Propellant
Muzzleloading firearms use a special type of propellant, commonly referred to as blackpowder.
Traditional blackpowder is a corrosive material, which can cause the barrel of your firearm to rust quickly. There are brand-name substitute powders, such as Pyrodex®, CleanShot® and Hodgdon’s Triple Seven®. All these powders are safe to use when handled properly. They are sold either in granulated or compressed pre-measured form.
Blackpowder is available in six granulation sizes. The table lists each grain size, its description and use.
| Grain | Description | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Cannon | Coarse grain powder. | Used for cannons. |
| F | Referred to as single-F. Coarse grain. |
Used for shotguns 10 gauge and higher. |
| FF | Referred to as double-F. Medium grain. |
Used in rifles, single-shot pistols (.45 calibre and larger) and shotguns (12–20 gauge). |
| Cartridge. | Medium-fine grain. | Substitute for double-F powder. |
| FFF | Referred to as triple-F. Fine grain. |
Used in rifles and handguns that are under .45 calibre, as well as shotguns smaller than 20 gauge. |
| FFFF | Referred to as four-F. Extra-fine grain. |
Used only to prime flintlock muzzleloaders. |
Only use the correct type of propellant for your specific modern muzzleloading firearm. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for propellants to use in muzzleloader firearms.
CleanShot is a registered trademark of Huntego.
Pyrodex and Triple Seven are registered trademarks of Hodgdon Powder Co., Inc.
