Yep, always
Identifing powder
- Thread starter Deadeyejedi
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CoalTrain49
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With only 4 powders you should be able to ID it. Poor a few grains of each on a plate and look at them with a magnifying glass. Then look at the mystery powder to see if it matches any on your plate.
You can also use this to ID powder.
https://www.ilrc.ucf.edu/powders/sa...ltOrder=Sorter_distributor_code&resultDir=ASC
Powder usually falls into 3 groups. Flake, ball and extruded. I only use three different powders.
You can also use this to ID powder.
https://www.ilrc.ucf.edu/powders/sa...ltOrder=Sorter_distributor_code&resultDir=ASC
Powder usually falls into 3 groups. Flake, ball and extruded. I only use three different powders.
CoalTrain49
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I make my own labels and paste them in every box of ammo I make. I think I use google sheets for that. I then cut them to size to match my ammo box top.
BushMaster-15
member
Not sure as to what You're asking in relation to that post reference ?. Can You clarify please .
Use a magnifying glass if necessary and Identify the powder . Hodgdons is gonna be brown or tan hue as opposed to charcoal or grey hue .
IF the measure hasn't been touched ,it should be a NO brainer as the load would dictate the powder type from what he was previously loading, correct ?.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hx6hqn6oale02kb/AAAEg8bxDS3hpPWAqgxbzfH-a?dl=0
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AJC1
Member
I'm talking about loading rounds for a test comparison. 3 of h4350 3 imr 4350 and 3 of the unknown. With 3 rounds each to smooth out SD you should be able to know. That's understanding you know those are the only two choices.
garandsrus
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Here is a site with very good pictures of most powders as well as their physical characteristics. It should be easy to tell Imr-4350 and H-4350 apart. They have a different color and kernel length.
https://www.ilrc.ucf.edu/powders/sample_detail.php?powder_id=1
https://www.ilrc.ucf.edu/powders/sample_detail.php?powder_id=1
BushMaster-15
member
I used to have gopher problems ,where we previously lived , USED to being the key word . If I had which I always did ,contaminated powder ,shotgun pistol rifle loading same bench powders spill occasionally ,so9 I sweep them all together and make a fuse .
I then would get My Oxygen Acetylene torches . Find a nice clear hole and open the torch gas after stuffing the head down the hole . Then grab a handful of sawdust remove torch after a few minutes ,put fuse in hole cover with sawdust . Light fuse and stand back
One fine afternoon I was in the midst of said act ,shop phone rang and I left the Torch running a little longer than anticipated .
As we lived on lager parcel of Acreage and had groves of Avos and Grapefruit trees among others wasn't like I had immediate neighbors . I also had My own range . Anyway I lit it and it went off like an earthquake , two of MY neighbors called and asked IF I knew what the hell that was
NO more Gophers for over a year ,actually My next door neighbor bought a jackhammer ,so as to put a massive French drainage system in his grove . Gophers came back . We listened to that damn jackhammer for 10-15 hr. a day for 7 months 7 days a week .
My Neighbor was an original Airborne Ranger D Day and a Retired Colonel . Now at 83 at the time and he worked mortal men into Shame,the man was fascinating as he also taught literature at a State college . Real Work ethic Died when Jack passed away !.
BushMaster-15
member
Yes OK ,I was somewhat confused as what was being tested ?. As I was focused on him identifying the powder and hopefully the charge ,without having to firing anything . It's why I originally asked what he was loading with 4350 . And IF the powder measure had NOT been changed ,it would be a NO brainer . Throw a few loads check weight .
That's WHY I put masking tape on MY powder throws ,as it's Not uncommon for Me to load pistols on one press rifle on another and occasionally will do some shotshells as well . So walking away I'm competent when I return , I KNOW what's what ,as the charge and bullet weights as well as powder are on the masking tape , on top of the powder throw or dispensers . And as I generally only have #3 different powders out ,it's Not difficult to know which is which . Shotgun flake powder , Rifle is extruded or ball and pistol is always different depending upon caliber the 650 is set for . So easy peasy Japanesee as a friend of mine always says
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Bcwitt
Member
Acetylene is no joke.I used to have gopher problems ,where we previously lived , USED to being the key word . If I had which I always did ,contaminated powder ,shotgun pistol rifle loading same bench powders spill occasionally ,so9 I sweep them all together and make a fuse .
I then would get My Oxygen Acetylene torches . Find a nice clear hole and open the torch gas after stuffing the head down the hole . Then grab a handful of sawdust remove torch after a few minutes ,put fuse in hole cover with sawdust . Light fuse and stand back
One fine afternoon I was in the midst of said act ,shop phone rang and I left the Torch running a little longer than anticipated .
