Yesterday, I posted a question asking if anyone had any load info for a short barrel .44 mag "Short barrel .44 mag load" and I ended up even more confused.
I was thinking the load for the same bullet between a 7 1/2" barrel and a 2 1/2" barrel would use different powders to optimize velocity. I'm trying to ensure good expansion w/ a hollow point. My line of thinking was the shorter the barrel, the faster the powder needed to burn and I guess that's not right.
I noticed in the current Speer manual that they have some short barrel load tables and found that the volume of the same powder for the same bullet is lower in the short barrel load tables. Also, obviously, the velocity is lower as well. I was assuming that was the case because once the bullet left the barrel, all the powder that had not yet burned was useless (except for a cool light show).
After yesterday's post and the info obtained from it, I think I see how it works and what I got out of it, I think, is that regardless of the powder used, a barrell of a certain length will only move a bullet of a certain weight a fixed velocity. Do I have it right? The fact that the barrel length is the parameter that would determine bullet velocity? When the powder is still burning as the bullet leaves the barrel, that is the max. velocity you'll achieve?
If that is the case, why the different burn rates for powder? IE, H110,Blue Dot, and Unique? WHat would be the advatage of using one over the other? What is the advantage of, or when do you look at the faster burning powders? When does the burn rate of the powder come into play? Also, How does the burn rate come into play?
On a side note, I see alot of .44 mag and the like loads, people prefer H110, and I do too, but mostly because of the ease of metering it in the powder throw. I tried some Blue Dot and came pretty close to matching the H110 velocities, but didn't care for it in the powder throw. What are the reasons most don't use Blue Dot in the .44 mag.?
I'm sure these are basic principles, but I'm still trying to wrap my mind around them.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
I was thinking the load for the same bullet between a 7 1/2" barrel and a 2 1/2" barrel would use different powders to optimize velocity. I'm trying to ensure good expansion w/ a hollow point. My line of thinking was the shorter the barrel, the faster the powder needed to burn and I guess that's not right.
I noticed in the current Speer manual that they have some short barrel load tables and found that the volume of the same powder for the same bullet is lower in the short barrel load tables. Also, obviously, the velocity is lower as well. I was assuming that was the case because once the bullet left the barrel, all the powder that had not yet burned was useless (except for a cool light show).
After yesterday's post and the info obtained from it, I think I see how it works and what I got out of it, I think, is that regardless of the powder used, a barrell of a certain length will only move a bullet of a certain weight a fixed velocity. Do I have it right? The fact that the barrel length is the parameter that would determine bullet velocity? When the powder is still burning as the bullet leaves the barrel, that is the max. velocity you'll achieve?
If that is the case, why the different burn rates for powder? IE, H110,Blue Dot, and Unique? WHat would be the advatage of using one over the other? What is the advantage of, or when do you look at the faster burning powders? When does the burn rate of the powder come into play? Also, How does the burn rate come into play?
On a side note, I see alot of .44 mag and the like loads, people prefer H110, and I do too, but mostly because of the ease of metering it in the powder throw. I tried some Blue Dot and came pretty close to matching the H110 velocities, but didn't care for it in the powder throw. What are the reasons most don't use Blue Dot in the .44 mag.?
I'm sure these are basic principles, but I'm still trying to wrap my mind around them.
Thanks for any help you can offer.