Powder Kernel uniforming

1Hobie · April 3, 2012, 11:51 AM

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/category/reloading/

And I thought I was picky....

Wow! Can you imagine the time that takes?

Hobie

PawPaw · April 3, 2012, 12:12 PM

If I ever get that picky, I hope someone leads me to another hobby. Yeah, consistency is good, but I can't imagine modifying individual powder kernels.

griz · April 3, 2012, 12:33 PM

I would have guessed that the change in surface area of each kernel would have more of an effect than the weight, but then again I'm not going to buy a couple thousand dollars worth of lab grade equipment to find out.

That reminds me of a reloader who was curious about the difference in burning rate of the "dots" in Red Dot powder. He separated enough to load shotshells with all red flakes. I don't remember how much difference he found but it wasn't much.

I'll stick to pouring powder from the bottle in to the measure and right in to the case. Works well enough for me.

frumious · April 3, 2012, 12:52 PM

I think this is an April Fool's joke. I mean, it has to be bogus, right? Why micro-drill kernels when you could just sort by weight? We are used to sorting stuff by weight anyway.

-cls

**Unclenick** · April 3, 2012, 03:51 PM

Yeah, definitely April Fool's joke. If you drill, sand, file or otherwise alter a grain of powder you dig into the deterrent coating and change it's burn characteristic. Would be a recipe for inconsistency. Funny piece though.

bfoosh006 · April 3, 2012, 07:08 PM

This one is even better than the "Golf Ball Dimpled Bullet" Thanks for sharing !

1Hobie · April 3, 2012, 07:52 PM

Good grief. I confess that I didn't look at the date.

I feel like a lolipop.

Hobie.

P.S. I'm going to print that out and try it on some reloaders I know.

Hobie.... the guppy.

Dave P · April 3, 2012, 09:24 PM

i tried this a few times, but just saw no difference on target. Maybe the drill bit was a little too wobbly in my sears drill press. And my fingers are still raw from trying to hold the silly kernels.

Maybe those guys out there in the Arizona dry heat are just plain losing their marbles.

I don't know if German wrote that article, but he was definitely on his game when he shot in Florida. But, those were the good ole days!

**Mike Irwin** · April 4, 2012, 06:05 AM

Knowing what I know about some of the precision shooters with whom I've crossed paths over the years...

I think there are people who are actually doing this. Those guys are freaky anal.

And I like how they covered the deterrent coating issue by saying the powder they selected has the deterrent materials as part of the entire powder grain, not just as a coating.

Not sure if that's possible or not.

**Unclenick** · April 4, 2012, 01:05 PM

I just took that as fiction. I suppose it's theoretically possible for a perforated stick to work that way, having uniform penetration and depending entirely on grain geometry to make it burn progressively, but it couldn't be made as progressive in its burn as a grain with diminishing surface penetration of deterrent can.

My expectation is that differences in grains would have a pretty normal distribution, so the slower and faster ones would tend to compensate for one another. You could roll stick or other uniform size grains on a rag to eliminate dust, I suppose, but guess is primer variance will dominate any improvement that uniforming grains or removing dust might have the potential to make.

5R milspec · April 4, 2012, 04:19 PM

its an April fouls joke.just keep reading the post.

1Hobie · April 4, 2012, 07:00 PM

its an April fouls joke.just keep reading the post.
And I, the most omnipotent Hobie wan Kenobe, fell for it.

**Mike Irwin** · April 5, 2012, 07:31 AM

I know it was an April Fools joke.

I'm just saying that I know a couple of precision shooters who are that, if not more so, anal about it.

hooligan1 · April 5, 2012, 04:28 PM

I was going to believe it if Unclenick says he does it all the time...

10 acre woods · April 5, 2012, 04:50 PM

I only drill my kernels when I shoot gnats off of flys asses at 1000 yards.

Bart B. · April 5, 2012, 05:36 PM

Too bad the guy who ran the test doesn't do any better than I did back in 1993 testing a new Palma rifle with .308 Win. ammo burning 45.5 grains of IMR4895 weighed to 1/10th grain spread. That powder was standard over-the-counter stuff and no prep whatsoever was done on the WCC60 cases. Case weight had a 2-grain spread, unturned necks and were all full length sized. Not a tight-neck chamber either; .344" chamber neck with case neck at .335". 'Twas all good enough to print this way at 800 yards starting with a cold barrel. Note where the first and second shots went.

Fishing_Cabin · April 5, 2012, 05:40 PM

It was a good APril 1 joke though.... To be honest though it would not suprise me of people trying this at some point. I know a few folks awfully picky about their loads.

David Bachelder · April 5, 2012, 08:35 PM

Drilling holes in individual powder grains would increase the burn rate. More surface, faster burn.

It's obviously a joke.

April 3, 2012, 11:51 AM	#1
1Hobie Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2010 Location: west central Illinois Posts: 277	Powder Kernel uniforming http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/category/reloading/ And I thought I was picky.... Wow! Can you imagine the time that takes? Hobie

April 3, 2012, 12:12 PM	#2
PawPaw Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Location: Central Louisiana Posts: 3,137	If I ever get that picky, I hope someone leads me to another hobby. Yeah, consistency is good, but I can't imagine modifying individual powder kernels. __________________ Dennis Dezendorf http://pawpawshouse.blogspot.com

April 3, 2012, 12:52 PM	#4
frumious Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2009 Location: Carrollton TX Posts: 521	I think this is an April Fool's joke. I mean, it has to be bogus, right? Why micro-drill kernels when you could just sort by weight? We are used to sorting stuff by weight anyway. -cls Last edited by frumious; April 3, 2012 at 01:04 PM.