As we lived on lager parcel of Acreage and had groves of Avos and Grapefruit trees among others wasn't like I had immediate neighbors . I also had My own range . Anyway I lit it and it went off like an earthquake , two of MY neighbors called and asked IF I knew what the hell that was
NO more Gophers for over a year ,actually My next door neighbor bought a jackhammer ,so as to put a massive French drainage system in his grove . Gophers came back . We listened to that damn jackhammer for 10-15 hr. a day for 7 months 7 days a week .
My Neighbor was an original Airborne Ranger D Day and a Retired Colonel . Now at 83 at the time and he worked mortal men into Shame,the man was fascinating as he also taught literature at a State college . Real Work ethic Died when Jack passed away !.
AJC1
Member
This one time I thought it was, and I built a marble cannon with pvc. Thank God I used a solar ignitor for an ignition source and I was around the corner of our stucko house. I was scrubbing char off the walls and using pliers to pull pvc out of the wood fence.... and that's one of many times I almost died.
Bcwitt
Member
I used it to make a tennis ball gun from beer cans. The can burst, my hand was all numb & bleeding. Never found the ball.
AJC1
Member
Hair spray is a much less dangerous propellant from all the spud gun videos. Once I learned about proper propellants all that ended. For that same reason I kinda fear black powder. Smokeless is really great stuff with tons of engineering behind what we do. I don't mind max loads but life has taught me to remain well on the reservation.
Bcwitt
Member
Love the can. What year was that?
Bcwitt
Member
Im not likely to try again, but thanks for the tip.
In my opinion, this is a teaching moment. Dump the powder and learn from it. Change your practices to prevent the same issue in the future.
It can be “painful” financially but so can a damaged hand or face from a gun blowing up if you guess wrong.
I do enough stupid things that could get me hurt, I do not need to by pass safety procedures that I can control.
It can be “painful” financially but so can a damaged hand or face from a gun blowing up if you guess wrong.
I do enough stupid things that could get me hurt, I do not need to by pass safety procedures that I can control.
lordpaxman
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Since you have both H and IMR 4350, see if you can visually tell which one is in the powder measure. There seems to be quite a visual difference in the online pictures, but, that might not be what you can see on the bench. I wouldn’t waste anymore time than a visual inspection.
Or you could dump a small sample of each, with your mystery powder in the center, and post it here WITHOUT telling us what the known samples are, and we’ll tell you which it is!
Or you could dump a small sample of each, with your mystery powder in the center, and post it here WITHOUT telling us what the known samples are, and we’ll tell you which it is!
I leave powder in my hoppers pretty much all the time. But I also put a sticky note with the powder name on it INSIDE the hopper. Even if the sticky part fails, the paper simply rests on top of the powder. When it's time to refill a given hopper, I grab the powder listed on the sticky.
I also have a similar number of powders available (maybe 1-2 more). Offhand I would say all of my powders are visually distinctive to the point that I would have no trouble identifying them all side by side. If there was any question though I would recommend dumping out the powder in the hopper.
I also have a similar number of powders available (maybe 1-2 more). Offhand I would say all of my powders are visually distinctive to the point that I would have no trouble identifying them all side by side. If there was any question though I would recommend dumping out the powder in the hopper.
OP
OP
Deadeyejedi
Member
I’ve had time now to get in my loading room and organize some things. Feel dumb even asking the original question because it’s visually obvious what was in the powder measure now that I’ve had time to look at it .I will be much more organized in the future though.as seen in the pics it’s the color not so much the shape is the give away. These powders are very close in burn rate and looking at some of my load data ( also found that )I’ve loaded 100 grain 243 bullets with 40 grains of each powder haven’t tested for which one is more accurate yet .
It just got opened. They were still selling those when I started reloading in the late 1970's. I have them for a couple kinds of Hercules powder from that time frame.
h
I do much the same except I use Avery stick on labels... https://www.avery.ca/en/products/labels/white-rectangle-labels.html?p=2
BushMaster-15
member
Especially when oxygen is Mixed ,it EXPLODES rather than simply burning . Our neighbor which was catercorner and perhaps 80-100 yd. from where I detonated ,said he found a dead gopher at our closed intersection of properties . He was a Master Gardner and used to Own the Royal Hawaiian Bee Company and raised Queens shipping them world wide for over #40 years . Before retiring and moving in next to us and what GREAT neighbors and GREAT friends he and His wife became .
Allen Luce modernized the Bee keeping profession , one of the most sensible minds I'd ever had the pleasure of dealing with . He also enjoyed Hunting and shooting along with Golfing . He was one heck of an apiarist . His college professor was one of the men responsible for accidentally losing Africanized Bees in South America ,after hit by a hurricane .
https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/B-55.pdf
https://hilo.hawaii.edu/academics/cafnrm/research/documents/J_Haw_5_003.pdf
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