Squib load, brownish yellow powder?

aletheuo said:
BS... Thats exactly the way my new h4831sc looked when it was flashed but didnt ignite]
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Then it would appear you TOO have some powder that is degrading.
Before you go on calling me out, you may want to give the good folks at Hodgdon powder a call. 913-362-9455
The hundreds of pounds of H4831sc I have is a rather goldish color, NOT VERY distinct multi colored as the photo the OP posted shows.
We had to destroy a LARGE quantity of gunpowder that looked like that on Hodgdon's advise that it was degraded. They replaced it for us,fortunately.
 
alberta tactical rifle said:
Then it would appear you TOO have some powder that is degrading.
Before you go on calling me out, you may want to give the good folks at Hodgdon powder a call. 913-362-9455
The hundreds of pounds of H4831sc I have is a rather goldish color, NOT VERY distinct multi colored as the photo the OP posted shows.
We had to destroy a LARGE quantity of gunpowder that looked like that on Hodgdon's advise that it was degraded. They replaced it for us,fortunately.
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that's after being fired, not before. if it was that colour before then i would agree with you.
 
I've had the same problem once some years ago in the .45-70 using reasonably stiff loads of h-4198 in cold weather. The bullet was driven hard into the rifling and the powder grains looked the same as in the original posters picture.

Chris.
 
I've had it happen with large charges of slow burning powder and cold weather in the -30 to -40 C range. CCI magnum primers, which as magnums go are very mild. The powder was scorched yellow and had to be scraped out of the case with a nail. After checking just about everything that you can check I switched to 215Ms and the problem went away. Actually it wouldn't hurt my feelings if all CCI primers of all types went away.

When you get a set of circumstances that all work against you ignition problems will crop up. Huge charges of powder, or half empty cases, ball powders, cold weather, mild primers, or light primer strikes in the wrong combination will give you what your getting.
 
I pulled a dozen surplus 7.62x54 bullets and lowered the charges by 2grains because I dropped some and forgot to bring powder.
I guess next time il know better.
Also seems like cci primers don't like cold because that's what I was using.

Correct me if I'm wrong but in theory seating the bullet a little deeper and putting a crimp would help that not happend again? There's only 8 more so I might as well just shoot em
 
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You could try shooting them but I would make sure I tipped the cases up to bring most of the powder to the rear of the case by the primer first. Chances are you may get hangfires in the mix as well. It's really fun to experience click pause boom once in a while.
 
Caleb314 said:
I pulled a dozen surplus 7.62x54 bullets and lowered the charges by 2grains because I dropped some and forgot to bring powder.
I guess next time il know better.
Also seems like cci primers don't like cold because that's what I was using.

Correct me if I'm wrong but in theory seating the bullet a little deeper and putting a crimp would help that not happend again? There's only 8 more so I might as well just shoot em
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Don't shoot them....hang fires, poor powder ignition are a very good way to become the owner of a gun with a ringed chamber or bulged barrel. If the primer hammers the bullet into the barrel and then the powder does ignite even a fraction of a second later, a very good chance you will be left with a boat anchor.
 
This is the correct answer IMHO
I've had the same thing happen and it's always due to not getting the chamber pressure up to where the powder will burn properly, or at all.

Al-Sway said:
What appears to have, somewhat alluded to by various responders to your post, is that the powder was scorched but never fully ignited. The cause, in your case, appears to be a combination of a light bullet and a low end powder charge (coupled with the cold weather), that meant that the pressure never built up enough for proper ignition of the powder. You didn't say what the surplus powder was.
If you want to use that light bullet you probably need to increase your powder charge, or use a different powder. As suggested, a magnum primer might help, but if the powder weight and its normal burn rate is marginal, even the magnum primer is not a guarantee for reliable ignition.
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"Surplus powder" can be anything from anywhere. Suggest you change powders to something you can get proper data for. You may want to think about using a different bullet too. 123 grain .311" bullets are for 7.62 x 39.
 
alberta tactical rifle said:
THAT powder has all the classic signs of degradation. It very well MAY be dangerous to use. I would highly recommend trying new powder!
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No, not in this case. That is the colour of powder before it gets the graphite coating.

I have seen this many times when the primer did not ignite the powder. You managed to hit just about every variable the wrong way. Slow powder, light bullet, cold temp and stnd primer. (and probably no crimp.)

To make this load work, use a magnum primer and a crimp into the crimping groove of the bullet.
 
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