4F in .31 1849

[snubnose57]

Anyone here with any experience doing this? I inherited a pound of 4F with a rifle, so it is like a lifetime using this with my flinters. Have read a little on the internet, but wanted to hear from our experts on this forum.

 

[Le Loup]

Anyone here with any experience doing this? I inherited a pound of 4F with a rifle, so it is like a lifetime using this with my flinters. Have read a little on the internet, but wanted to hear from our experts on this forum.

I do not consider myself an expert SN, but I would never use 4FG as a main charge.
Keith.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Look at how thick the barrel wall is on your rifle for using 2 or 3 fg powder. Then look at how thin it is from the chamber wall to the exterior of the cylinder. 4fg is a much hotter higher pressure granulation and you ask if it is ok to put it in a pistol chamber having far less metal to hold the pressure? Not to mention the harder hammering of the ball against the forcing cone of the barrel and the possibility of excessive pressure causing the arbor to become loose or twist. I would never do it and would stand far behind anyone that did, with a first aid kit and 911 on speed dial.

 

[8 BORE]

Look at how thick the barrel wall is on your rifle for using 2 or 3 fg powder. Then look at how thin it is from the chamber wall to the exterior of the cylinder. 4fg is a much hotter higher pressure granulation and you ask if it is ok to put it in a pistol chamber having far less metal to hold the pressure? Not to mention the harder hammering of the ball against the forcing cone of the barrel and the possibility of excessive pressure causing the arbor to become loose or twist. I would never do it and would stand far behind anyone that did, with a first aid kit and 911 on speed dial.

This advice is 100 percent correct.
Do not experiment with 4F as a main charge.........period

 

[snubnose57]

Well, I guess that free pound of 4F will last forever after all. Just wonder what 4F was invented for beside priming? May call for a separate thread.

 

[jdw276]

This advice is 100 percent correct.
Do not experiment with 4F as a main charge.........period

Hmmmm? Isn't the question of 4f, per the thread title, concerning a 31 cal pistol? Am I missing something? But is there a 1849 31 cal rifle?

 

[jdw276]

It is even in the pistol category forum.

Lyman first edition has pistol loads for 4f up to 44 cal if I recall.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

It is even in the pistol category forum.

Lyman first edition has pistol loads for 4f up to 44 cal if I recall.

Yes they do. Usually Curtis and Harvey powder. Do you know how 1970 Curtis and Harvey powder compared to today's Swiss or Goex? They also were putting 180 grains of powder in some 50 caliber rifles. All those revolver shots were made with steel frame guns from machine rests IIRC Big difference between pushing the envelope in a laboratory with a remote firing device or in the real world held in the human hand. And as the Duke often said in his movies shortly before some mishap, "but you go ahead and do what you think is best." I have seen cracked/ruptured cylinders. Can you guarantee the OP that his 1849 revolver is made as well and with as good a metal as the guns used by Lyman. Or is the 1849, some FIE revolver put together from an Old Dixie kit with unknown metallurgy and chamber wall thickness. I would be less alarmed about it if the gun was a steel frame 1858 remington reproduction with a 36 caliber. Most of them had quite heavy chamber walls. I had a 1862 Uberti Police and the fluted chamber walls might have been 3/32nd ie not much steel for a 36 caliber.

 

[Kansas Jake]

With a 31 caliber you don't have much mass in the ball to get moving. That would be a factor in using 4f. 4f was often recommended as a acceptable powder in small caliber hand guns. Would I use 4f as a full power load in a 44 Colt or Remington reproduction. Not unless I absolutely needed to. In a .31? Yes, but I would probably keep the loads light.

 

[Logcutter]

Why would you take a risk, any risk, over a pound of powder? If you don't think you'l use it give it away or swap it for something.

 

[bigted]

I feel this is how I feel as well. I think a 25 dollar pound of powder is selling your possible body parts pretty cheap.

Specially when you have what sounds like several flinter rifles that the 4Fg will sure work as primer powder and if it be enough in spades for a lifetime of priming ... good on you! Why putz around with an unknown when there is a legitimate use for it right under your roof now.

 

[Kansas Jake]

Here is a thread from about a year ago on 4f in an 1849 31 caliber.

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/4f-and-31-caliber.106199/

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

4Fg was carried in priming horns and is what they used as prime. It was NOT meant as a main charge.

 

[azmntman]

my .31 holds like 10-12 gr 3f, I dont think 4f would do much damage at 10gr? Have yet to try it. If I do will advise. I know with 3f I note very little penetration in my customary ponderosa pine backstop.

 

[bigted]

Military tests require a ball to penetrate a 1 inch pine board. If it will not penetrate the board ... the military did not want it in the soldiers hands as a tool of war.

 

[bigted]

RequirED that is. Not sure about current requirements

 

[azmntman]

well the 1849 (imho) is/was a belly pistol....a deterrent to strong arming etc. I sure cant see mine having that much penetration. In its day though a bad guy sure wouldt wanna lay around with a belly shot for a week while he died. Mine is about perfect for a kiddo or young lady size wise. One of my favorite guns to shoot lately.

 

[Juice Jaws]

Here is a thread from about a year ago on 4f in an 1849 31 caliber.

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/4f-and-31-caliber.106199/

Its interesting reading these two threads a year apart. The first thread from a year ago, most ever one said go ahead and use 4F its fine. But on this thread its a no, no.

 

[8 BORE]

Do what you want to do.
Prostetic limbs are easily obtainable, or I may or may not be at your funeral.

 

[8 BORE]

Well, I guess that free pound of 4F will last forever after all. Just wonder what 4F was invented for beside priming? May call for a separate thread.

Maybe firecrackers or blow out a stump