Reduced flash - Still working on it

[BabySeal]

I have a Glock 29. Thats the sub-compact 10mm. My 106mm barrel barks out bullets like nobodies business. 9.9gr of Blue Dot and 180gr XTPs are what I am using.

But I find that the muzzle flash is quite large. Now not only is it a bit distracting, but from a physis point of view, its consuming energy that might be directed into the bullet if I could figure out how.

Now I know there are lots of other powders out ther, and I would love to try them!

But I read that artillery shells have graphite, among many other things, added to them to reduce flash. So I gave it a try today.

I used a file and shaved up about 2/16 worth of lead from my drafting pencil (Very thick lead). I know its not pure graphite, but its the closest I had on hand.

I loaded some with the graphite in first, then the powder, and some the other way.

Both had the same result.

Reduced recoil. Reduced velocity, and reduced flash.

It also made the flash a different colour. It was not white, but more orange.

Now. I could try a faster powder with the same ammount of graphite and see if that further reduces the flash. Or I could try adding more powder and more graphite, but I am near the max load for this cartridge already.

Anybody with some bullseye or something else on the fast side of BD want to give it a try?

Hmmm.... cant wait till I can shoot again.

 

[A-zone]

In my experience, Blue Dot (in .357 mag) produces a significant amount of flash. We used to play with it at the local indoor range purely for entertainment (precisely for that reason).

If you're looking for a low-flash powder, try Titegroup. I use Titegroup in my 40S&W with 180 grain Montana Gold's (for IPSC) and it burns very cleanly (extremely low residue). It will produce a small fraction of the muzzle flash of Blue Dot. Plan B would be to try 231 or Bullseye.

Have fun!

 

[curtmg]

Admittedly, I'm fairly new to all this, I've only loaded about 7-800 rounds of 45acp. But am I overly cautious when I'm thinking that adding things into my powder, might be a risky idea? I'm sure you've got a lot more experience than myself, so if you feel comfortable, by all means go ahead. I'd warn noobs (such as myself), that this is probably one of those things better left to those who've got some more time invested in the field.

 

[acrashb]

but from a physis point of view, its consuming energy that might be directed into the bullet if I could figure out how.

That is generally incorrect. With a fast powder, most of the flash is not unburned powder (which you could somehow direct into velocity - 'somehow' being a faster powder or longer barrel).

Most of the flash is a secondary oxidation when combustion gases hit the air. There are also shock-wave effects.

You can't change these into velocity. You can only damp them for other reasons (eg., reduced muzzle signature).

Most or all of the cartridge additives that will reduce flash increase smoke/soot and may also cool the combustion gases - which you noticed as reduced velocity.

As suggested, try Titegroup. Universal is also low-flash. Blue Dot is known to be "flash"y.

If you had a 1/2-28 thread on your barrel, you could just put an AR flash suppressor on it. The Vortex's work well.

 

[BabySeal]

Now that would look funny.

Yeah. Its sooty too. I am going to try the same load again with half the ammount of graphite. Maybe that will be what I want. I would try titegroup, but it would not have the same power that I am looking for.

And dont worry CurtMG. Graphite is used for this purpose in artillery shells. Thats where I got the idea, mostly. At least I am not the only one with a worry about it.

My only worry was with the first two rounds. I put the graphite in first, then the powder. My worry was that the graphite would clog the flash hole and my powder would either not burn or burn late enough to do some damage. Well, stubborn as I am, I decided to give it a try. As I said before, in the same message where I proved I cant spell (physis instead of physics) there was not appreciable difference.

If it doesnt work with the reduced graphite, I am just going to learn to live with the flash. Although a vortec woud certainly give it all a certain WTF factor.

Thanks guys.