Learn the powders

[32_d3gr33s]

So I've been reloading for about 6 months now... And up until this point I was reloading just to save money. Currently I reload for 9mm, .38 spl and .357 mag. I've got a couple powders, that I bought strictly on availability and didn't know anything about them. I just decided to start reloading for .223 and decided this would be a good time to learn more about all the differences in powder. I have a little "general" knowledge on powder, but with so many recommendations on different powders for different applications, I'm just curious on where one starts learning more in depth about powders...

What sources are the most popular about learning powders, and their burn rates, intended applications and so on? I've looked on different manufacturers websites and read a little about their powders. There is sooo many different ones though, so is there some sort of combined database for the majority of powders? Thanks

 

[Magnum Shooter]

Lyman’s 49th has a section on powders, types, uses, and burn rates.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

You are correct, there are soooo many powders now and IMO that's a good thing.

Since all the companies seem to have powders that do exactly what the other company's powders do, you might want to choose a company and learn their powders. I use mostly Hodgdon/ IMR/ Winchester powders because they are very available where i live and the price is right. (under normal circumstances) I like Alliant and Accurate powders but they are very hard to find here, especially rifle powders. Like I said, each company has a powder that will do the same as the other company's powder and most will do a good job.

 

[32_d3gr33s]

Lyman’s 49th has a section on powders, types, uses, and burn rates.

More reloading manuals is always a good thing, plus I hear that manual recommended for numerous other reasons as well. Definitely will have to pick that one up. Thanks!

You are correct, there are soooo many powders now and IMO that's a good thing.

Since all the companies seem to have powders that do exactly what the other company's powders do, you might want to choose a company and learn their powders. I use mostly Hodgdon/ IMR/ Winchester powders because they are very available where i live and the price is right. (under normal circumstances) I like Alliant and Accurate powders but they are very hard to find here, especially rifle powders. Like I said, each company has a powder that will do the same as the other company's powder and most will do a good job.

Lots of choices is definitely a good thing!! I have 5 different Alliant powders right now because that's what I found in stock when I started reloading. I picked up some imr 4895 to try on the .223. I came across a chart at one point that had powders listed in order of burn rate... Have to see if I can find it back.

 

[KansasSasquatch]

There's at least 3 powder manufacturers/packagers that have published burn rate charts. Hodgdon, Vihta Vouri, and Accurate.
http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Burn Rates_121211.pdf
http://www.lapua.com/upload/reloading/reloadingburningratechart2011.pdf
http://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/burn_rates.pdf

 

[beatledog7]

Currently I reload for 9mm, .38 spl and .357 mag. I've got a couple powders, that I bought strictly on availability and didn't know anything about them. I just decided to start reloading for .223 and decided this would be a good time to learn more about all the differences in powder.

I see a potential here for trouble. You load three cartridges that have little in common on terms of pressure limits, case capacity, velocity, etc., yet you say you bought powder for them without regard for the differences in powders. Yikes! And now you've decided to load .223 and figured now you'd learn about these differences.

I suggest you back up a bit and study the powders you have and why they work or don't work in the cartridges you already load. Burn rate is just one characteristic, and it does not tell the whole story of why a powder is a good, bad or ok choice for any particular cartridge and purpose.

A good way to learn about powders is the study load data from several manuals (such as Lyman 49), and note:

1) What powders are listed for a cartridge you load?
2) What other cartridge listings include pretty much those same powders?
3) How are those cartridges similar in concept, pressure limits, case capacity, velocities. etc. How do they differ?
4) Which powders are not listed in any manual for a given cartridge?
5) Which powders seem to be listed for lots of cartridges? Which for very few?

And so on...

Do this, and you'll begin to see trends that don't always track with burn rate charts (which, btw, don't agree even with each other 100%) and you'll begin developing a sense for what powders are suitable for a given "family" of cartridges. Still, unless you have access to the same kind of laboratory the reloading companies have, stick with published data and be safe.

 

[40-82]

I reload for several dozen calibers, and I have been reloading since the early 60's, and there are more powders out there that I haven't used than I have. Read every reloading manuel you can get your hands on and every powder or bullet manufacturer's website.

Sometimes knowing about little used powders can pay off. During this recent shortage most of the popular pistol powders were hard to find, but I was able to find PB and Green Dot. Alliant's website no longer listed pistol loads for Green Dot, but my older sources did.

 

[all357mag]

Handloads.com has 'em all covered! I use this site and the Lee Reloading Manual.

 

[243winxb]

Powders

Alliant & Hodgdon has data that lists the best choice of powders that will work with the bullet weight you choose, for your cartridge. Burning rates of powder is just a closed bomb test used to rate them. In different cartridges, powders act differently. General info on powders can be found here > http://firearmsid.com/Feature%20Articles/McCord_gunpowder/index.htm Powders that may work well with 223 rem & different bullet weights & barrel twists can be found here. http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/223rem/ The Sierra links for bolt or auto give accuracy loads. Older data but still useful. The MSDS sheets available give more info on who the manufacture is and country from. http://www.hodgdon.com/msds.html Interesting, but not much use to a reloader. In general, the lightest bullet for the caliber/cartridge will use the faster burn rate of the powder available in the data. The heavest bullets will tend to use slower burn rates for the same cartridge. Fast powder may be used for the heavest bullet, but velocity may not be the maximum available FPS

 

[243winxb]

Combined loading data can be found at Steve's http://www.stevespages.com/page8a.htm Start low and work up the powder charge.

