I realize that black powder is not really Krag related, but I also know how smart everyone is on this site.

My brother-in-law found an old pound of Dupont FFFFg powder in his mother's house buried in a closet, and brought it to me because he knew that I would know what to do with it.  My guess is that the can is 40 years old or more.  As far as I could tell, it was unopened.  I opened it and checked it for any signs of degradation... and found one tiny clump at the top that broke up as soon as I touched it.  I poured a small amount (about 50 grains) into a pan and did a burn test... and got a nice POOF out of it. 

My questions are this:  Is this still viable powder?  What could this be used for?  I'm planning on loading some 45/70 in the near future.  Can FFFFg be used for 45/70?  I also have an older replica 1858 Remington ball & cap revolver, can this powder be used for that? (I used to use FFFg, and now I use Pyrodex P).  If this powder is not safe, then I'll destroy it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I've read the same warning about 4Fg as a flash pan only powder.  Check black powder reloading books for safe loads

Don't do it!  Danger city Will Robinson!  Use coarser grained powder for your main load in your 45-70.

We don't need a P. Steinmayer Memorial Krag Trophy floating around or a P. Steinmayer Missing hand and half his brain  Memorial Krag Trophy floating around.

Black Powder has an extremely long 'shelf-life', if kept in a relatively dry environment. It is a mechanical mix of sulphur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate, so it is not subject to the chemical deterioration that happens with time in smokeless powders.

The 4F granulation is intended for priming the pans of flint-locks. I guess Life is telling Paul to get a Flint-lock!

FWIW - In my silly years, I had several pounds of 4F Curtiss & Harvey powder, which I used up in 45 grain 'Skirmish/Target-Loads' in my reproduction .58 cal. 'Zouave' percussion ML rifle. I also fired 4F in a brass frame replica percussion revolver. Nothing unusual happened and function and accuracy seemed normal. Maybe, Angels were looking over me.

I wouldn't do it now. I am certainly not recommending anyone test fate. Back then, I did not know any better.

Thanks one and all.  I just wanted to make sure of what I was dealing with, since I've never encountered 4F before (I've used 2F and 3F before).  I'll tuck it away in the back of the safe for future days.  I do hope to get a flintlock one day just for some fun shooting!

Nobody needs to own fixed ammo firearms, Steinmayer.  Quill pens and screw presses are good enough for writers and printers then, by gum, flintlocks are good enough for...  Oh, wait.  I guess writers and printers have embraced newer technology. 

Ohhhhh and those are fully automatic presses too.  One button and they can print 800 sheets a minute.  Some one point me in the direction of the statute creating the Federal Printer License.  Would that be with the Bureau of Printing?

Well, I sort of "Half knew that!"  I knew it came from flintlocks, but I didn't know it referred to a mis-fire where the main charge failed to fire.  And no... you didn't bore me!!!

Culpeper, on the other hand.......

Heehee, Love ya Paul!

By the way Paul, you need to start planning so you can be back stateside for the Roosevelt Match next summer!  Just sayin!!!

I took my Charleville to a Boy Scout campout, explained things like "lock, stock & barrel" and "flash in the pan".  Then I let them load it & shoot it, with very close, one on one supervision. 

We shot it at a Redcoat painted on a refrigerator carton.  The first shot hit the Redcoat in the groin. 

Two of the parents called me a terrorist, took their kids out of Boy Scouts.

reincarnated wrote on Nov 9^th, 2017 at 2:42am:


It's saddening that some people are so shallow minded that they don't see the benefits of education... and associate a centuries old musket and revolutionary war references with modern AR style weapons and terroristic tactics.  I guess anyone with a single shot flintlock can go on a shooting rampage and kill more than one every ten minutes! 

It boggles my mind!!!