Pierce
Member
its been a long time since I opened a bottle of 231 when I did I was expecting to see something that resembled a "ball" or sphere rather than something so flaky looking. What up?
W231 Ball "appearance"
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blarby
Member
Its always been that way.
Its more spherical than a true flake powder, such as unique.
Its more spherical than a true flake powder, such as unique.
Pierce
Member
Seems I recall that to be the case, just took me by surprise I guess. I recall once a "flat" ball being mentioned. Thanks for the input
FROGO207
Member
I find many propellants vary from lot to lot in different ways. Size, color, and shape being the most common differences.
06
Member
231 is one of my favorite powders. Meters well and not as "dirty" as some.
LiveLife
Member
Pierce said:
W231/HP-38 are coated flattened spherical "ball" powder like WST/WSF/AutoComp/296. Below is a comparison picture next to Universal and Unique.
IME, the smooth coating and the flattened small size makes W231/HP-38 the best metering Winchester/Hodgdon/Alliant powders I have used for Pro Auto Disk and I always use/recommend it to break-in and lubricate a new Pro Auto Disk.
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ljnowell
Member
bds said:
I normally agree with you, but I gotta say that nothing has moved through either of my Lee measures like the AA pistol powders. I have seen so many pounds of AA#2 it aint funny!
231 works pretty darned good too though.
LiveLife
Member
Oops, I should have said "the best metering Winchester/Hodgdon/Alliant powders I have used". 
OK, I corrected my above post
OK, I corrected my above post
CZ57
member
Don't forget about Ramshot! Zip, Silhouette and Enforcer are fine grained flattened sphericals as well. True Blue is truly ball in shape and very fine grained. Probably the best metering powder available.
Kcinnick
Member
231 looks nothing like a ball, you are not alone. Poor descriptor for a powder.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Not true, it's not a bad description because originally the powder was a true ball powder. Those who copied it (like AA) had to call their powder spherical not to infringe in Olin's copyrights. For ease of use and better burn control eventually the round powder was flattened and that's what you see now.
Pierce
Member
Great feedback and I appreciate the history lesson regarding the transition. Ive been off the reloading bench for a while and my neighbor is just getting into it.
I was showing him some of my powders and the geometry of the different powders became part of the discussion, metering, static with plastics along with it.
I'd like to see the label for the geometry be more reflective of the actual shape and most are. Flake for the most part does look like flake and extruded (stick), spherical the same, maybe "flattened" ball could be described as such.
Great pics to! Thanks
I was showing him some of my powders and the geometry of the different powders became part of the discussion, metering, static with plastics along with it.
I'd like to see the label for the geometry be more reflective of the actual shape and most are. Flake for the most part does look like flake and extruded (stick), spherical the same, maybe "flattened" ball could be described as such.
Great pics to! Thanks
Ball Powder is not a description of the appearance...it is a description of the manufacturing process.
WW Ball Powder
WW Ball Powder
Jim Watson
Member
Yup.
231 and many other Ball PROCESS powders are rolled flat to adjust the burn rate.
You ought to have seen some of the early commercial Ball powders like AA12S which was clumps and clusters of tiny little balls stuck together into irregular granules.
231 and many other Ball PROCESS powders are rolled flat to adjust the burn rate.
You ought to have seen some of the early commercial Ball powders like AA12S which was clumps and clusters of tiny little balls stuck together into irregular granules.
splattergun
Member
Every once in a while I see 231 referred to as 'flattened ball', but it surprised me when I 1st saw it, too.
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