Black Powder problem
I have a flintlock muzzle loader and all I have is FFG black powder. The flint sets off the flash pan but won't set off the main charge. The vent hole is clearly open and I have been told that the flash pan powder should be finer like FFFG. I can't find any so was wondering if there is a way of crushing the ffg with a martor and pestle to make it finer.
Thanks
Thanks
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From what I know, a lot of people have a hard time finding the 4F powder needed for flash pans so they do grind up the course stuff. grind it on a piece of glass and just roll over it with something that will not spark with anything as to do it safely.
A ceramic morter and pestle would work fine too if you have one.
Grind up some and it will go a long way.0 -
You also want to be careful not to overfill the flash pan. Just put enough powder in to be about even with the flash hole in the barrel.
Johnny0 -
Thanks guys 0 -
I recommend wood to crush big grains into flour size powder.
Do small batches like 15 grains at a time and keep the grinding operation away from open powder in the event it ignites.
Wear glasses and a glove on the right hand.
Finely pulverized powder markedly reduces ignition time.
With the frizzen closed, pour about 10 gr into the empty barrel and shake it to run into the touch hole. Load the main charge w/ ball and finish up by filling the pan with pulverized powder.
As a kid, homemade powder detonated in a mortar and pestle, driving hard ash into my right hand and singing my hair; hence my caution.
In the manufacturing process, powder is ground wet.
Heat,excess pressure or static discharge are to be avoided,recognizing
that finer grains are more sensitive to ignition.
Safe tools would be a rounded wooden screwdriver handle against a wooden carving board in lieu of mortar and pestle.
Don't use the wife's tools since they wont clean up well.0
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