[WildeKurt]

I'm curious about the various powders out there and their relative speeds. Is there a list somewhere out there that rates powders by speed?

[BsChoy]

just google powder burn rates...you"ll get a few things some more complete than others

[mightyike]

this is what you are looking for:

<http://www.reloadammo.com/ramshot-burnrate2.htm>

[Walkalong]

Hodgdon Burn Rate Chart (http://www.hodgdon.com/data/general/burnratechart.php)

Ramshot Burn Rate Chart (http://www.ramshot.com/powders/)

Vihtavuori Burn Rate Chart (http://www.vihtavuori-lapua.com/pdfs/Burning-Rate-Chart.pdf)

[Clark]

Power Pistol and 800X are listed as faster than HS-6 and AA#5.

Those tests must be conducted at a low pressure.

AA#5 and HS-6 are peaky and go nuts at high pressure.
Power Pistol and 800X just send flames out the muzzle and not pieces of brass out the back.


What does it all mean?
Stupid burn rate chart.

[Walkalong]

Clark is right about burn charts. Different ones show different things. It depends, like he said, what pressure they used. Some powders don't do well at low pressure and some don't do well at high pressures. A powder will behave very differently in one caliber with one bullet weight vs a different caliber with a different bullet weight. Heck, it will do that with the same caliber and different bullet weights.

I use AA # 5 a lot in the Alabama heat and never have problems, BUT, I don't hot rod it either. Makes a difference.

Burn Rate Charts are merely a usefull guide and not much more.

[ranger335v]

Walkalong: "Burn Rate Charts are merely a usefull guide and not much more."

Very appropriate observation for those who seek absolute truths in any aspect of loading ammunition. It's also true of the data in our manuals. It makes questions of which is the "best" load for any cartidge, or "best" bullet, or primer, or weapon, etc.

Applying our limited data and opinions to cover all aspects of handloading frequently causes accidents, some of which are serious. WE can't duplicate much of factory loads not because we don't have their secret or magic powders but because we can't replicate their extensive pressure testing equipment.

[The Bushmaster]

Your friendly reloading manual should have a chart. Wildekurt...You DO have a manual don't you?