Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank Cronin
If all things being equal loading up 4 drams of BP, 1 1/4 oz of shot in a 10 gauge shell, does anyone know how much increase in pressure using Swiss powder compared to Goex?
I use Goex FFg for 10 and 12 gauges. Heard good things about Swiss but the lack of data information of how much change of pressure keeps me from loading them in my old guns.
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I have a Ferguson breech loading flintlock rifle that I have experimented with Swiss powder. At 100 yards switching from 3F Goex to 3F Swiss will raise the point of impact of the ball by 9 inches. I need to borrow a chronograph to find out what the actual change in velocity is, but just going by trajectory, it is significant. The Ferguson has a small powder chamber (about 60 grains) so pressure concerns are not really a factor in this rifle. I am somewhat hesitant to throw 4 1/2 drams into my 10 ga. without knowing what the exact difference in PSI is.
I have been told several times that sporting powders in the late 19th century were "hotter" than the standard Goex we have today. Swiss powder is supposedly closer to the old Curtis and Harvey sporting powders, but without knowing for sure about pressures I am somewhat hesitant to try it. The Goex performs so well in my gun I don't know if it's worth the trouble (and expense) to play around with Swiss in this specific application. Does anyone know of someone who will pressure test 10 ga. 2 7/8" brass hulled, blackpowder loads using 9 ga wads?