Smoke

Crankgrinder · October 13, 2013, 01:02 PM

I load for 9mm, .38 and .357 and soon hopefully .45 as well. What if, when one is at the range he likes to see alittle smoke coming out of his gun from time to time? Powders these days at least that ive tried make it a selling point to be absolutely smokeless. I use 2400, unique and power pistol right now. Is there another powder close in performance that could be used in the above calibers or could one suggest even adding something to his loads that might burn with the powder itself?

PhantomI · October 13, 2013, 01:43 PM

If you are shooting lead bullets, try Tite Group. It smokes big time with lead.

Forrest68 · October 13, 2013, 02:57 PM

The powder doesnt smoke, the lube on the lead bullets is what smokes. Just FYI

Nick_C_S · October 13, 2013, 06:15 PM

Quote:

The powder doesnt smoke, the lube on the lead bullets is what smokes.

^^ There it is. ^^

bledsoeG19 · October 13, 2013, 08:55 PM

If so, why do my jacketed loads smoke?

Not saying the lube doesn't smoke, I know it does, but powders still smoke a little imo.

Nick_C_S · October 13, 2013, 09:41 PM

Absolutely, powder smokes. I tend to not really notice it so much, until I'm shooting lead - then it's more noticeable.

bledsoeG19 · October 13, 2013, 09:54 PM

Agreed

serf 'rett · October 13, 2013, 11:07 PM

Like smoke? Get a black power firearm.

I get enough smoke just from shooting lead bullets.

skizzums · October 14, 2013, 12:47 AM

+1 for titegroup, i stopped using it because it was so smokey compared to the hp38

JustSomeGuy · October 14, 2013, 02:03 AM

Well... though the lube is a great contributor to smoke when using lead bullets, the heat of the powder has a significant effect. TiteGroup is notorious for smoking with lead, and is perhaps the hottest burning powder out there. The heat melts the base of the bullet a little and so some of the smoke is not only from melting lube, but also from a bit of melted lead as well. Cooler powders like True Blue and Silhouette will smoke a lot less than many others when using lead bullets for this reason.

TimSr · October 14, 2013, 06:54 AM

Unique used to smoke like crazy. Its supposed to be better now, but I'm still shooting from a very old canister of it.

bledsoeG19 · October 14, 2013, 07:36 AM

Still smokes a lot

Crankgrinder · October 14, 2013, 09:34 PM

Thanks everyone. Was at the range sunday and noticed my 9mm with pp smokes alittle more than I thought. Never tried titegroup but may in the future. Lube I use is white label/ Lee alox tumble lube. Unique is a good powder but its getting to where I cant stand the smell after 100 rounds.

skizzums · October 14, 2013, 11:16 PM

titegroup is a very accurate, easy metering powder. burns hot and fast. if your using lead with lubed rings you will get an embarrasing amount of smoke. but it is a decent powder and it will go a long way. i get about 1700 rounds of 9mm out of a pound. and it's cheap, i pay about 19$ a #. and the best thing is, its usually in stock

October 13, 2013, 01:02 PM	#1
Crankgrinder Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 917	Smoke I load for 9mm, .38 and .357 and soon hopefully .45 as well. What if, when one is at the range he likes to see alittle smoke coming out of his gun from time to time? Powders these days at least that ive tried make it a selling point to be absolutely smokeless. I use 2400, unique and power pistol right now. Is there another powder close in performance that could be used in the above calibers or could one suggest even adding something to his loads that might burn with the powder itself?

October 13, 2013, 09:41 PM	#6
Nick_C_S Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2013 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,523	Absolutely, powder smokes. I tend to not really notice it so much, until I'm shooting lead - then it's more noticeable. __________________ Gun control laws benefit only criminals and politicians - but then, I repeat myself. Life Member, National Rifle Association

October 13, 2013, 11:07 PM	#8
serf 'rett Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2009 Location: Stuttgart, AR Posts: 1,569	Like smoke? Get a black power firearm. I get enough smoke just from shooting lead bullets. __________________ A lack of planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on my part.

October 14, 2013, 12:47 AM	#9
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	+1 for titegroup, i stopped using it because it was so smokey compared to the hp38 __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

October 14, 2013, 02:03 AM	#10
JustSomeGuy Member Join Date: October 2, 2013 Location: Oregon Posts: 49	Well... though the lube is a great contributor to smoke when using lead bullets, the heat of the powder has a significant effect. TiteGroup is notorious for smoking with lead, and is perhaps the hottest burning powder out there. The heat melts the base of the bullet a little and so some of the smoke is not only from melting lube, but also from a bit of melted lead as well. Cooler powders like True Blue and Silhouette will smoke a lot less than many others when using lead bullets for this reason. __________________ I, Procrastitron will destroy evil.... eventually.

October 13, 2013, 01:43 PM	#2
PhantomI Member Join Date: March 29, 2013 Posts: 27	If you are shooting lead bullets, try Tite Group. It smokes big time with lead.

October 13, 2013, 02:57 PM	#3
Forrest68 Senior Member Join Date: June 19, 2013 Posts: 135	The powder doesnt smoke, the lube on the lead bullets is what smokes. Just FYI

October 13, 2013, 08:55 PM	#5
bledsoeG19 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2013 Posts: 135	If so, why do my jacketed loads smoke? Not saying the lube doesn't smoke, I know it does, but powders still smoke a little imo.

October 13, 2013, 09:54 PM	#7
bledsoeG19 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2013 Posts: 135	Agreed

October 14, 2013, 06:54 AM	#11
TimSr Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2013 Location: Rittman, Ohio Posts: 2,074	Unique used to smoke like crazy. Its supposed to be better now, but I'm still shooting from a very old canister of it.

October 14, 2013, 07:36 AM	#12
bledsoeG19 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2013 Posts: 135	Still smokes a lot

October 14, 2013, 09:34 PM	#13
Crankgrinder Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 917	Thanks everyone. Was at the range sunday and noticed my 9mm with pp smokes alittle more than I thought. Never tried titegroup but may in the future. Lube I use is white label/ Lee alox tumble lube. Unique is a good powder but its getting to where I cant stand the smell after 100 rounds.

October 14, 2013, 11:16 PM	#14
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	titegroup is a very accurate, easy metering powder. burns hot and fast. if your using lead with lubed rings you will get an embarrasing amount of smoke. but it is a decent powder and it will go a long way. i get about 1700 rounds of 9mm out of a pound. and it's cheap, i pay about 19$ a #. and the best thing is, its usually in stock __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed