I am currently low on 2f and 3f Goex powders, and I plan to eliminate one or the other of these powders from my bench. The question is: which one should I keep? The only gun I have that is questionable with 2f powder is my Pietta 1851 Confederate Navy .44 Cal. revolver. I would like to test it with 2f before my next powder purchase, but I would appreciate any input you all may have in my specific situation before I spend a lot of time (and lead) on testing.
FYI: I shoot paper targets at 21 feet and 50 feet, and steel targets out to 25 yards. The gun shoots well for these purposes with 17 grains of 3f, with an average velocity of 806 fps (without filler). Previously, I tried 15gr, 17gr, 18gr, 22gr, and 26gr of 3f
, but I get the best accuracy with 17gr of 3f so far. Also, it takes at least 17 grains to fill the chamber enough for the arm to set the ball tightly against the powder charge.
On this forum I learned about the importance of bringing the ball closer to the forcing cone of the barrel, so I started filling with grits or cream of wheat. That improved my groups a bit too. I have not yet chronographed this load after I started using the filler, but I believe I have lost a few fps in the process, which is OK with me. Some of you know the manual for the brass-framed 1851 Confederate Navy revolver calls for a minimum of 12gr and a maximum of 15gr of 3f.
If my accuracy for 2f Goex turns out to be good, I'm leaning toward 2f as my only powder. Does that seem like a good idea, even though I use such a light load? :hmm:
P.S. (I know the original 1851's were chambered in .36 Cal. I still enjoy shooting my eighty-nine-dollar .44 Cal. Pietta.)