[AtomSphere]

For example if i use bullseye (RQ 100%), would the spent cartridge have no residue?

Also will Pistol Power overflow a 9mm catridge if double charged?

[dmftoy1]

I can't answer your question wrt to fast powders in general, but my experience has been that bullseye is easily twice as "dirty" as other powders.

Regards,
Dave

[RyanM]

Fast powders can have less fouling, but they don't always. Most Alliant powders are dirty, especially Bullseye and Unique. Though Power Pistol is supposed to be extremely clean. Clays is one of the fastest powders out there, and is also very clean. But so is Universal, which is somewhat similar to Unique's burning rate, at pressures below 30,000 PSI (do not use Unique for calibers that generate more than 30,000 PSI). There really are no hard and fast rules about fast powders being cleaner.

Although if you use a powder that's far too slow for your gun/cartridge combination, you'll end up with a lot of unburned powder grains all over the place.

[armoredman]

Deliberately double charge your case, and see. Most AA loads won't overflow, but it is REAL obvious it's a double!

[Steve C]

Power Pistol will overflow your 9mm case if double charged when using a nominal load or 6.0grs or more.

In general, faster powders will leave less residue than slower powder. The cleanliness of the powder is generally a small factor in how clean or dirty the load appears to be. If you are shooting lead bullets, esp cast with the wax type lube, no powder will produce clean loads as the "dirt" comes from the lube, not the powder. Alliant has improved some of their powders and have labeled them as "Cleaner Burning". I can say that in the case of Unique it truely is quite a bit cleaner than the earlier Hercules product.

For most powders there is a threshold level in pressure where the residue will all but dissapear. When loaded with jacketed bullets in the .357 mag, Unique is quite clean.

[AtomSphere]

In Aliance web site, there is some reloading data and i was wondering if its the recommended load they put out on their web site or maximum load. I emailed them a few days ago but haven't got any response from them yet

[RyanM]

Maximum load. If they don't say otherwise, all loads are maximum loads. You can also figure out how close to maximum they are by looking at the PSI the load develops, and comparing to http://www.frfrogspad.com/miscellk.htm#pressure Don't get PSI and CUP confused though.

[bakert]

I think there's way too much emphasis on how dirty some powders are. you're going to get a certain amount of residue from any load you fire. As long as the load is efficient and works like I want I don't mind soot and residue on my guns especially after a long session. If you're getting a lot of unburned powder then maybe the load needs to be adjusted or a different powder used.

[bpisler]

Here's a great website if you reload
www.handloads.com it's got allkinds
of info.