How many grains of FFFg blackpowder are in 1 pound?

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I know there are 7000 grains of smokeless to a pound by weight, but blackpowder is measured by volume. Can anyone tell me how many grains of FFFg are in 1 pound of blackpowder, say Goex brand?
 
To know this, you have to weight it. Take your measure and weight, say, 100 grains (volume) and put it in the scale. As an example, I know that 100 grains (volume) of Pyrodex RS (FFG Equivalent) weights 70 grains. This means that I will have 10 000 grains (Volume) of RS by pound.
 
Yes, in the laboratory, a grain is a unit of weight but in the inexact world of blackpowder it also used as volume because the most common form of blackpowder was very close to 100 grains volume equalling 100 grains weight.

There is a quote from here - ww.chuckhawks.com/blackpowder_volumetric.htm

"The geometry of blackpowder itself varies by its own granulation size; Fg, FFFg, FFFFg, and so forth. Trying to measure blackpowder (or anything else) by its bulk is tricky. Blackpowder varies all over the place by geometry, moisture content, and even composition percentages. Ian McMurchy published actual weight of 100 gr. volumetric Goex FFg as 101.3 grains (weight), 100 gr. volumetric Goex FFFg as 101.6 grains(weight). (Page 81, Modern Muzzleloading For Today's Whitetails.) Mr. McMurchy didn’t stop there; Pyrodex Select (which is a very large granulation size) weighs in at 63.9 grains, Pyrodex RS at 72.5, Pryrodex P at 73.0, Pyrodex pellets at 74.2, Arco at 94.7, Clean Shot at 85.1, and Quick Shots at 65.5 grains of actual weight."

Hope that helps.

Cheers
 
I see, thanks guys. I was curious because I wanted to know exactly how many rounds I'll get per pound of Goex when I place an order next week.
 
You guys aren't getting it. If you load black powder using a scale you will have a wreck. Black powder loads are by volume not weight. One grain of black powder measured the black powder way does not weigh a grain.
 
BILLDICK;
I have been shooting black powder for over 50 years....

It would appear I am doing it all wrong, I would appreciate your explaining the statement " Black powder loads are by volume not weight. One grain of black powder measured the black powder way does not weigh a grain " ??????

A grain is a measure of weight, how does that vary from one material to another....??

We have sold thousands of black powder firearms over the years, the mauals, CDs and DVDs are ALL wrong since they all have suggested loads by weight ??

I admit that Europeans use Grams but that is still a measure of weight !!

Does that mean every loading manual I have is wrong when it comes to balck powder firearms....????
John
 
Black Powder is measured by Volume never by weight!

If you are weighing your charges of black powder on a scale for your muzzel loader then yes you are doing it wrong . I know you buy it buy the pound but it must be loaded by volume the brass powder measure that YOU use is a volume measure not weight.
 
you are correct to mesure it by vol....that beiing said ....a grain is a grain and a pound is a pound ...it dosnt change when you change the medium you are wieghing ...one pound of black pouder has 7000 grains in it ...same as smokless and feathers has 7000 as well just takes up more vol .....
 
OK. Rephrase the question.

What is the standard volume of a supposed standard grain of black powder?

I have my doubts that there is a single standard, and figure that if I measure out a volume charge with my measure, it will differ somewhat from the measure used by another.

The English used Drams to measure out their powder for shotgun shells, a practice that is held over today. Read the Dram equivalent on the side of the box of shotshells.

Icebox probably gave the best reply, but that info must be tempered with the knowledge that there is some variability from batch to batch, even from the same maker.

Cheers
Trev
 
DEZ said:
Black Powder is measured by Volume never by weight!

If you are weighing your charges of black powder on a scale for your muzzel loader then yes you are doing it wrong . I know you buy it buy the pound but it must be loaded by volume the brass powder measure that YOU use is a volume measure not weight.
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Scale, volume, whatever.
A charge of 110 grains in one rifle may not work in another, but that is not the point to point, is to make sure your particular charge works in YOUR rifle.
Same as brace height on bows, it dose't matter how the end result is measured or what it is, as long as it works for that bow.
As far as 7000 grains goes, black powder is SOLD by grains weight, NOT by volume.
People like Paul Mathews BTW, WEIGH their charges of black powder and compress it, it works better than measuring by volume .
But, like I said, a weighed 70 grains on a scale will not measure out in a volumetric measure, but I weigh my , I don't throw it like I do in my muzzle loaders....
Cat
 
Becky Middleton from Senlac Sask is the authority on black powder. She owns the business Hillfolk Muskets and if we could find her she would set us straight. She told me there are two types of grains,black powder and weight just like ounces. An ounce of whiskey does not weigh an ounce.
 
+1 with johnone. I've been at it for over 30 years and still have all of my digits and eyes intact. Black powder is loaded by weight. Reproduction black powder (read that as Pyrodex, Triple 7, etc., etc.) is loaded by volumn equivalency. You'd better do your homework before you give some one some wrong information and cause a catastrophic failure.
Jon
 
billdick said:
An ounce of whiskey does not weigh an ounce.
Click to expand...
Of course it doesn't. It is measured in fluid ounces, a Standard. Avoirdupois ounces, Troy ounces, and Fluid ounces, are all still ounces.

It's part of why the metric system was developed, in an attempt to find one system that fits all the various systems of weights and measures. It didn't work out so well, as it just added another set... :D

It becomes a matter of having to be specific, when there is the possibility of confusion.

And of knowing which, of many, standard is being referred to.

Cheers
Trev
 
I think you're all getting all over the map because of this volume vs. weight thing, muzzleloaders are feed by volume because you can't take a scale with you in the field. A pound of powder in a can is still a pound of powder(7000) grains, if you choose to refill your gun by volume and equivalent weights so be it. For accurate shooting in black powder cartridge rifles I believe most use weight as that is most accurate, I charge cases just like my benchrest ammo, only i use a drop tube, and a Bp powder measure and weight each charge to within 1/10th grain, with a dribbler, then drop tube it. For accurate ammo there is no place for volume measuring without checking it on a scale.
 
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