Powder Burn Rate/ Perceived Recoil

[chiltech500]

I know you are talking about pistols but my experience was in 30-06 sitting and prone rapid fire, that a load of 175 SMK and 55.0 grains of IMR 4350 felt as though it kicked more than a load of 175 SMK and 47.0 IMR 4895. The velocities are basically the same, the only differences are powder charge weights and burn rate.

Powder burn rate for pistols does have an effect on function. All automatic mechanisms open up while there still is residual barrel pressure. This pressure aids in ejection of the cartridge.

This may apply, which is why a fast burning powder can create less recoil in an auto pistol due to ejection being accomplished at a powder charge that has a lower velocity. (?)

I don't have my Lymans at work and I don't remember the load of Bullseye I used (I would know it if I saw the range). For the N310 I used the max load of 4.0gr which results in 892 fps.

 

[LiveLife]

I'm shooting exclusively one handed practicing to join an NRA Bullseye league and am more sensitive to recoil for that reason. I'm sure any competitive shooter would like the least recoil available, even two handed shooters.

Darn. It would have been nice if the purpose of the loads were prefaced in the first post like, "Powder burn rate/perceived recoil ... BTW this is in regards to bullseye match shooting." I think most of us gave you "general" information when you really needed specific and exact bullseye match shooting information.

With match shooting, general notions about powder burn rate and recoil may go out the window as match loads can be custom tailored using matching recoil springs, especially for bullseye match loads that don't need to meet specific power factors like for IPSC/USPSA/IDPA.

So for bullseye match loads, you can develop light recoiling but accurate loads using fast burn rate powders and use lower recoil spring rate to cycle the slide (16-17 lbs factory 9mm/45ACP vs 11-12 lbs). At lower powder charge loads you will be using, focus will be more on identifying the powder/charge that will produce the greatest accuracy for the particular bullet you are using THEN adjusting the recoil spring rate to produce reliable slide cycling and the recoil you are comfortable with (For my 200 gr SWC range practice loads and Sig 1911, I tested 16/16.5/17/18 lb recoil springs and use the one that produces the least amount of felt-recoil).

My trip to the reloading shop did not get me 231 or HP38, he had none left of either. I bought a 4lb jug of Titegroup for my 9mm use and I have 4lbs of N310 for 45 cal, that should last me a bit.

I hope Titegroup is a bit cleaner than Bullseye

I like Titegroup for 9mm jacketed and plated bullets but not for lead bullets. Some bullseye shooters posted while Titegroup can work but report not as good of accuracy as Bullseye powder. I think you may have greater success with N310 but give it a try and see what happens.

Personally, I would look for some Bullseye to use as a reference powder.

 

[SuedePflow]

I've played around alot lately with Bullseye and .40s&w. I've even loaded some as low as 30% below the suggested starting point. I have found that a light charge of fast burning powder does indeed produce less muzzle rise and less perceived recoil.

I've found that the powder makes the most difference in reducing recoil with the round itself. With 4.6gr of Bullseye, I can't feel the difference between 165gr and 180gr bullets. They are both very accurate and both feel like more like a 9mm round.

 

[chiltech500]

BDS you're right it may have helped mentioning 1 hand and Bullseye comp. That said I have not shot in a league yet and didn't know about changing springs - that's new to me. I'd like to manage recoil with what I have. I find N310 at 3.8-4.0 (published max for 45 acp from VV is 4.0) to be a nice recoil as is without changing springs on the Dan Wesson Valor and S&W commander length I've shot

I brought up the topic to find a powder I like for my 9mm 1911. I wasn't fond of the dirty and smokey Bullseye I tried but was not unhappy with the way it shot. (I can't remember the load because too many numbers in my head LOL). I do have enough Bullseye left to do a comparison with the Titegroup.

I bought Titegroup (pretty exclusively for 9mm 125gr LSWC) because they had a 4lb jug and it was listed just below Bullseye on the burn rate chart. He only had limited quantity of 1lb Bullseye available.

Unfortunately my accuracy with a 45 acp is a max of 3/5 in a 3" circle at 50 feet (my indoor range limit). I haven't shot outdoors at 25 yards for over a month but I wasn't that good at 25 yards. So I'm definitely novice caliber

The Springfield 9mm 1911 I bought has a sight combo which I can barely see indoors, so I can't fully comment on my accuracy with the Bullseye powder I used. As we speak I'm having a Burris red dot sight mounted on it at a gunsmith, which needs to be drilled and tapped.

I suspect I will need a red dot sight if I join the Bullseye league. I already have a Burris Fastfire mounted on my Browning 22. I will need another 45 for competition because I won't drill into my Dan Wesson!!!

 

[LiveLife]

I think a new thread titled "Reloading for NRA bullseye match with lead 9mm/45ACP" will get a lot more useful responses for you.

 

[Nordeste]

What I was taught by my mentors is, generally speaking, the more powder, the more recoil. If you use more powder it has to be a slower powder or your pressure will spike. In my short experience as a reloader, who only reloads 9 mm (so far), I've used two different powders. With one, Vectan BA9, I needed 5'5 grains to make 1050 ft/sec, with the other one, Optima A, 4'6 grains were enough to attain that velocity, using the same 125 grains bullet. With the latter, the recoil impulse felt quicker, snappier if you wanna call it that way, but I got my sights in line earlier than with the former.

 

[LiveLife]

chiltech500, this thread discusses bullseye match shooting/recoil and has some interesting points that may help you - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=738331