What kind of powder? Black or Pyro?
: With GOEX 2F is fine, but you can use 1F if desired. 3F should, perhaps be kept to loads at or under 100gr.
: With any of the "fake" black powders, you will need 15 to 20gr. of black powder at the breech with the 'other' stuff on top. The 'smokeless' black powders like Pyrodex, Hodgdon's Triple 7 & Black Mag 3, have higher flash points than black and need the black powder to accept the flash from the pan for ignition. They may work alone, sometimes, but ignition will be slow or non-existant.
: A good hunting load is anything from 3 drams up - that's 82gr. = 3 drams. Most guys I now use 100 to 150gr.2F with a single round ball. The pressure from the 150gr. load is low, n the 6,000-7,000 LUP range. 1F developes less pressure and velocity than 2F. 100gr. 2F will slay moose. if you need more than that, and more usually produces less accuracy, the animals must be of large size for certain. My brother's Bess with 46" barrel, gets 1,080fps from 82gr. 2F with a tightly patched round ball. Paper ctgs. with round balls, generally develope less velocity and pressure due to some blow by.
: Apparently, Elephant powder is designed FOR muskets and shotguns, not for rifles, according to their advertizment from the Links section of this site.
: With a comercial musket, go by the manufacturer's recommendation for loading - to increase is at YOUR own risk.
: How much powder will a Bess TAKE- I don't know. Depends on how old it is, and who made the barrel. With a good Bess, you probably would stop going up due to pain from recoil, before developing enough pressure to hurt the barrel.
: Smoothbores shoot tighter groups with lower charges than they do with higher charges. This is general and was true in 1804 and is true in 2004. With that in mind, you may find 80gr. more accurate than 50, but it is unlikely. 150gr. will be less accurate than 80, generally.
: 4F or 3F can normally be used for priming. Some guys use 2F for priming when hunting so they are using the same powder horn for both jobs. others carry a priming horn or flask. The 4gr. flsk from Track is especially nice for rifles. Mine dumps 2.5gr. quite regualrly & that's perfect for my rifles and the Bess.
Daryl
