The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Used the last of my Unique. Not getting more.

**Mike Irwin** · January 18, 2019, 11:15 PM

"Do you have any documentation showing that Universal is maufactured by Olin's "ball powder" process?"

At the moment, no. My original response was of more general terms than specifically about Universal. I should have been clearer.

I dashed off a quick e-mail to Hodgdon technical services this morning, though, and hopefully should have an answer next week.

"Because, if it is manufactured by the ball process, it should look somewhat (or, exactly) like a ball powder."

Not necessarily. Ball powders, especially handgun powders, are often flattened during the manufacturing process to alter the burning rate, giving them the appearance of an extruded flake powder.

WW 296 and WW 231 often appear to be extruded flake powders due to this flattening process.

Good example pictures can be seen here:

https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=62199.0

Enlarge the image on your monitor to see them more clearly.

January 18, 2019, 11:15 PM	#70
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	"Do you have any documentation showing that Universal is maufactured by Olin's "ball powder" process?" At the moment, no. My original response was of more general terms than specifically about Universal. I should have been clearer. I dashed off a quick e-mail to Hodgdon technical services this morning, though, and hopefully should have an answer next week. "Because, if it is manufactured by the ball process, it should look somewhat (or, exactly) like a ball powder." Not necessarily. Ball powders, especially handgun powders, are often flattened during the manufacturing process to alter the burning rate, giving them the appearance of an extruded flake powder. WW 296 and WW 231 often appear to be extruded flake powders due to this flattening process. Good example pictures can be seen here: https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=62199.0 Enlarge the image on your monitor to see them more clearly. __________________ "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.