My Two Powders

[Steve Koski]

As discussed before, I am not going to use this powder, just trying to ID it (scrounged ammo from IDPA Nationals).

I think these two pictures/samples are really the same powder.

This is a black ball powder, medium sized, with irregular shapes. It is NOT TG or 231.

9mm loads were 3.7 to 4.1 grains under a 147.
.45 loads were 5.5-5.7 grains under a 230.

The load data certainly smells like WSF. But I have a WSF sample from a friend and it seems to have pieces that are a bit larger and flatter.

Does this look like your WSF?

Thank you,

Koski

 

[918v]

I think you should set it on fire and then smell it.

 

[FROGO207]

The problem with this whole ID issue is when I go from batch to batch of propellant in 5 or 8 LB containers the time in between causes me to see MAJOR changes in size and shape to a lot of different examples. This is what I personally have found in the past 30 or so years of reloading BTW. So if you are looking at a batch from a buy 15 to 25 years or longer ago as some here are prone to do with a good load/batch there is NO WAY to positively ID the stuff unless talking to the actual person that reloaded that particular round IMHO. Add to that the possibility that some of these rounds may be actual factory rounds there now exists the possibility that no canister grade equivalent looks like the examples you have to compare. Just my thoughts on lack of positively identifying these so far.

 

[beatledog7]

I can ID it.

It is geranium food.

 

[Steve Koski]

If you have WSF at your house, does it look like this?

 

[918v]

I have WSF. Your powder looks like WSF.

 

[Steve Koski]

Sweet. You're my new hero!

 

[joneb]

9mm loads were 3.7 to 4.1 grains under a 147.
.45 loads were 5.5-5.7 grains under a 230.

The charges stated above would coincide with WSF load data from Hodgdon.

 

[SEE IT LIKE A NATIVE]

I am wondering why it was important to ID the powder if you weren't going to use it ? Kevin

 

[ATLDave]

Not everything everyone (or anyone) does is "important." Sometimes, people do things that are interesting, or fun, or informative without rising to the level of "important."

I, for one, enjoy Steve's powder ID threads. I haven't been reloading for years and years, so I've only seen a dozen or so powders; the different grain sizes, textures, and colors are interesting in and of themselves. Moreover, given the source of the powders - scrounged from national shooting matches - their identity might suggest that at least one serious shooter has found that powder to be an optimal powder for the cartridge(s) in question. If nothing else, the next time I'm in the mood to try something new, I'll have some ideas for powders to find published data for.

 

[918v]

I am wondering why it was important to ID the powder if you weren't going to use it ? Kevin

One possible reason could be that Steve is trying to document the loads people compete with.