Low muzzle flash reloads

[Tony k]

All things being equal, do faster burning powders produce less muzzle flash?

Or, are there other more important factors that trump burn rate?

just curious

 

[Blue68f100]

In general yes but it depends on the round and barrel length. Commercially produced powder has an added compound to powder. Like all commercial ammo is using a special canister blend not available to us.

 

[spitballer]

A faster powder seems to produce a softer report and less muzzle upset in my .223. Seems to burn cleaner, too, probably because of a more complete combustion before discharge.

 

[Dave P]

Yes.

That is one nice feature of quickload - it tells you how much powder is burned in the barrel of YOUR gun. Like, 80% or 90%, etc.

I try to pick a powder that hits 100% for a given barrel length, bullet, etc and I end up with minimal flash/flame from the muzzle (which is typically the result of un-burned powder burning out in front of the gun).

 

[sexybeast]

Less powder/less presure usually will give less flash. You can really make a flash with Bullseye! When I used it in 40 with light bullets I would get 6-8 inch muzzle flash.
Titegroup too, I use 4.6 behind a 200 gr lswc and there is very little flash, a friend uses 5.2 with the same bullet and there is quite a bit!
Some powders "flash" more than others. I don't think burn speed is all to do with it.

 

[Walkalong]

A heavy load with a slow burning powder is more apt to have muzzle flash than a light load of fast burning powder, but a powder with flash suppressant is the way to go for low flash.

 

[Tony k]

Thanks

Dave P: is quickload a computer program?

Walkalong: what powders have flash supressants? My first guess would be powders originally inteded for tactical or military calibers. Win748? Tac? maybe even CFE223? What about handgun powders?

I can tell you from experience that flash supression was not a consideration for my bulgarian 7.62x54r surplus ammo. I once used my M44 in a match at the range. The other competitors complained that the foot and a half long fireball coming out the end of my barrel was distracting

 

[Walkalong]

what powders have flash supressants?

I wish I had a list. A little research should turn up a few.

 

[jeffreybehr]

Tony k: 'what powders have flash supressants?'

Well, you could search for muzzleflash or muzzle flash and hope to find an article written by the Phoenix Police Department years ago. I had link saved but it no longer works.

I've done a bunch of research and posted it here...
http://jeffreybehr.zenfolio.com/

Of the less-than-dozen handgun powders I've tried, I can tell you that--
HIGH-flash powders include Longshot, 800X, A5, and 3N37.
LOW-flash powders include 4756, Universal, WSF, A7, A9, N105, and my fave in my 357SIGs and .45ACPs, HS-6.

I've asked Hodgdon about CFE Pistol--had several exchanges with a Mike Daly. Hodgdon apparently does not test for MF, and Mr. Daly had no idea where CFE-P was on the MF scale.

Here's a slightly enhanced, artsy-fartsy pic of MF.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

One low-flash powder for handguns is Winchester Auto-Comp. I recently bought a pound and have had excellent results and very little flash.

 

[TfflHndn]

Silhouette also has minimal flash. Power Pistol, on the other hand, huge flash.

 

[Glocktogo]

For semi-auto pistols, Solo 1000 and WST are low flash. Solo 1000 has a rep for lot to lot inconsistency, but running it behind a 147gr 9mm in the shoot house has to (not) be seen to be believed.

 

[Walkalong]

Power Pistol, on the other hand, huge flash.

Yep...like this.

 

[GLOOB]

Just a sidenote, the type of powder makes a difference, too. H335 is faster than Varget. It's been a long while since I have shot any Varget, but I seem to recall it produces a less noticable muzzle flash out of my 223. I think it might have something to do with single vs double-based powders. Not that there are many single base powders for pistol loads.

Also, FYI, Winchester AutoComp is one of a small handful of consumer grade powders that has flash suppressants in it.

 

[Stormin.40]

2400 had a lot of muzzle flash for me with light bullets in 357 magnum but as the bullet weight increased the muzzle flash decreased. Strange that with a 140gr bullet the lower powder charge flashed more than the higher powder charge weight. I figured the increase in pressure helped the powder to burn more completely thus producing less flash.

 

[bluetopper]

H335 out of a short barreled Contender 223 handgun is the way to go for flash and boom. Or a full charge of H110 out of a snubbie revolver.

Either not recommended in the prone position during drought conditions in lue of grass fires.

 

[Lj1941]

There are people on this forum that love short barrel M/Ns like the model 39s & 44s because of the big fireball/ flash. I am not one of those and just shake my head at the foolish remarks about said fireball. Different strokes for different folks. I like no flash or low flash. That is why I am waiting anxiously for Alliants long promised BE 86. I am getting tired of remarks about my Power Pistol loads at the gun club.

 

[Swampman]

I loaded up a bunch of .223 with H322 at a medium charge level. I honestly just did it to use up what was left in the jug, but I was amazed at how little flash there was when I shot some at dusk.
Nowhere near the velocity H335 is capable of, but even out of a 16 inch barrel with no flash suppressor on it, there was very little flash.

Odd, because it seems like one of the "flashier" powders when used in 7.62x39...

 

[thump_rrr]

IMR 8208 (XBR) produces virtually no flash on both my 7.5" and 14.5" AR-15's equipped with Surefire muzzle brakes. The same rifles produce huge fireballs when being shot with Chineese surplus.