My One (two?) Powders

[Steve Koski]

I AM NOT GOING TO USE this powdah, just trying to identify it. I scrounged some ammo off the ground at IDPA nationals and am trying to identify the powders that were used.

I think this is Bullseye or Power Pistol, or perhaps a mixture of both. It's not Unique, which is blacker and has flakes 3x as big.

If you have either of these around, please take a look at them and weigh in with your opinion.

Thanks,

Koski

 

[Steve Koski]

Does this look like BE or Power Pistol? Both?

 

[RandyP]

I don't know as I'd rely on anyone being accurate playing this guessing game. It 'could' be any darn thing including special cannister blended ammo OEM stuff.

 

[FROGO207]

It MAY be Bullseye. I have a can of the older stuff (cardboard canister with metal ends from the early 70's) and it looks similar but not quite the same however as the shade of it is lighter than yours.

 

[Steve Koski]

Thanks Frogo!

 

[Centaur 1]

If only all powders were like red dot. I just compared your picture with Bullseye and Power Pistol, and all three look alike. Even under magnification, BE and PP look identical. That's scary considering that they are at opposite ends of the spectrum for a lot of calibers. What caliber round did you pull it from, and how much does the charge weigh?

 

[RandyP]

Should you ever find out - and it is highly unlikely you will - what are your plans for the newly acquired knowledge?

Do you know if the ammo you scrounged was reloaded or factory or even milsurp?

 

[Steve Koski]

Randy,

Congratulations on your cynicism and unhelpfulness. My plans are to write a book and retire on the proceeds. Actually I'll probably post the findings on idpaforum.com and maybe here if anyone cares.

I have a pretty good eye for reloads vs. factory. With reloads, the case interior is not pristine as with new loads, and there are sizing marks on the case, and with 9mm often the coke bottle look.

However, the following situations are tricky...

A) A smaller commercial manufacturer loads new ammo with starline cases.
B) A reloader makes ammo with new starline cases and does not size them first.

These situation look identical, and it is hard to know which is which. Sometimes I just can't tell.

Koski

 

[RandyP]

LOL

My curiosity stems from the notion that if you have no plans on using the stuff, and it was range scroungings, meaning no steady supply, and the reality that 'looks like' is never gonna mean 'is', other than to make a neato foam-core board science project display, what valuable data do you hope to gain from this inquiry?

And I am NOT a cynic....I am an old curmudgeon and proud of it.

 

[Steve Koski]

Randy,

Have you ever looked at something and wondered what it was made of? Ever take apart clocks or adding machines as a kid?

It's that sort of thing.

Koski

 

[RandyP]

I applaud your desire to learn and quest to explore - I'm just suggesting that asking us viewers to figure out what ungodly concoction might have been thrown into some reloader's nightmare by looking at a picture of it on the interwebs is a high point in optimism.

 

[Steve Koski]

Aw Contraire(sp?)! I've got several juicy insights from the viewing public already.

Many folks have nothing to meaningful contribute, but a few have the precise specialized knowledge I'm hoping to tap into. Gotta love the interweb.