April 3, 2012, 03:51 PM	#5
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Yeah, definitely April Fool's joke. If you drill, sand, file or otherwise alter a grain of powder you dig into the deterrent coating and change it's burn characteristic. Would be a recipe for inconsistency. Funny piece though. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

April 3, 2012, 07:52 PM	#7
1Hobie Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2010 Location: west central Illinois Posts: 277	Now that you mention it.... Good grief. I confess that I didn't look at the date. I feel like a lolipop. Hobie. P.S. I'm going to print that out and try it on some reloaders I know. Hobie.... the guppy.

April 3, 2012, 12:33 PM	#3
griz Senior Member Join Date: July 31, 2000 Location: Middle Peninsula, VA Posts: 1,588	I would have guessed that the change in surface area of each kernel would have more of an effect than the weight, but then again I'm not going to buy a couple thousand dollars worth of lab grade equipment to find out. That reminds me of a reloader who was curious about the difference in burning rate of the "dots" in Red Dot powder. He separated enough to load shotshells with all red flakes. I don't remember how much difference he found but it wasn't much. I'll stick to pouring powder from the bottle in to the measure and right in to the case. Works well enough for me.

April 3, 2012, 07:08 PM	#6
bfoosh006 Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2009 Posts: 1,089	This one is even better than the "Golf Ball Dimpled Bullet" Thanks for sharing !

April 3, 2012, 09:24 PM	#8
Dave P Senior Member Join Date: August 16, 1999 Location: North Florida Posts: 1,346	i tried this a few times, but just saw no difference on target. Maybe the drill bit was a little too wobbly in my sears drill press. And my fingers are still raw from trying to hold the silly kernels. Maybe those guys out there in the Arizona dry heat are just plain losing their marbles. I don't know if German wrote that article, but he was definitely on his game when he shot in Florida. But, those were the good ole days! __________________ I think this country is screwed.

April 4, 2012, 06:05 AM	#9
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Knowing what I know about some of the precision shooters with whom I've crossed paths over the years... I think there are people who are actually doing this. Those guys are freaky anal. And I like how they covered the deterrent coating issue by saying the powder they selected has the deterrent materials as part of the entire powder grain, not just as a coating. Not sure if that's possible or not. __________________ "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.

April 4, 2012, 01:05 PM	#10
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	I just took that as fiction. I suppose it's theoretically possible for a perforated stick to work that way, having uniform penetration and depending entirely on grain geometry to make it burn progressively, but it couldn't be made as progressive in its burn as a grain with diminishing surface penetration of deterrent can. My expectation is that differences in grains would have a pretty normal distribution, so the slower and faster ones would tend to compensate for one another. You could roll stick or other uniform size grains on a rag to eliminate dust, I suppose, but guess is primer variance will dominate any improvement that uniforming grains or removing dust might have the potential to make. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

April 4, 2012, 04:19 PM	#11
5R milspec Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 360	its an April fouls joke.just keep reading the post. __________________ life is great but its better when you can own as many guns you wish to own.for me I haven't bought enough yet.

April 4, 2012, 07:00 PM	#12
1Hobie Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2010 Location: west central Illinois Posts: 277	Yes it was its an April fouls joke.just keep reading the post. And I, the most omnipotent Hobie wan Kenobe, fell for it.

April 5, 2012, 07:31 AM	#13
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	I know it was an April Fools joke. I'm just saying that I know a couple of precision shooters who are that, if not more so, anal about it. __________________ "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.

April 5, 2012, 04:28 PM	#14
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,587	I was going to believe it if Unclenick says he does it all the time... __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.

April 5, 2012, 04:50 PM	#15
10 acre woods Member Join Date: December 1, 2011 Location: the commie state of il Posts: 73	I only drill my kernels when I shoot gnats off of flys asses at 1000 yards. __________________ 9 out of 10 armed robbers agree that you should not own guns or conceal them. The other 10% stole the survey. Some times heaven is knowing you can send someone straight to hell.

April 5, 2012, 05:36 PM	#16
Bart B. Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Posts: 8,927	Too bad the guy who ran the test doesn't do any better than I did back in 1993 testing a new Palma rifle with .308 Win. ammo burning 45.5 grains of IMR4895 weighed to 1/10th grain spread. That powder was standard over-the-counter stuff and no prep whatsoever was done on the WCC60 cases. Case weight had a 2-grain spread, unturned necks and were all full length sized. Not a tight-neck chamber either; .344" chamber neck with case neck at .335". 'Twas all good enough to print this way at 800 yards starting with a cold barrel. Note where the first and second shots went.

April 5, 2012, 05:40 PM	#17
Fishing_Cabin Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 2010 Posts: 720	It was a good APril 1 joke though.... To be honest though it would not suprise me of people trying this at some point. I know a few folks awfully picky about their loads.

April 5, 2012, 08:35 PM	#18
David Bachelder Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 636	Drilling holes in individual powder grains would increase the burn rate. More surface, faster burn. It's obviously a joke. __________________ David Bachelder Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06