I just picked up an 1851 repro .44 + a Ruger old Army.Just bought some Shuetzen FFFg powder to go w/ the#11caps. Question is,what is everyones opinion on the Shuetzen powder? (loaded question I know [pun intended] as there are many opinions. I have never used this powder before. Any input would be great. Thanks.

Reducing the loads in a Ruger is definitely not necessary. And neither is it in in your Italian one either in my opinion. I have used that powder in cartridges, getting the same velocities as Goex. Fill the chamber until you can seat a ball, and grease it. Have fun.

Thanks for the feedback.

Scheutzen is generally highly regarded by black powder shooters. Most folks find it burns cleaner,leaving less residue in the barrel. In competitive blackpowder shooting an important part of the game is "managing the residue" in your barrel between the shots in each relay. To get the highest PRECISION..i.e.: consistent shot-to-shot results, you have to keep the barrel residue consistent shot-to-shot. Less residue is easier to manage.
Hope this helps.

Thanks Don.

Don't forget the Ruger shoots .457 RB which is larger than most if not all of the other reproduction cap and ball revolvers. Use a felt wad between powder and ball to block chain fire of more than one cylinder. I can tell you from experience, it's definitely and EVENT to remember.

Is this "Swiss" as we know it here in England? If so then it is PROPER black powder as it once was and not the rubbish and cr*p masquerading as black powder that was sold for years here in England and no doubt elsewhere.

Rifle shooters here in England greatly like it as it is the ONLY black powder that shoots to the exact sight distance settings on our old original made rifles.

Thus showing that it is of the same power as when black powder was made properly in the 19th Century.

Use Crisco on top of the balls; don't need the felt wad; the crisco keeps the fouling soft and prevents chain fires. I had one once (actually a girl I was dating in college did); last cylinder full of the day and I thought, I won't grease this one. Well, the fireball was brilliant; she didn't notice it and nothing was harmed. But I don't recommend it. The chamber under the hammer fired and the one next to it fired. I have fired over a thousand rounds from C&B revolvers and this is the only one I ever had or saw.

I use lard.75 cents a pound.

Yes, lard is much more cost effective. I have made BP bullet lube with lard and neatsfoot oil. Works as well as SPG (TM) but much cheaper. Mice like it too.

Another reason why I have cats.