DixieTexian
Pilgrim
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2007
- Messages
- 397
- Reaction score
- 613
So this past weekend I got out to check the velocity of my Pedersoli Scout .50 (28 inch barrel) using 70 grains by volume of Traveler's Schuetzen 3f with some linen shirting material lubed with T17 as patching and Hornady .490 balls. The patching could use some experimenting, but it was what I had on hand and I wanted to try to get a feel for what kind of velocity I was looking at.
A four shot string, not including the one error reading I got or the dry ball that had just a few grains of powder pushed through the touch hole was thus:
1287
1311
1318
1309
The first shot was with a clean barrel, and the subsequent shots were after a damp patch had been run through it. There was still enough fouling in the subsequent shots to noticeably increase the loading resistance, which leads me to believe that a tighter patch might increase the pressure enough to allow a slightly better velocity in a clean barrel like would be used in a hunting situation, especially given the shorter barrel.
However these velocities seem significantly slower than I've seen reported elsewhere for 70 grains of 3f using a .490 ball with similar barrel lengths. Does anybody have any experience with Schuetzen being that much slower than other powders? I'd like to increase my velocity with a higher charge powder, and will run more tests in the future when I have more time to devote to it, but I thought somebody here who has chrono'd some of the different powders may have some input as well. I'd like to develop a load for hunting deer sized game. I'm relatively new to flintlocks, but have shot percussion guns for several years, so I am familiar enough with everything that goes into it.
Being as I have nearly 10 pounds of Schuetzen 3f, I really don't have any plans on experimenting with other powders at the moment, but would appreciate any input anybody who has can give.
A four shot string, not including the one error reading I got or the dry ball that had just a few grains of powder pushed through the touch hole was thus:
1287
1311
1318
1309
The first shot was with a clean barrel, and the subsequent shots were after a damp patch had been run through it. There was still enough fouling in the subsequent shots to noticeably increase the loading resistance, which leads me to believe that a tighter patch might increase the pressure enough to allow a slightly better velocity in a clean barrel like would be used in a hunting situation, especially given the shorter barrel.
However these velocities seem significantly slower than I've seen reported elsewhere for 70 grains of 3f using a .490 ball with similar barrel lengths. Does anybody have any experience with Schuetzen being that much slower than other powders? I'd like to increase my velocity with a higher charge powder, and will run more tests in the future when I have more time to devote to it, but I thought somebody here who has chrono'd some of the different powders may have some input as well. I'd like to develop a load for hunting deer sized game. I'm relatively new to flintlocks, but have shot percussion guns for several years, so I am familiar enough with everything that goes into it.
Being as I have nearly 10 pounds of Schuetzen 3f, I really don't have any plans on experimenting with other powders at the moment, but would appreciate any input anybody who has can give.