The following letter was first published in the Muzzle Loaders Association of Great Britain’s “Black Powder” magazine (Vol. 1, No. 12, November 1954) and is reproduced here with permission.
Dear Sir,
We refer to your letter of the 6th October and would explain that the F series of blackpowder is of an inferior quality compared with that of the T.S. series. It is suitable, however, for muzzle-loading weapons but gives a slightly lower ballistic level than the better grade triple strength type of powder.
Regarding grist size, FFF powder is approximately the same size as T.S. No.2, FF the same as T.S.4, and F the same T.S.6, although the variation in grist size is wider with the F series than with the T.S. type of propellant. For all muzzle-loading weapons we would recommend T.S. powder rather than one of the F types of powder, and give below the types of weapons for which the powders are suitable:
F: Low grade powder suitable for rifles and for shotguns larger than 12-bore. FF: Low grade powder suitable for shotguns smaller than 10-bore. FFF: Low grade powder suitable as an igniter and for blanks. T.S.No.2: Best grade powder suitable as an igniter and for metallic blanks. T.S.No.4: Best grade powder suitable for shot guns smaller than 10-bore and for shotgun blanks. T.S.No.6: Best grade powder suitable for rifles and for shotguns larger than 12 bore. We trust that the foregoing is the information you require.
Yours faithfully,
I.C.I.
