Fast Burning Powders

[RedHawk357Mag]

If one looks at the several Burn Rate Charts that are available around here on the net; you would see BullsEye or RedDot on the upper shelf then TiteGroup followed by W31 or HP38 with the last two competing for their slot like RedDot and Bullseye. So I am guessing the above powders are considered "Fast"? And since they are fast do they have any business pushing 158 gr LSWC or 240 gr LSWC around at any speed? Lets say the limit with these powders would be 900-1000 FPS. Or should they be limited to use in bullet weights of 148 gr DEWC and 180 gr RNFP? Now I know there is data for all the above, the rnds go boom, some are plenty accurate, but is it excessive wear on the gun? Loads of course are 357 and 44; guns are Ruger and S&W listed alphabetically of course

 

[USSR]

Lets say the limit with these powders would be 900-1000 FPS. Or should they be limited to use in bullet weights of 148 gr DEWC and 180 gr RNFP? Now I know there is data for all the above, the rnds go boom, some are plenty accurate, but is it excessive wear on the gun?

As long as you stay within the pressure spec's for the cartridge, there is no more wear on your gun using faster burn rate powders.

Don

 

[JimKirk]

Are you thinking out loud or do you want some of us to confirm what you've already figured out? From some of your post it looks like you're making to much fuss over what powders you want. Your best solution would be to get several of the latest reloading manual and read. Pick a load that best suits what you're wanting to do and go with it. Any powder you put in a case will go boom, some with a much better boom than others. Like I said pick a load work with it and if it does not do what you want, then move on to the next better load. That is why most reloaders have shelves full of different powders. If you reload very long you will find "loads" that don't work and you have to try others.
Now for the loads in question this is from the Speer # manual;
357 Mag 158 LSWC :
Bulleye 4.3 grs. - 4.8 grs. 848-939 fps
W231 4.9 grs. - 5.4 grs. 897-989 fps
HP 38 4.5 grs. - 5.0 grs. 839-932 fps

44 Mag. 240 LSWC:
Bullseye 5.5 grs. - 6.0 grs. 828-894 fps
W231 6.0 grs. - 6.5 grs 808-867 fps
Red Dot 6.0 grs. - 6.5 grs. 871-905 fps

Jimmy K

 

[Saint Dennis]

I loaded thousands of rounds using W231 under 158 gr LSWC and 240 gr LSWC in .357 and .44 respectively. I also use it in .45 ACP and .45 Colt. Clean burning, no leading, nicely accurate target loads. I noted no wear issues nor did I expect any. I switched to Trailboss in the .44 and .357. I like the full cases it provides (no chance of a double charge) and am pleased with that fast burning powder also. Small amounts of fast burn rate powder for light plinking loads, big scoops of appropriate slow burning powder for more velocity (and recoil, muzzle blast and zombie killing ability)

 

[rcmodel]

Bullseye was the original powder used in factory ammo for about the first half of the 20th. century.
That included 158 & 200 grain bullets in the 38 Special, and 230 grain bullets in the .45 ACP..

As long as you don't try to reach magnum velocity with fast powder you are fine.

rc

 

[Galil5.56]

With regard to where I generally find "Max" loadings for a given cartridge, Clays is about as "fast"/peaky as it gets, then Red Dot, Bullseye, then WW231.

Unlike some fast propellants, Clays is very unforgiving, and will pressure spike with very little extra charge weight. For me, Bullseye is well behaved, not anywhere as near "peaky" as Clays, and not as "fast" in my experience as others will tell you. WW231/HP-38 falls between Bullseye and Unique in my experience, and a lot "slower" than Bullseye. Of course lot-to-lot variance does exist, but I base my observations from burning a lot of different lots over many years.

 

[Walkalong]

Bullseye is indeed much better behaved than Clays. 700X and AA #2 are two more fast powders that are pretty forgiving.

 

[rfwobbly]

Another useful resource is the Vihtavuori powder chart that shows the powder speeds relative to each other. I'm not convinced the chart is 100% perfect, but if you're changing powder BRANDS is search of a slightly different powder speed, then this chart has some merit...

CLICK HERE and look on page 2.

 

[RedHawk357Mag]

Thanks everyone for your time and input. I agree I have found several nice loadings meeting all the noted criteria above. What I wasn't really certain about was if faster powders in published load manuals caused more wear than say slower powders held within the published guidelines. Re-barreling one of my guns isn't an option and neither is not shooting it on a regular basis. Again I appreciate everyone's input in putting my mind more at ease and for references you have provided.

 

[GP100man]

Redhawk357Mag

I think what your askin is concernin the pressure spike of powder burn.

The "faster" powders reach there peak pressure sooner thus having less time at optimum pressure to push on the bullet , thus causing slower velocities. Then addin more of said powder is where we get into trouble !!

I hope this helps even if a little.