Powder Knowledge from a guru? Slow burning powder, looks spherical with hole in it?

[Mike Rae]

Guys,
Wondering if someone can help?
Trying to identify a slow burning powder that almost looks like it has a hole in it.
We pulled apart a weatherby 30-378 factory 180gr accubond shell. The powder weight was 103.9grains. The powder looks spherical and like it has a hole in it?
Was wondering if H1000, Retumbo, H50BMG, IMR 7828, Rl 22 etc, if any of these powders look like that???

Trying to duplicate the load with same powder....

Thoughts??

Thanks in advance

 

[LUTNIT]

Factory ammo rarely uses retail powders you can buy yourself. They usually get bulk orders of a powder with specific burn characteristics and when it's out they make another order for the same characteristics that may actually be a different powder but still within the tolerances. You may have heard of people saying X ammo from Y manufacturer and Z date shot really well in their rifle but the current production ammo doesn't even if it's listed as being the same. This is a result of that.

Even brands that claim to sell the same powder such as Hornady Superformance and Leverevolution don't always use those powders. You can buy Leverevolution 45-70 ammo for example but there is no load data for that powder.

It's also easy for two powders to look essentially indistinguishable but have totally different characteristics. Going from physical appearance alone can be dangerous for a totally unknown powder.

To replicate a factory load you should find the same projectiles and brass and then look up load data to get a similar velocity. To do it well you usually need a chronograph and a lot of patience. It is also not uncommon to need to try several different powders before being able to closely copy a factory load.

 

[John Y Cannuck]

There are a number of commercial powders that could match your description, and as mentioned above, a number of powders we can't access. Thinking of re-using it? Data would be a wild guess at best. Best option, GET RID OF IT.

 

[Spawn-Inc]

IMR 4227?

check out this website as well,

http://www.precisionreloading.net/?page_id=2150

 

[Eagleye]

A "GURU" knows better than to try and identify a powder by any visual characteristics.
That may well be a canister powder unavailable to the reloader anyway.
Trying to match factory powders is a lesson in futility.
Regards, Eagleye.

 

[Ganderite]

When powders are made (say 4350) they are tested and given a speed rating. A typical powder "lot" is 2,000 lbs. It is sold to an ammo manufacturer and told that this particular lot is "fast" or 'slow". They then develop a load with that powder to generate the velocity they wanted.

Even if you knew what powder it was (which you don't), their lot is quite different than the lot you buy.

Also, there are powders in between the various speed ranges you buy. These in between powders might look identical to the faster and slower powders on the end of that speed range.

RL15, for example is a very popular powder. It is actually RP11, made by Bofors, in Sweden. The next fasted powder by Bofors is RP28, slightly faster than 4895. I get fabulous SD with it in 308, but it is not available to handloaders as a canister powder. But if you take some match ammo apart, you might find it.

I have no idea what powder they used. And the next lot they make could have an entirely different powder in it.

But the powder is not "spherical". It is "extruded". It would be in the range of RL25 to 5051.

All those powders have a hole through the kernel. The piece of powder burns on the outside, like a log. As it burns the outside surface area gets smaller, giving off less and less gas, just as you need more and more gas because the bullet is moving and increasing the volume behind it. By perforating the kernel, the surface area on the inside burns and gets bigger and bigger, giving off more and more gas.
.

 

[Ganderite]

When powders are made (say 4350) they are tested and given a speed rating. A typical powder "lot" is 2,000 lbs. It is sold to an ammo manufacturer and told that this particular lot is "fast" or 'slow". They then develop a load with that powder to generate the velocity they wanted.

Even if you knew what powder it was (which you don't), their lot is quite different than the lot you buy.

Also, there are powders in between the various speed ranges you buy. These in between powders might look identical to the faster and slower powders on the end of that speed range.

RL15, for example is a very popular powder. It is actually RP11, made by Bofors, in Sweden. The next fasted powder by Bofors is RP28, slightly faster than 4895. I get fabulous SD with it in 308, but it is not available to handloaders as a canister powder. But if you take some match ammo apart, you might find it.

I have no idea what powder they used in that 30-378. But the next lot they make could have an entirely different powder in it.

But the powder is not "spherical". It is "extruded". It would be in the range of RL25 to 5051.

All those powders have a hole through the kernel. The piece of powder burns on the outside, like a log. As it burns the outside surface area gets smaller, giving off less and less gas, just as you need more and more gas because the bullet is moving and increasing the volume behind it. By perforating the kernel, the surface area on the inside burns and gets bigger and bigger, giving off more and more gas.
.