As long as the same bullet leaves the barrel at the same velocity, what difference does it make as to what powder was used to propel it. I am fairly new to handloading and I have been experimenting with different powders. I have used Solo1000, W231, AA#5 and AA#7 in a .38 handload using 148 grain cast lead wad cutters loaded for around 800fps (I use a Chrony). The accuracy results from my 686 are pretty much the same. The recoil feels about the same and the "dirtiness" in the barrel is about the same. I am interested in you observations in this area. Thanks.
What difference does the powder make?
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Generally with different powders you get different variations in extreme spread and standard deviation in your sample group even if the average velocity is the same. In theory the component mix that produces the most consistent ammo (lowest ES and STDev) should be the most accurate. Usually you will find that your pistol likes a particular component mix over an other even though they both produce the same velocity as close as one can get.
While there's not a lot of difference between ammo that can consistently produce 1.5" groups to an other that produces 2.5" groups in the world of target shooing it can be the difference between 1st place and no place.
While there's not a lot of difference between ammo that can consistently produce 1.5" groups to an other that produces 2.5" groups in the world of target shooing it can be the difference between 1st place and no place.
243winxb
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Powder
Powders are listed by burning rate. Fast for pistol, very slow for large magnum rifles. For a 38 there might be 3 or more powders close to the correct burning rate all made by different manufactures.http://www.reloadbench.com/burn.html Powders come as single base and double based + a third one. This is the chemical makeup of the different types of powders. http://www.vihtavuori-lapua.com/pdfs/Burning-Rate-Chart.pdf Here is another great link/info on powders. http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/fsc/backissu/april2002/mccord.htm#table1 Always use published reloading data, do NOT make up your own.
Powders are listed by burning rate. Fast for pistol, very slow for large magnum rifles. For a 38 there might be 3 or more powders close to the correct burning rate all made by different manufactures.http://www.reloadbench.com/burn.html Powders come as single base and double based + a third one. This is the chemical makeup of the different types of powders. http://www.vihtavuori-lapua.com/pdfs/Burning-Rate-Chart.pdf Here is another great link/info on powders. http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/fsc/backissu/april2002/mccord.htm#table1 Always use published reloading data, do NOT make up your own.
rfwobbly
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Beyond all the highly technical aspects, you'll also notice that....
• Some powders are physically less dense than others. That is, for the same weight, one powder occupies a different volume than another. Sometimes this means the less dense powder may not fit into your available case space, even though your mathematical calculations show it should perform well.
• Some powders burn cleaner than others. While this may not come into play after 15 shots at the range, it may become a deciding factor if you're shooting 200 rounds at a pistol match. And on top of this, a 'sooty' powder can sometimes become downright 'dirty' if the loads happen to be the low-to-moderate power "target" variety.
Hope this helps!
• Some powders are physically less dense than others. That is, for the same weight, one powder occupies a different volume than another. Sometimes this means the less dense powder may not fit into your available case space, even though your mathematical calculations show it should perform well.
• Some powders burn cleaner than others. While this may not come into play after 15 shots at the range, it may become a deciding factor if you're shooting 200 rounds at a pistol match. And on top of this, a 'sooty' powder can sometimes become downright 'dirty' if the loads happen to be the low-to-moderate power "target" variety.
Hope this helps!
Floppy_D
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What difference does the powder make? Well... how much powder you have to use (cost efficiency,) how well it meters, how consistent the velocity produced is, how well it fills the case (important to me, because it reduces the chance of double charge if it fills the case). I like powders that do more than one job well. I keep lots of Unique and H4895 around because I can do darn near anything with those two powders.
Also, any powder is going to have limitations. You can get away with less of a fast burning powder... but you can never get top velocity. It takes more of a slow burning powder to get fast loads, but sometimes that's what you want.
I've come to realize that I can download most powders and get good results, but guns get filthy quick. Using powder tailored to the purpose can really make a difference.
Sounds like you're making light target loads. Have you made a hotter hunting type load? When you explore the spectrum that each round is capable of, the need for different powders becomes more evident.
Also, any powder is going to have limitations. You can get away with less of a fast burning powder... but you can never get top velocity. It takes more of a slow burning powder to get fast loads, but sometimes that's what you want.
I've come to realize that I can download most powders and get good results, but guns get filthy quick. Using powder tailored to the purpose can really make a difference.
Sounds like you're making light target loads. Have you made a hotter hunting type load? When you explore the spectrum that each round is capable of, the need for different powders becomes more evident.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Even though all those powders were able to produce similar velocities the pressures will be different. Be careful not to exceed the max recommended charge of any one powder because you can develop excessive pressures and exceed the SAAMI limits. Generally, the faster pistol powder will generate more pressure when trying to increase the velocities than the slower pistol powder. When you want to achieve the peek velocity of a caliber you generally need to use a slower powder to remain with the pressure limits, especially with heavy bullets.
redneck2
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You may notice a bigger difference in rifle powder than pistol. The barrel actually whips when fired, so the timing of the bullet exit is directly related to accuracy.
When you've got some time, go to Varmint Al's website. He has a VERY detailed and analytical discourse on the movements a rifle barrel goes though when fired. Very small differences in burn rate may or may not make substantial differences in accuracy.
Burn rate of the powder does not always relate to velocity. A super fast powder could give excessive peak pressures with lower velocity due to a lower total area under the curve.
Also, there are obviously many other variables. On http://stevespages.com, he talks about a rifle that was 2 inch or larger no matter what he did. He finally changed brand of primer and dropped it to about 1/2". Stuff like that will drive you nuts, but that's how you get the last bit of accuracy.
When you've got some time, go to Varmint Al's website. He has a VERY detailed and analytical discourse on the movements a rifle barrel goes though when fired. Very small differences in burn rate may or may not make substantial differences in accuracy.
Burn rate of the powder does not always relate to velocity. A super fast powder could give excessive peak pressures with lower velocity due to a lower total area under the curve.
Also, there are obviously many other variables. On http://stevespages.com, he talks about a rifle that was 2 inch or larger no matter what he did. He finally changed brand of primer and dropped it to about 1/2". Stuff like that will drive you nuts, but that's how you get the last bit of accuracy.
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