I love muzzle flash!

[Action_Can_Do]

Hello everyone. I'm pretty new to reloading and unlike many shooters, I happen to love big, bright muzzle flash. I was wondering what powders in what cartridges have the rest of you used that delivered some really big muzzle flash?

 

[depoloni]

You don't mention a caliber.

In general, use the slowest powders (most fill in case, often but not always heavier charge weights) listed as suggested by your {several} reloading manuals as a guide.

Ones that ring a bell off-hand...

Blue Dot in 9mm... Max loads of 4227 or better yet 2400 in a 44mag...

Shorter the barrel the better. Get yourself a snubbie and darn near everything will satisfy. Personally something I try to avoid, but there you are

 

[rodregier]

.308 Win, 20" barrel. 130g projectile with near-max load of H-335. Flash and blast that scared me when I first tried it out! I imagine that it would be spectacular in a short barrel.

 

[lgbloader]

H110 in any Magnum pistol caliber.

460 Mag is absolutely scary!!! 44 mag is out of hand and 357 Mag will make everyone at the indoor range ask what it is you are shooting.

LGB

 

[jeepmor]

Blue Dot in the 10mm is pretty sweet. Anything Blue Dot loaded is usually visually impressive.

 

[748]

In a hand gun AA #7 and AA #9 work good in most rounds.
In 5.7x28mm AA #7 makes a big bright yellow flash.
For heavy magnum loads in 44 and 357 BlueDot will light the night.

In rifle, Winchester 748 in a max load with a non mag primer does ok.

H322 seems to give a mild flash.
Unique burns pretty quick so not too much flash unless your barrel is a little short.

 

[MovedWest]

Alliant 2400 in my 44 magnum revolver throws off a nice cylinder flash about 8-10 inches to either side. Not sure about muzzle flash though... can't really see past the cylinder flash.

-MW

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I think the powder which produces the most flash is Power Pistol. (handguns) W296/H110 produces a very large flash too. (more so than 2400)

 

[Shoney]

I have to agree that Power Pistol is one of the beeter (maybe even better) powders to produce flash. A safe but max load of Power Pistol in almost any pistol cartridge will produce a hansome flame that is visible at noon on a brightly lit day.

The bad side is, you can't hit beans. The good side is you won't care because the flameout will certainly make you grin from ear to ear. Accuracy is over rated anyway. The good side is you will definitely impress every onlooker with your flashiness.

The bad side. If you get in a gunfight in the dark, you will be night blind for 2-4 seconds after each shot. The good side is the perp will also be night blind.

 

[kanook]

Ruger Blackhawk in 30 carbine is a real nice FLAMETHROWER

 

[jak67429]

7-30 Waters in a 14 in contender. Also 6 in 500sw

 

[RB98SS]

Don't waste your time with any magnum handgun powder other than H110 or W296 (same powder) if you want flash. There's none that compare in .357, .44, or .50AE.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

5 feet flame two feet thick produced by winchester super X magnum 3 inch shells in my Marine MAgnum is QUITE ENOUGH thank you.

 

[dat2]

H100 in 44 I love, 'specially when I shoot my warm loads through my ruger carbine at night

 

[Stew4570]

A friend reloaded me a few hundred 45ACP rounds. I don't know what they were loaded with but the flash would blind you. It was HOLLYWOOD flash!

I load TiteGroup and there isn't much of a flash.

 

[NCsmitty]

Hard to top a short Mosin for muzzle flash.

http://www.jpgmag.com/photos/968217

NCsmitty

 

[GaryL]

I posted this in another thread before I saw this one, but what the heck.

 

[Deus Machina]

You know, I was thinking the same, now that I'm trying to track down powders.

Anyone know what would give a 2 1/2" .38 a big slow flame?

Won't even need to be accurate. Just wanna have fun.

 

[748]

1 use a jacketed bullet. Lead and bullet lube seems to quinch the flash.
From looking at my manual 110gr jacketed 38spl bullets with AA #5 would be my bet.

 

[Steve C]

Any load that uses a lot of powder will have more muzzle flash using typical canister grade powders. If you use mil surplus they often have flash suppressants in them. If you want flash, shoot in low light conditions with short barreled pistols or carbines. Rifle cartridges like the .30 carbine or 30-30 etc. in handguns usually have lots of flash.

 

[bja105]

In rifles, WC846, a surplus version of BLC2. Bright flash in daylight, blinding at dusk. It is also the loudest powder I have used. Don't shoot without hearing protection. Not appropriate for hunting.

 

[Milanodan]

I imagine a case full of H870 would "get 'er done". Think I'll try it.

 

[Hondo 60]

I noticed I had some muzzle flash when shooting 45 Colt
7.7 gr Titegroup over a 200 gr LRNFP 1.600 OAL shot out of a New Model Ruger Blackhawk 5.5"

Caution: that is the max listed charge according to Hodgdon!

 

[Archie]

Muzzle Flash!

For maximum muzzle flash - does not matter what caliber or barrel length:

Use the slowest powder available. SLOW. One wants the powder still unburnt when the bullet leaves the bore.

For the same reason, use the lightest bullet available.

Do not crimp tightly.

As one example, I offer 20 grains of 2400 - although 4895 would do well also - held in place by a small bit of cardboard and some candle wax. This in a .30-06 case. Reddish orange flame about six feet long.

 

[LightningMan]

The best (pistol) muzzle flash I got, was from shooting a 2" barreled .357 mag. using full power loads using BlueDot. LM