what makes powder

FromTheNorth

FromTheNorth

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Location
Area 51
ok so now I'm in the process of reloading now, iv done 50 rnds now and shot 25 with no incident thankfully, so I'm doing right. But now I'm just kinda thinking now(doesn't happen often), what makes a good powder? i understand there is different burn rates, grain size, elements involved to make it, but what makes each manufacture different from each other? recipes are always a secret, but they can't all be off by much. why do you choose one manufacture from another if they carry the same mix or similar? i mean they can't all be that different can they? I love reloading now, so i want to know as much as i can take in...but in baby steps...to much at one time is creates green smoke ;)
 
A good powder burns clean, is accurate, dependable, consistent and is available.

This will change with your load, your firearm and your location.

Everyone will have a few favorites depending on what has worked well for them...

Sad to say it, but I think the most important thing right now is availability.
 
i tend to stick with hodgdon powders because they seem to be the most available and cheapest, at least when i started loading 4-5 years ago.

i do like some alliant and accurate brand powders, but they were harder to find. i haven't tried vihtavuori but they seem to be the cats ass.
 
I try to stick with one powder (Unique) for 45ACP, 45Colt and plinker loads in 30-30 but the powder shortage has forced me to buy whatever I can find so now I have some Bullseye, Tightgroup and Powerpistol.
I will have to work up some loads for each of these using the chronograph again.
 
It has to taste good and have the right amount of crunchy-ness. If my burps become flammable, that's a bonus.







For me it's Hodgdon and IMR because they are what is easily available. Alliant isn't carried at LeBarons which is where I started buying powder from when I started (5 years ago? Don't remember). There are also many reports online of some Alliant powders being very temperature sensitive which isn't a good thing but I don't know how true they are. All powders are temperature sensitive no matter what the manufacturer says but all to differing degrees.
 
LUTNIT said:
It has to taste good and have the right amount of crunchy-ness. If my burps become flammable, that's a bonus.
Click to expand...
What IS that odd smell?? It's the kind of odor that, while I'm loading, I can't help stickin' my nose into the jar my powder is in.
My daughter was over the other day so I opened the container and let her have a sniff... right away she said it smelled like oranges that have gone off. I think she nailed it... C.
 
skeeterC said:
What IS that odd smell?? It's the kind of odor that, while I'm loading, I can't help stickin' my nose into the jar my powder is in.
My daughter was over the other day so I opened the container and let her have a sniff... right away she said it smelled like oranges that have gone off. I think she nailed it... C.
Click to expand...

Almost a plastic smell mixed in.
 
Lefty #### said:
Your firearm will divulge what powders are "good"

That's why it's called load development.

It's not a microwaveable outcome.
Click to expand...
i wasn't trying to make a decision of what powders to use from other peoples opinions or use what they use because they say its the best, i was simply looking for guidance on how to determine what to look for in a powder... Im still in the learning process and one thing i have seen a heard a lot about reloading is load development...i don't microwave anything, i tend to do my own cooking and find the taste that i can eat that works
 
FromTheNorth said:
i wasn't trying to make a decision of what powders to use from other peoples opinions or use what they use because they say its the best, i was simply looking for guidance on how to determine what to look for in a powder... Im still in the learning process and one thing i have seen a heard a lot about reloading is load development...i don't microwave anything, i tend to do my own cooking and find the taste that i can eat that works
Click to expand...

Always start with a couple good cook books, compare, and find the commonalities.

Reloading is no different.
 
there are temperature sensitive powders.
there are "position" sensitive powders.

they can be used with great success but they can also be awful to deal with.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom