Powder grading system?

cyclops666

cyclops666

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Is there some kind of smokeless powder grading chart that powder makers use?
Something that lists powders for their burn rate eg: H110 would be say a #5 but 3031 is a #16

Noticing I need more leverevolution powder got me wondering if there was an old standby powder with the same burn rate equivalent
 
Have you actually looked for something like what you're asking for?
They're everywhere. I have 3 different ones printed and stapled to the wall in front of my reloading bench.
I use 3 different ones because some lists are missing some powders.

Your google-fu is weak
 
Anyone really knows who makes these burn rate charts ? Yes, I have a copy, but have noticed on some web sites that some powders change positions on the chart, by 3-4 spots from slower than one powder to faster than it and am wondering how ??? Honest question, since we are always told to refer to the charts.
 
Powders can behave differently, creating different time/pressure curves depending if restricted in a small bore large capacity bottleneck case ( .25-06 for example) vs a large bore short straight walled case ( .45 colt) , or very heavy bullet vs light, etc. Relative burning rate charts are just that, relative... the charts are close enough to help a handloader understand the main differences, but only proper load testing will truly show the detailed differences in a particular application.
 
Powder burn rates fluctuate a lot with varying conditions, and there are a lot of limitations to the results. This is reflected in the way the results are presented, as rankings, with individual postions often changing depending on the particulars of the test.

Another huge shortcoming that many people do not understand is that the difference between positions is not consistent. In some zones within the burn rate spectrum powders that are a half dozen positions apart may be close to identical, while in others powders that are side by side may exhibit significantly different burn rates.
 
HIGHRPM said:
Anyone really knows who makes these burn rate charts ? Yes, I have a copy, but have noticed on some web sites that some powders change positions on the chart, by 3-4 spots from slower than one powder to faster than it and am wondering how ??? Honest question, since we are always told to refer to the charts.
Click to expand...

It doesn't matter, they're a ballpark reference. Gives you an idea of where the powder burn rate is compared to others, nothing is concrete.
Two powders next to each other on the chart means nothing when it comes to powder charge and doesn't make any of them interchangeable, I just use the charts to help decide which powder to start with when starting on a new cartridge.

I look at all the powders listed in my manuals for the cartridge I'm planning to load, then look at factors like barrel length, powder temperature sensitivity, projectile weight, and action type to determine which powder I want to try first.
 
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