Powders

[pat i.]

I don't know if this is the proper area to be asking these questions but here goes.

I picked up the final thing I need to shoot my GPR which is powder. A friend gave me a pound of Goex 3f and I went over to Crater and bought a few pounds of Schuetzen and a pound of Diamondback, both 3F. My question is does anyone have any personal experience with the Diamondback? At $9.50 a pound it's hard to beat the price but only if it's decent and is consistant. I did a search both on this forum and others and while Schuetzen seems to get good reviews there's not much out there about Diamondback. I realize every gun is different and I'll have to try it myself to get a definitive answer, just like the caps, but I'm looking for opinions from people who've tried it.

[Dogshirt]

Never shot it, but the word from some that have is it's fair, but a bit dirty. Also, it seems the supply can be a bit sporatic.

[William]

I've never used Diamondback and don't know anyone who has around here but I think you are going to have to work up a load using each type of powder separately.  My Lyman rifles, a least those in .54 all seemed to prefer 2f, especially both my 1:48 ROT Trade Rifles.  After reading Dutch Schultz's shooting pamphlet I suggest following his advice and start with a powder charge 1.5 times your bore size, or 81 grains for a .54 and 75 grains for a .50.

[flintboomer]

Is Diamondback the one that is made in the old Elephant factory? If it is the 3f probably works like Goex in most rifles and the 2f is dirtier than Goex but shoots about the same if you clean between shots. Sheutzen is enough hotter than Goex that I have to reduce my already light loads to keep it from shooting 2 inches high at 25 yds so I only shoot it in my revolver unless I am out of Goex. I have one .54 rifle that is sighted for 2f Sheutzen and seems to like it, but I am currently out and will not be buying any now that I have half a case of Goex 3f. That same rifle likes 75-85 gr 2f Sheutzen but seems to like 50 gr 3f Goex just about as well.

Try them all and see what happens, that way you get to do a lot of testing and will have an idea of what the difference will be if you can't get your favorite. It will take more 2f to do the same job as 3f but some rifles like it better and the bigger bores usually prefer it. 2f is normally better for hunting loads because the fouling is softer, making it easier to reload after firing a heavy load.