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"Calibrating" Powder Flask
- Thread starter tpelle
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I doubt the increase in moisture would vary the powder volume very much.
And I don't see anyone here saying it does. The moisture content affects weight far more than the volume. That's why we go by volume when measuring BP and subs. Smokeless powder doesn't absorb moisture to nearly the same degree, so we can measure it by weight as it remains consistent.
O.K. Here we go. I finally did it.
Taking my adjustable powder measure, I set it to 50 grains and took five sample weights each of FFg and FFFg to get the average weights thrown. Then I measured the actual cylindrical cavity of the measure to convert to water-mass in grains to see how accurate the measure itself is.
Here are the results:
Measure set to 50 grains.
FFg average weight 45.2 grains.
FFFg average weight 46.2 grains.
Actual water volume weight 52.6 grains.
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So, my measure is not spot on, but is accurate enough for field use (50 gr. vs. 52.6 gr.).
In this case, a 52.6 volumetric measure threw 45.2 gr. FFg, and 46.2 gr. FFFg for these batches of Goex powder in this storage environment. Your results will vary, but I'd wager that the actual weight of powder will always be less than the volumetric weight unless it is nearly saturated with water.
If you are weighing your charges on a balance based on a certain published "weight" of BP, your charges are actually more.
The only proper use of a balance or scale with BP would be to weigh a charge thrown from a volumetric measure, then use that actual weight (not the volumetric weight) to weigh each individual charge for consistency.
Taking my adjustable powder measure, I set it to 50 grains and took five sample weights each of FFg and FFFg to get the average weights thrown. Then I measured the actual cylindrical cavity of the measure to convert to water-mass in grains to see how accurate the measure itself is.
Here are the results:
Measure set to 50 grains.
FFg average weight 45.2 grains.
FFFg average weight 46.2 grains.
Actual water volume weight 52.6 grains.
-----------
So, my measure is not spot on, but is accurate enough for field use (50 gr. vs. 52.6 gr.).
In this case, a 52.6 volumetric measure threw 45.2 gr. FFg, and 46.2 gr. FFFg for these batches of Goex powder in this storage environment. Your results will vary, but I'd wager that the actual weight of powder will always be less than the volumetric weight unless it is nearly saturated with water.
If you are weighing your charges on a balance based on a certain published "weight" of BP, your charges are actually more.
The only proper use of a balance or scale with BP would be to weigh a charge thrown from a volumetric measure, then use that actual weight (not the volumetric weight) to weigh each individual charge for consistency.
Thanks for the answer.
Sorry, the other post refers to a post earlier in this string. It was supposed to enter just below that one but didn't for some reason?
Yea, I thought rain wouldn't affect the powder much.
By "volume" seems to be the only way that the measure (Flask Spout or adjustable measure) could work! Even if the Black Powder weight was correct, the substitutes should weigh in differentlly.
ZVP
Sorry, the other post refers to a post earlier in this string. It was supposed to enter just below that one but didn't for some reason?
Yea, I thought rain wouldn't affect the powder much.
By "volume" seems to be the only way that the measure (Flask Spout or adjustable measure) could work! Even if the Black Powder weight was correct, the substitutes should weigh in differentlly.
ZVP
Even if the Black Powder weight was correct, the substitutes should weigh in differentlly.
The different granulations have different densities (weights) as well. See my previous post. The volume is just a reference point based on the weight of water.
ZVP said:I doubt the increase in moisture would vary the powder volume very much.
The moisture level in the powder won't change the volume in a measurable way. It will however change the weight. How quickly? It probably takes days I would assume.
The only issue you have to keep in mind when shooting in the rain is keeping the powder dry.
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