sorry this is a noob question but i've been buying bullets and notice they come in different grain. i know it has to do with the mass/fineness of the powder what does it mean exactly? higher the number means finer? burn faster? i bought two types of bullets in .40 s.w. one 135 grain and the other 160 grain. what's the difference? one of the bullets just happens to be almost 3 times more expensive than the other.
grain question
- Thread starter trigga
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Linear Thinker
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Grains is the weight measure, nothing else - 7000 grains to a pound.
Mainly used by pharmacists of old times, the measure has been traditionally used by ammunition makers and reloaders for both the bullet weights and powder charge weights.
No relationship to burning rate.
LT
Mainly used by pharmacists of old times, the measure has been traditionally used by ammunition makers and reloaders for both the bullet weights and powder charge weights.
No relationship to burning rate.
LT
Both projectile weight and propellant weight are expressed in grains.
For example, a typical handloaded 9mm firing a 115 grain bullet is propelled by 4.5 grains of Bullseye propellant. Density of that 4.5 grains of propellant is dependent upon the properties of the propellant. Some propellants are more dense than others.
Also, the 115 grains of the bullet can be observed in multiple forms (hollowpoint, lead, full metal jacket....ie. 115 grains is 115 grains)
Ed
For example, a typical handloaded 9mm firing a 115 grain bullet is propelled by 4.5 grains of Bullseye propellant. Density of that 4.5 grains of propellant is dependent upon the properties of the propellant. Some propellants are more dense than others.
Also, the 115 grains of the bullet can be observed in multiple forms (hollowpoint, lead, full metal jacket....ie. 115 grains is 115 grains)
Ed
The Bushmaster
Member
trigga...You need to buy a loading manual. Might I recommend Lyman's 48th Edition for your first of many loading manuals. And read it..You seem to be confused between grains of powder and bullet weight. Two different things I assure you. Powder charges for a given round is determined by weight of a given powder in grains and bullets of different types and sizes are also determined by weight in grains. Please don't confuse them. Hummm. Seems I may have confused myself here..
..Just buy a manual and read it...
..Just buy a manual and read it...Both bullet weight and powder weight are measured in grains.
For example: a .45 ACP bullet might be in 185 gr, 200gr, or 230gr sizes.
The amount of powder a reloader might add could be 3.8 gr or 4.5gr or 5.6gr.
The burn rates and "hotness" of a particular powder are dependent on a particular brand/type of powder. Some burn hotter, slower, or faster. If one is reloading, one would check the manufacturer's powder tables. It might be said, that for powder X and with bullet weight Y that one should not use more than such and such amount of powder. If over that amount of recommended powder, it would be considered unsafe. (If too little powder, it would also be considered unsafe as well as it wouldn't get the bullet out of the barrel.)
For example: a .45 ACP bullet might be in 185 gr, 200gr, or 230gr sizes.
The amount of powder a reloader might add could be 3.8 gr or 4.5gr or 5.6gr.
The burn rates and "hotness" of a particular powder are dependent on a particular brand/type of powder. Some burn hotter, slower, or faster. If one is reloading, one would check the manufacturer's powder tables. It might be said, that for powder X and with bullet weight Y that one should not use more than such and such amount of powder. If over that amount of recommended powder, it would be considered unsafe. (If too little powder, it would also be considered unsafe as well as it wouldn't get the bullet out of the barrel.)
Linear Thinker
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Trigga - grains measurement is just the weight, can be either the bullet weight, or powder's. The two are inversely related - if the bullet is heavier, it leaves less room for the powder.
You must use the powder that's appropriate for the caliber - for 40S&W it's the medium burning pistol powders (Unique, AA5, Universal). Bad things will happen if you don't. I have 25-year-old splinters in my hand to remind me of heeding the reloading manuals and not trusting other people's reloads.
Get a reloading manual, find a reloading buddy.
LT
You must use the powder that's appropriate for the caliber - for 40S&W it's the medium burning pistol powders (Unique, AA5, Universal). Bad things will happen if you don't. I have 25-year-old splinters in my hand to remind me of heeding the reloading manuals and not trusting other people's reloads.
Get a reloading manual, find a reloading buddy.
LT
i don't plan on making loading my own ammo. i was just confused of what i was buying and what was the purpose why one was more expensive nearly 3 times the price... now i have a bit more understanding. i just couldn't find a brief discription. correct me if i'm wrong but as to bullets, the lighter the grain, the faster the velocity, but less penitraiton/damage. and the heavier, is the other way around... so for hunting you want something in between, heavier for bigger game...
scrat
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when you buy ammunition like for your 30-06 you might pick up a box of remington looking at it and not knowing much you might choose 150 grain. now what does that mean when your buying ammunition. It means the case has a 150 grain (in weight) bullet. Thats it. nothing dealing with powder. nothing at all. all that is mentioned is 150 grain. for the bullet.
so when you buy a 150 grain compared to the 180 grain, there is nothing different although the 180 may be more besides weight. and that's it... what i mentioned above was that the heavier grain will do more damaged and the lighter will go faster.... that's what i was trying to say... like throwing a tennis ball compared to a base ball.
shadowalker
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Typically lighter bullets are propelled to a higher velocity, heavier bullets are slower because they develop higher pressure but they tend to penetrate more deeply because they have more mass and more momentum. There are many things that influence performance other than weight, bullet construction for example. A heavy weight but lightly constructed match bullet might not perform as well as a lighter but more strongly constructed bonded bullet.
You might google terminal ballistics, there is some good information out there that might give you what you are looking for.
You might google terminal ballistics, there is some good information out there that might give you what you are looking for.
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