Win 231 powder confusion

CS86 · November 18, 2012, 07:45 PM

I picked up some Win 231 for the first time the other day, and was excited to see that it was labeled as ball powder as ball powders seem to meter well. When I got it home I took a look at it, and it looks more like flake powder? My initial thought of ball powder would be that similar to my TAC powder. Is there a different meaning to ball powder that I'm not aware of? I thought all ball powder was spherical? The way it looks I think it will still meter well.

**Brian Pfleuger** · November 18, 2012, 07:54 PM

I could be mistaken but I believe it starts life as a ball but then they squish it.

Cool page with pics of several powders here, including W231:

http://leadchucker.net/powder-page/

SHR970 · November 18, 2012, 08:18 PM

Ball Process Powder Ball Process

It is made via the Ball process then coated and flattened for speed control.

hodaka · November 18, 2012, 08:22 PM

231 meters very well.

Misssissippi Dave · November 18, 2012, 08:49 PM

My powder measure likes W231 powder. It is very consistant.

10 Spot Terminator · November 18, 2012, 11:26 PM

Take a look at Win 748, same thing (squashed ball). How come I grimmace when I say that ?

CS86 · November 19, 2012, 10:56 AM

Thanks for the posts. It makes more sense as a squished ball, and appears more that way than flake.

wpsdlrg · November 19, 2012, 01:08 PM

Always been confused about that myself. Especially since W231 is said to be the same powder as HP38....which I use often. HP38 certainly isn't a "ball" powder. But, "squished ball" makes sense. The flakes (of my HP38) look like they could be something like that - and W231 and HP38 do look exactly the same.

I read the link (on the Winchester website)..... "ball process".....now it all makes sense !

Learn something new every day......

mikld · November 19, 2012, 02:29 PM

Another thought; mebbe "ball" can refer to military ammunition? As in "Cartridge, Caliber 45, Ball, 1911".

rodfac · November 19, 2012, 03:02 PM

CS86, yep...it's flattened ball. It's also the same powder as HP38...got this info from a large volume dealer. My chrono'd test results for identical charges in a half dozen calibers confirms that as well. Rod

**Mike Irwin** · November 19, 2012, 03:29 PM

The flattening is one of the ways that they can control the burning speed.

CS86 · November 19, 2012, 04:10 PM

Quote:

the flattening is one of the ways that they can control the burning speed.

Can you explain this more? Can they not control it by leaving it in other forms?

SHR970 · November 19, 2012, 06:24 PM

Flattening the powder exposes more surface area which in turn promotes a faster burn for a given weight of powder. In this way they can use the same powder and coating formulas over more than one powder yet get differing resulting burn curves.

oldpapps · November 19, 2012, 06:36 PM

The burning rate is dependent upon the following:

Chemical make up.
Coating/s.
Surface area.
(A bunch of other stuff that we will not worry with for now.)

Take two 'balls', squish one out like a hamburger. Set both on fire. The one with the greater surface area, squished one, will burn faster.

Did this help?

Enjoy,

OSOK

oldpapps · November 19, 2012, 06:37 PM

SHR970 is faster than me

OSOK

November 18, 2012, 07:45 PM	#1
CS86 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2012 Location: South Dakota Posts: 170	Win 231 powder confusion I picked up some Win 231 for the first time the other day, and was excited to see that it was labeled as ball powder as ball powders seem to meter well. When I got it home I took a look at it, and it looks more like flake powder? My initial thought of ball powder would be that similar to my TAC powder. Is there a different meaning to ball powder that I'm not aware of? I thought all ball powder was spherical? The way it looks I think it will still meter well.

November 18, 2012, 07:54 PM	#2
Brian Pfleuger Staff Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Central, Southern NY, USA Posts: 14,522	I could be mistaken but I believe it starts life as a ball but then they squish it. Cool page with pics of several powders here, including W231: http://leadchucker.net/powder-page/ __________________ Still happily answering to the call-sign Peetza. --- You do not HAVE a soul. You ARE a soul. You HAVE a body. -C.S. Lewis He is no fool who gives what he can not keep to gain what he can not lose. -Jim Eliott, paraphrasing Philip Henry.

November 19, 2012, 02:29 PM	#9
mikld Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2009 Location: Southern Oregon! Posts: 648	Another thought; mebbe "ball" can refer to military ammunition? As in "Cartridge, Caliber 45, Ball, 1911". __________________ My Anchor is holding fast!

November 19, 2012, 03:02 PM	#10
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,223	CS86, yep...it's flattened ball. It's also the same powder as HP38...got this info from a large volume dealer. My chrono'd test results for identical charges in a half dozen calibers confirms that as well. Rod __________________ Our Flag does not fly because the wind blows against it, It proudly waves because a soldier's dying breath blows upon it. USAF Forward Air Controller, 5th Spl Forces, An Loc, lll Corps, RVN, 69-70, Vietnam Vet '69-'73

November 19, 2012, 03:29 PM	#11
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 33,157	The flattening is one of the ways that they can control the burning speed. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

November 18, 2012, 08:18 PM	#3
SHR970 Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2011 Posts: 396	Ball Process Powder Ball Process It is made via the Ball process then coated and flattened for speed control.

November 18, 2012, 08:22 PM	#4
hodaka Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 1,514	231 meters very well.

November 18, 2012, 08:49 PM	#5
Misssissippi Dave Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Posts: 1,106	My powder measure likes W231 powder. It is very consistant.

November 18, 2012, 11:26 PM	#6
10 Spot Terminator Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2008 Location: Central Oregon Posts: 323	Take a look at Win 748, same thing (squashed ball). How come I grimmace when I say that ?

November 19, 2012, 10:56 AM	#7
CS86 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2012 Location: South Dakota Posts: 170	Thanks for the posts. It makes more sense as a squished ball, and appears more that way than flake.

November 19, 2012, 01:08 PM	#8
wpsdlrg Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 2009 Posts: 294	Always been confused about that myself. Especially since W231 is said to be the same powder as HP38....which I use often. HP38 certainly isn't a "ball" powder. But, "squished ball" makes sense. The flakes (of my HP38) look like they could be something like that - and W231 and HP38 do look exactly the same. I read the link (on the Winchester website)..... "ball process".....now it all makes sense ! Learn something new every day......

November 19, 2012, 06:24 PM	#13
SHR970 Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2011 Posts: 396	Flattening the powder exposes more surface area which in turn promotes a faster burn for a given weight of powder. In this way they can use the same powder and coating formulas over more than one powder yet get differing resulting burn curves.

November 19, 2012, 06:36 PM	#14
oldpapps Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2011 Location: Middle America Posts: 297	The burning rate is dependent upon the following: Chemical make up. Coating/s. Surface area. (A bunch of other stuff that we will not worry with for now.) Take two 'balls', squish one out like a hamburger. Set both on fire. The one with the greater surface area, squished one, will burn faster. Did this help? Enjoy, OSOK

November 19, 2012, 06:37 PM	#15
oldpapps Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2011 Location: Middle America Posts: 297	SHR970 is faster than me OSOK