Stick, Flake, and Ball — Do You Know Your Powder Properties? « Everyday Bulletin

October 3rd, 2019

Stick, Flake, and Ball — Do You Know Your Powder Properties?

Widener’s Reloading &amp Shooting Provide not too long ago published a valuable introduction to reloading powders. Widener’s on the net Guide to Smokeless Powders shows the different varieties of powders, and explains how the variations in powder kernel/flake size and shape, and burn price impact efficiency. We suggest you pay a visit to Widener’s site and study the Powder Guide in complete.

Take a close appear at these illustrations which show the important variations among the 4 principal powder varieties: extruded (stick) powder, ball (spherical) powder, flattened ball powder, and flake powder.

Burn Price Fundamentals

Widener’s Guide to Smokeless Powders also has a valuable discussion of Burn Price (a confusing subject for lots of hand-loaders). Wideners explains: “While a gun powder explosion in the cartridge appears instantaneous, if you slow it down you will essentially discover that each and every powder has a distinct ‘burn rate’, or speed at which it ignites.” This video shows powders with two incredibly distinct burn prices. Watch closely.

Unique burn prices suit distinct cartridge varieties notes Widener’s: “In basic a quickly-burning powder is utilised for light bullets and low-speed pistols and shotguns. Medium-price powders are utilised for magnum pistols, when higher-velocity, significant bore rifle cartridges will have to have slow powders[.]

It must be noted that burn price does not have a standardized unit of measurement. In reality, burn price is definitely only discussed in comparison to other powders there is no universal yardstick. Specifics will alter by cartridge and bullet varieties[.]”

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Tags: Alliant, Ball Powder, Burn Prices, Extruded Powder, Flake Powder, Hodgdon Powder, Stick Powder, Wideners