Powder speed

[243winxb]

Older IMR data can be found here http://castpics.net
Many different cartridges are listed like the 223 above. The 30-30 is another interesting one.

Seen /heard a 30-30 being fired with IMR 4350. When i first heard it, had to go ask what he was shooting. I suggested he use a faster powder. He said, not going to change, been loading it for years.

 

[mdi]

FWIW and just a thought; the burn rate charts are relative, and not linear. Powder # 22 may be faster than powder #23, but there is no indication of how much faster. Also powders will burn differently due to case size and charges and chamber pressures...

 

[Dudedog]

Lee's not my favorite but the info on reloading section is decent and lots of loads are listed even if it is a reprint of other data.

If I was starting to reload for cartridge x with bullet y, unless I had some other information (Like for THR member saying powder z worked great in x with bullet y for me, {which I would verify being a listed powder for that cartridge})
I would pick a powder in the middle of the burn speed range for the cartridge and bullet I was loading for and start at the start charge then work up say .2gr at a time. (the .2 depends on the cartridge, I wouldn't go .2 at a time if I was loading say .32 ACP for example .1 there for sure).
Later maybe try something on the faster end and the slower end of what's listed for that cartridge and bullet weight.

 

[Demi-human]

How can you tell if XYZ powder is too fast or too slow, in order to move to a faster or slower burn?

Ways to tell if your powder is too slow:

When you seat the bullet the sticks crunch.
The bullet won't stay seated at the desired depth.
The charge weight is more than the projectile weight.
The velocity is high for the bullet construction.
The recoil is higher at a chosen velocity.
The case is coated in soot from a lack of pressure to seal the mouth.
There is a hang fire.
There is a puff of white smoke and the bullet is found on the ground twelve feet in front of you. When you open the action there is black and gold colored powder grains spilling every where.

Signs that your powder is a bit fast:

Lower velocity at maximum pressure.
There is not enough recoil to make your chest hair grow.
Primers are flatter than before.
Primers have pin craters or holes from firing pin.
Primer is gone.
Bullets slip in their jackets.
Case head has mark from brass pushed into ejector, extractor or other voids.
Case is stuck in chamber.
Firearm voluntarily disassembles it's self for repair.

**>Please note, this list is non-comprehensive. Many symptoms may be from other ailments and any change in diet should be discussed with your doctor.<**

 

[spitballer]

"A good reloading manual like Lee's "Modern Reloading" " An oxymoron?

yeah I'm partial to Lee - they made it interesting like a first batch of beer and I won't forget them. I'm sure there are better manuals out there tho

 

[someguy2800]

I've loaded a couple cartridges where either no load data is available or the powder I want to use has no data available. I compare data from another cartridge that has similar case volume and bore size to get an approximate start load. If you reach pressure signs before the case is over 70% full that powder is too fast for my liking. If you work up into a compressed load and velocity is still low with unburned powder left in the barrel then the powder is to slow.

Most bottleneck cartridges can work we'll with a pretty wide range of burn rates. Very short or straight wall cartridges have a very narrow range of powders that work well.

 

[sage5907]

It takes a lot of reloading experience to learn how to select powders. Some powders, like IMR 4350, IMR 4831 and especially IMR 4895 can be loaded close to max but when you get to a certain point just one more grain can flatten primers with a huge increase in pressure, so I shy away from those powders. I watch the expansion of the case just in front of the web for excessive expansion and for this reason I have found that I can use IMR 4064 at near maximum 150 grain loads in a 30-06 with less case wear. Some powders, like Reloader 17 can be loaded close to max with very little sign of excessive case pressure which leads to long case life. I have learned that selecting the right powder, full length sizing, trimming cases after each firing, and annealing case necks can improve accuracy at long range.