Handloads louder than factory?

grisbald · March 2, 2013, 05:12 AM

I was at the range the other day shooting my 7mm-08 and .223. Some of the folks around me asked what I was shooting and were surprised by my calibers because of the bang. I load both of them with Varget. Loads are a little above middle in the reloading books, and Quickload has them in the yellow, so I know these aren't hot loads So my question is do different powders give bigger or smaller "BOOMS" than another?

chris in va · March 2, 2013, 06:24 AM

I imagine it has to do with combustion rates. A slower powder may still be expanding past the muzzle.

rebs · March 2, 2013, 08:13 AM

Just to add, I have had people tell me my AR is really loud. I am not loading max loads. I use H335 powder and my AR is a 16" barrel. Could it be that H335 powder is still burning as the bullet is leaving the barrel ?

Sport45 · March 2, 2013, 09:00 AM

I imagine the powder is all burnt before the bullet is a foot down the bore. The supersonic cloud of expanding gas at the muzzle makes the bang.

Quote:

I use H335 powder and my AR is a 16" barrel.

The 16" barrel has more to do with it than the powder, IMHO.

Ted D · March 2, 2013, 09:46 AM

Does that cause muzzel flashes as well?Not to change the subject

hodaka · March 2, 2013, 10:00 AM

That plus the flash inhibitors that are a component of the powder. Many powders, military in particular, have grain coatings that surpress flash. I don't know what they are but i suspect graphite is involved.

**Brian Pfleuger** · March 2, 2013, 12:13 PM

Check the muzzle pressure values predicted by QL. The bullet's exit essentially uncorks a very high pressure bottle. The higher the pressure, the louder the "POP!" when the corks comes out, just like a wine bottle.

It effects the muzzle flash and can also effect accuracy too, because the bullet is directly effected by the muzzle blast.

It also has a dramatic effect on recoil. Use QL to find a powder with lower muzzle pressure and check it's recoil calculation, then check one with a much higher muzzle pressure but similar velocity.

One of my favorite features of QuickLoad is its ability to predict low muzzle pressure powders for short barrels.

March 2, 2013, 05:12 AM	#1
grisbald Member Join Date: October 23, 2011 Posts: 22	Handloads louder than factory? I was at the range the other day shooting my 7mm-08 and .223. Some of the folks around me asked what I was shooting and were surprised by my calibers because of the bang. I load both of them with Varget. Loads are a little above middle in the reloading books, and Quickload has them in the yellow, so I know these aren't hot loads So my question is do different powders give bigger or smaller "BOOMS" than another?

March 2, 2013, 09:46 AM	#5
Ted D Member Join Date: January 27, 2013 Location: Dayton.Ohio Posts: 36	Does that cause muzzel flashes as well?Not to change the subject __________________ LIFE MEMBER OF THE NRA.GREENHORN RELOADER

March 2, 2013, 12:13 PM	#7
Brian Pfleuger Staff Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Central, Southern NY, USA Posts: 14,662	Check the muzzle pressure values predicted by QL. The bullet's exit essentially uncorks a very high pressure bottle. The higher the pressure, the louder the "POP!" when the corks comes out, just like a wine bottle. It effects the muzzle flash and can also effect accuracy too, because the bullet is directly effected by the muzzle blast. It also has a dramatic effect on recoil. Use QL to find a powder with lower muzzle pressure and check it's recoil calculation, then check one with a much higher muzzle pressure but similar velocity. One of my favorite features of QuickLoad is its ability to predict low muzzle pressure powders for short barrels. __________________ Still happily answering to the call-sign Peetza. --- You do not HAVE a soul. You ARE a soul. You HAVE a body. ----- He is no fool who gives what he can not keep to gain what he can not lose. -Jim Eliott, paraphrasing Philip Henry.

March 2, 2013, 06:24 AM	#2
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 11,723	I imagine it has to do with combustion rates. A slower powder may still be expanding past the muzzle.

March 2, 2013, 08:13 AM	#3
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 1,638	Just to add, I have had people tell me my AR is really loud. I am not loading max loads. I use H335 powder and my AR is a 16" barrel. Could it be that H335 powder is still burning as the bullet is leaving the barrel ?

March 2, 2013, 10:00 AM	#6
hodaka Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 1,527	That plus the flash inhibitors that are a component of the powder. Many powders, military in particular, have grain coatings that surpress flash. I don't know what they are but i suspect graphite is involved.