These are the things which go through my head - I was thinking about powders - how do they measure burn rate? Is there a formula or procedure they use?
So where is this going? Well, I was thinking, in order to get the most efficiency out of a rifle, and possibly to achieve the most optimal speed for a given barrel length, wouldn't one want a powder which completely burns out at exactly the same moment the bullet leaves the barrel? More powder creates greater pressure which would allow the bullet to exit faster, but then there would be a lot of unburned powder. Faster bullet - more wasted powder. If the powder burned out at the bullet exit time, the speed and powder efficiency would be optimal. Yes?
Now that I'm thinking about it, how does one measure the time it takes from primer strike to the time the bullet exits the barrel? Factors such as crimp or neck tension, barrel length, burn rate, primer power, bullet friction, etc all need to be taken into consideration. How is this measured? Is there really any science to any of this, or do we simple cram a bullet into a case full of powder and measure it's performance through the use of chronographs and accuracy? I'm beginning to think that it's all witch craft anyway!
Your thoughts? (try not to think too hard about the infinate possibilities or you too will be up all night discussing various combinations and scenarios with yourself!)
So where is this going? Well, I was thinking, in order to get the most efficiency out of a rifle, and possibly to achieve the most optimal speed for a given barrel length, wouldn't one want a powder which completely burns out at exactly the same moment the bullet leaves the barrel? More powder creates greater pressure which would allow the bullet to exit faster, but then there would be a lot of unburned powder. Faster bullet - more wasted powder. If the powder burned out at the bullet exit time, the speed and powder efficiency would be optimal. Yes?
Now that I'm thinking about it, how does one measure the time it takes from primer strike to the time the bullet exits the barrel? Factors such as crimp or neck tension, barrel length, burn rate, primer power, bullet friction, etc all need to be taken into consideration. How is this measured? Is there really any science to any of this, or do we simple cram a bullet into a case full of powder and measure it's performance through the use of chronographs and accuracy? I'm beginning to think that it's all witch craft anyway!
Your thoughts? (try not to think too hard about the infinate possibilities or you too will be up all night discussing various combinations and scenarios with yourself!)