amount is marked w/ an ink pen....otherwise I wouldn't know "up from down"....Fred

I can't I have enough time trying to determine the difference between black powder and baking powder. Thats why I am lucky all but one gun shoots 3f well. The 58 well it likes 2f but i have a seperate horn makes it dang near dummy proof.

Well, an experienced shooter like myself can look at any given powder and tell what the granulation is. I have burned up a lot of powder in all grain sizes from cannon powder to Swiss Null B and 4f. With experience you can tell the difference but a novice does not know what to look for and will most likely not be able to tell the difference without having a bit of each to compare to the powder in question.

squib load said:

Hi,I have some black powder that I cannot tell if its FF or FFF.Can I tell by the size of the grains.Thanks,Squib

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I would answer: no.
Powders vary by manufacturer. Sometimes considerably. Even with the same manufacturer their powders can vary for different reasons.
With modern reloading powders, it is a basic rule of safety to NEVER try to determine what a powder is by visual inspection.
Only if you are sure of what you have, use it. Otherwise, it is garden fertilizer. Here is a pic I posted before that might give you a clear, and at the same time, confusing idea of what I am saying.
Edit: Make sure what you have it real black powder. Not all powders that are black are traditional 'black powder'. A lot of moder powders are black in color. On the pic. note the differences in appearance between the Swiss 1 1/2 Fg. and the 3 Fg. More than grain size. Different colors. Either know what you have or discard it.
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A photo without an object to add scale does little than compare the various powders to each other.
A coin or a line with say 1/16th" marks on the paper displayed with the powders would add a scale that's recognizable to everyone.

For example, I recently won a pound of Grafs 2f (it is Wano Scheutzen powder), It looks like Goex 3f.

Thanks guys,I will compare them.I wanted to make sure to use 3F in my new 1851 navy.Squib

The OE in 3Fg seems, from the pic, to be very inconsistent in granule size. Surprising.

same maker,sideby side easy,just by it self right out of a horn no

2_Tall said:

I can't I have enough time trying to determine the difference between black powder and baking powder. Thats why I am lucky all but one gun shoots 3f well. The 58 well it likes 2f but i have a seperate horn makes it dang near dummy proof.

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Say, you aint the camp cook are yah?

I have several powder flasks and one has Pyrodex in it. I usually forget or am not sure but pyrodex is lighter(more dark gray) in color that BP.

GoodCheer said:

2_Tall said:

I can't I have enough time trying to determine the difference between black powder and baking powder. Thats why I am lucky all but one gun shoots 3f well. The 58 well it likes 2f but i have a seperate horn makes it dang near dummy proof.

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Say, you aint the camp cook are yah?

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Yup he is an' that explains why instead of 'raising' like normal biscuits do, his biscuits went o'er 150 feet high tuther day! :shocked2:

:rotf:
Just funnin' with ye.