 

[gamestalker]

Consideration that you've got 6 months or so behind those 3 cartridges with what you started with, your doing pretty well. So I wouldn't suggest that there is any potential for trouble by any means. With little effort most anyone could find one single powder that would perform reasonably well for just about any handgun cartridge.

With 9mm and 38 spcl. one powder will handle those two with stellar performance. And with very little effort one single powder could function reasonably well for all three, however you wouldn't be getting magnum loads from the .357 without having to push the limits with that one single powder, and even then?

As for powder burn rate charts, they can be difficult to correlate regarding cartridge application, and in terms of what performs best in what cartridge. What I find most helpful, and the method I've been using for over 30 years, is too use my reloading books and work from the charge tables. This allows you to see the best accuracy, and the best hunting loads, velocity estimates, and even pressure estimates in some, and load density. It will also show what powders best apply to lead, plated in some, and jacketed. Charts don't indicate which powders apply to which cartridges, they only show a generalized burn rate, which won't do much to help you in determining application as per cartridge.

GS

 

[BullfrogKen]

Beatle - 38 Special & 9mm are similar enough many times the same powder can be used in both. I do it all the time with AA No 5. There are many others, I just prefer No 5.


Like other reloaders, there are many more powders available on the market for any given caliber than I'll ever try myself. Some of that is a result of "this works good enough" and I stopped any further load development. Or maybe your local shop just doesn't stock that particular powder brand. Example - I've used VihtaVuori powder, but I had to have it special ordered. Some shops don't stock Accurate powders. So you might just have to see what your local shop stocks and use that knowledge to narrow your choices.

Get a manual or two by a bullet manufacturer, like Sierra or Hornady, or an equipment manufacturer, like Lyman, Lee or Hornady. I think Lee's book is the most exhaustive on the topic, and I like Sierra's and Lyman's for the in depth articles they put in the manuals.

Any one of those references won't cater to a specific powder brand, so you'll get some variety. But the best way is to just read up, use some, and see what you prefer. There are still times I go into a shop and see a new powder in stock I've never used. I'll Find an employee and see if they have some of the little promotional booklets the powder company's send out to the shops. Once you've done this for a while you can get a feel for what powder works in which applications, and then I'll decide if I want to try it or not.

 

[32_d3gr33s]

Thanks for the responses! I can see the concern thinking that i bought random powders to just "try" in the 3 calibers that i load for. I assure you that is not what i did. I didnt know much about the powders when i bought them, but made sure that they would work for the caliber that i wanted to load for. I mostly load my 9 with green dot, the .38 ive also load with green dot, and just started testing some with red dot. I load the .357 with 2400, just because i dont shoot that enough to try anything else yet. I also have power pistol and blue dot.

Reason for waiting until to learn more in-depth about the powders, is because in my handguns i was merely interested in what works. I had no need for the most "accurate" load. Im not steady enough for it really to make a huge difference. Granted, i still worked up numerous loads for them, and picked what was the best. Im still not even done with working up loads though, Ive got a go-to load for each caliber, but i still have powders and different bullets to try. Started off with a few weight bullets in FMJ and Lead for all 3.

Now that im getting into rifle, I assume Im going to be a lot more concerned with accuracy, because at long distance, a little variation in accuracy can make a huge difference. Again, Thanks for a the responses! Ive already started looking through a few of the links provided. Now im not much of a book connoisseur, but does any one know if stores such as barnes and noble carry reloading books, or is it better to order online? The couple that i have now, i ordered through midway, with some of the reloading equipment when i bought it. Thanks!

 

[Kp321]

For a more technical approach, Wolfe Publishing has a book, Propellent Profiles, that has a ton of information on the various powders.

 

[beatledog7]

Beatle - 38 Special & 9mm are similar enough many times the same powder can be used in both. I do it all the time with AA No 5. There are many others, I just prefer No 5.

I use many of the same powders in both .38SPL and 9mm as well, but in contrast to the OP's statement, I do understand those powders' characteristics.

That's where I saw the potential problem--buying powders based on being able to find them. We've been seeing a lot of "How much RL22 should I use in my .40S&W rounds" and the like (ok, that was an extreme example), and I was concerned this would be another.

Note that the OP doesn't even state until a later post (after mine) what powders those were, nor did he discuss range results. For all anyone knew he had never even fired any of those rounds.

I'm glad everything is good.

 

[BullfrogKen]

32, Barnes & Nobles wont have those manuals in the store. Order them at Midway, buy them from Amazon, or get them where you buy your powder. My local shop usually has Sierra's book in stock, along with a few others.