Another BP comparison

[Pulp]

.44-40, 200 grain bullet, Uberti SAA, 4 3/4 inch barrel

GoexFFFg 2.5cc, 750fps
GoexFFFg 2.2cc, 720fps
PyrodexRS, 2.2cc, 850fps
777 FFg, 2.2cc, 850fps

Homemade, 2.5cc, 250fps.

I think I mighta done something wrong on this batch, ya reckon. Not really sure, but I might have overcooked the charcoal. Anyway, I burned the rest of it, in a mighty flash of smoke, gonna start some more over the week-end.

 

[Smokin_Gun]

Does #cc stand for shots of Canadian Club?

I couldn't help it, I don't have my conversion chart up.

SG

 

[Redd Flynt]

Could just be a density thing. Do you compress the powder or just wet screen it?

 

[sundance44s]

Thats why I don`t try to make my own powder ...better luck next time.

 

[Pulp]

RedFlynt, I just wet screen it. I've been tryin' to figger out a way to compress it some (other than by seating a bullet) and haven't really come up with anything yet. I'm thinkin' on putting the wetted powder into a length of PVC pipe with a cap on one end with a small hole drilled through the cap, then finding a dowel rod that will just fit into the pipe and trying that for compression.

Any other ideas would be appreciated.

By the way, the first powder I made gave me 1000+fps out of a .44 cap and ball, but only around 500 out of the .44-40.

 

[alemonkey]

Just curious, what kind of wood do you use to make the charcoal? I'd like to try my hand at making my own, but I need to track down a source of charcoal. I think my dad has some willow trees on his land, IIRC.

 

[Voodoochile]

Willow or Alder would be the best source for charcoal.

My problem in manufacturing my own is having the facility to do it without my lil ones possibly getting into it or worse.

 

[Redd Flynt]

Pulp;

Sounds like your powder is OK, just not dense enough. Wet screened powder probably has a density of about 1.2 give or take. Wet pressing will give a much higher density. I press mine at 3,000 psi and get 1.7 density.

Charcoal is perhaps 90% of the whole process. Over cooking is a source of poor performance. The wood is important but most wood will still work, just don't over cook it. I limit my temperature to 350 C by use of a good thermometer. Charcoal is NOT pure carbon, it contains hydrogen and trace amounts of other elements.

That's about it.