Beginner needs help

Howdy Doody · February 14, 2011, 06:08 PM

Old guy (57) here, but new to the sport. I have some questions regarding grain weights. I'm currently shooting .22's and in doing so, noticed there are 36gr, 38gr, 40gr... etc. Now, as I understand it, a grain is a unit of measurement, in this case I'm guessing the gun powder. However it seems the higher you go in grains, the slower the velocity. Now I know different gun powders have different amounts of stored energy, but given a particular powder, how can more grains result in less velocity out of the same weapon?

I'd be more than happy to do my own research, but I'm at a loss as to what to enter in the search engine.

Thanks! HD

Doodlebugger45 · February 14, 2011, 06:11 PM

Yes, grains are a unit of weight. In the case of .22's though, or any factory ammo, they are telling you the weight of the bullet only. They never give you any info about powder. Hence, the higher the number of grains, the heavier the bullet it, and the slower the velocity.

You do know you can't reload .22's' right?

zippy13 · February 14, 2011, 06:17 PM

Quote:

You do know you can't reload .22's' right?

Not quite, you can reload .22 centerfire cartridges, like the common .223 Remington. It's the rimfire .22 cartridges, like the .22LR, that can't be reloaded.

Howdy Doody · February 14, 2011, 06:50 PM

Yup, I knew that. Just wondering that's all.

That holds true with centerfire as well? That the grain weight is the weight of the bullet, rather than anything to do with the powder? Just askin'.

GP100man · February 14, 2011, 06:58 PM

Yep , just the bullet ! some will state velocitys in feet/per/second but that`s as close to giving ya insight on the power level as most gets !!!

The powders that the factorys use most of the time is different from the canister powders avaiable to handloaders.

Howdy Doody · February 14, 2011, 07:06 PM

Thanks guys!

Brian Pfleuger · February 14, 2011, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Yup, I knew that. Just wondering that's all.

That holds true with centerfire as well? That the grain weight is the weight of the bullet, rather than anything to do with the powder? Just askin'.

That's correct so far as what information is on a box of factory loaded ammo.

If you're loading your own, and discussing the recipe, you would also include the type of powder and amount, in grains.

For instance, I load my 7mm-08 with 110 grain Barnes TTSX bullets and 42.2 grains IMR 3031 powder.

Howdy Doody · February 14, 2011, 07:12 PM

So on the factory loads, your only getting half the story! I guess that explains all the experiments a guy reads about when a discussion of reloading is going on! 'Preciate the the headsup!

February 14, 2011, 06:08 PM	#1
Howdy Doody Member Join Date: September 15, 2010 Posts: 18	Beginner needs help Old guy (57) here, but new to the sport. I have some questions regarding grain weights. I'm currently shooting .22's and in doing so, noticed there are 36gr, 38gr, 40gr... etc. Now, as I understand it, a grain is a unit of measurement, in this case I'm guessing the gun powder. However it seems the higher you go in grains, the slower the velocity. Now I know different gun powders have different amounts of stored energy, but given a particular powder, how can more grains result in less velocity out of the same weapon? I'd be more than happy to do my own research, but I'm at a loss as to what to enter in the search engine. Thanks! HD

February 14, 2011, 06:58 PM	#5
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	Yep , just the bullet ! some will state velocitys in feet/per/second but that`s as close to giving ya insight on the power level as most gets !!! The powders that the factorys use most of the time is different from the canister powders avaiable to handloaders. __________________ GP100man

February 14, 2011, 06:11 PM	#2
Doodlebugger45 Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2009 Location: Wyoming Posts: 1,717	Yes, grains are a unit of weight. In the case of .22's though, or any factory ammo, they are telling you the weight of the bullet only. They never give you any info about powder. Hence, the higher the number of grains, the heavier the bullet it, and the slower the velocity. You do know you can't reload .22's' right?

February 14, 2011, 06:50 PM	#4
Howdy Doody Member Join Date: September 15, 2010 Posts: 18	Yup, I knew that. Just wondering that's all. That holds true with centerfire as well? That the grain weight is the weight of the bullet, rather than anything to do with the powder? Just askin'.

February 14, 2011, 07:06 PM	#6
Howdy Doody Member Join Date: September 15, 2010 Posts: 18	Thanks guys!

February 14, 2011, 07:12 PM	#8
Howdy Doody Member Join Date: September 15, 2010 Posts: 18	So on the factory loads, your only getting half the story! I guess that explains all the experiments a guy reads about when a discussion of reloading is going on! 'Preciate the the headsup!