powder burn rates

sanson · March 3, 2007, 10:54 AM

lately I've noticed my best rifle loads tend to be with the powder burning right up to the bullet exiting the crown. this makes the powder burn rate critical to length of barrel. the way I check is primitive, shoot at night to check muzzle blast for still-burning powder. that only tells me the powder choice is too slow. too fast a powder causes hits all-over the paper. any thoughts worth sharing?

.45 Vet · March 3, 2007, 11:19 AM

Maybe even more primitive, and a little harder in your part of the country. We used to test our muzzle-loaders in the winter snow. Check for unburnt powder 15/20 feet in front of the muzzle. Don't see why you couldn't use an old white cotton T-shirt. Like I said, primitive. But the same basic theory....

sanson · March 3, 2007, 11:24 AM

good idea, neighbors all shoot here but rarely at night

mrawesome22 · March 3, 2007, 01:46 PM

I've never shot near dark with any powder and not had flames come out of the muzzle. I think the enormous heat and friction causes a flame no matter if the powder is still burning or not. Could be wrong on that one though. But I've shot Benchmark powder near dark in .22-250Rem and still get a little orange puff out of the muzzle. And Benchmark is the fastest burning powder that is recommended for .22-250Rem. And that's out of a 26" barrel. Maybe if the powder was still burning I'd have a huge flame?

saands · March 3, 2007, 08:14 PM

I'd guess that it might be a coincidence that the best loads are still burning. This might be because most loads that are still burning are lower performers and your rifle might be partial to slightly slower loads. In my experience the best loads for a given rifle seem to be loads of a given velocity, regardless of the components that achieved that velocity.

If you really want to know about the burning, I'd suggest a program called QuickLoad ... it isn't free, but it can be VERY insightful. It is an interior ballistics model.

Saands

March 3, 2007, 10:54 AM	#1
sanson Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2006 Location: FL panhandle Posts: 547	powder burn rates lately I've noticed my best rifle loads tend to be with the powder burning right up to the bullet exiting the crown. this makes the powder burn rate critical to length of barrel. the way I check is primitive, shoot at night to check muzzle blast for still-burning powder. that only tells me the powder choice is too slow. too fast a powder causes hits all-over the paper. any thoughts worth sharing? __________________ www.sansoneservices.com

March 3, 2007, 11:19 AM	#2
.45 Vet Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2004 Location: Western Penn. Posts: 387	Maybe even more primitive, and a little harder in your part of the country. We used to test our muzzle-loaders in the winter snow. Check for unburnt powder 15/20 feet in front of the muzzle. Don't see why you couldn't use an old white cotton T-shirt. Like I said, primitive. But the same basic theory.... __________________ For those who've never fought for it, the price of freedom shall never be known...

March 3, 2007, 11:24 AM	#3
sanson Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2006 Location: FL panhandle Posts: 547	good idea, neighbors all shoot here but rarely at night __________________ www.sansoneservices.com

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March 3, 2007, 01:46 PM	#4
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	I've never shot near dark with any powder and not had flames come out of the muzzle. I think the enormous heat and friction causes a flame no matter if the powder is still burning or not. Could be wrong on that one though. But I've shot Benchmark powder near dark in .22-250Rem and still get a little orange puff out of the muzzle. And Benchmark is the fastest burning powder that is recommended for .22-250Rem. And that's out of a 26" barrel. Maybe if the powder was still burning I'd have a huge flame?

March 3, 2007, 08:14 PM	#5
saands Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 1999 Posts: 1,573	I'd guess that it might be a coincidence that the best loads are still burning. This might be because most loads that are still burning are lower performers and your rifle might be partial to slightly slower loads. In my experience the best loads for a given rifle seem to be loads of a given velocity, regardless of the components that achieved that velocity. If you really want to know about the burning, I'd suggest a program called QuickLoad ... it isn't free, but it can be VERY insightful. It is an interior ballistics model. Saands