Identifying Propellants in a factory load

[NS2]

Make your handloads match factory specs. Shoot and practice with them.

Buy ONLY one box of something good (expensive!) like Speer Gold Dot, shoot only only mag of Gold Dot to test for function, and carry the rest?

The quote is from another thread that I didn't want to hi-jack...


Jim, 

I'm assuming that you meant that he should copy the characteristics, i.e. velocity, energy, projectile weight, etc.  However, other than with years of experience, is there a way to identify the exact brand and type of propellant or propellant mix used in any specific load.

Thank you,

[Devereaux]

Don't think you can do it even with years of experience. Factory powder is blended by some secret recipe that they know. It is NOT just one powder, although it might be one TYPE (ball or stick) of powder. They concoct what they know will give them the burn and pressure characteristics they are looking for. Best you can do is approximate the performance of a factory round - you cannot remanufacture one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XhOSXD-VKE&fmt=38

[nicktheww2fanatic]

While I like the idea, I'm not sure how to go about doing that...

[Jim Fleming]

Dev's correct Scott. No way to know. Flake powder looks the same when you take out the red, green or blue dots. They all resemble four other powders I can instantly name.

Nick I'm glad you're here in Reloading Radio, sir welcome.

Nick, the way you can tailor your practice and hunting ammo is really rather simple and safe.

Let's look up a box of Federal 230 grain factory loads... At the muzzle Federal states their 230 RNFMJ has a velocity of 890 fps.

Take your loading manuals, all of them, find a recipe that uses 230 RNFMJ projectiles, but the powder charges meets or exceeds 890 fps. Safely work up to that exact recipe, and you've matched factory velocity and recoil and performance.

Two more items: #1 NO WHERE up above do I mention accuracy, "1 3/4" groups at 100 yds, etc." I'm not discussing accuracy here. I'm talking about matching up to factory ammo velocity and feel when you shoot it. I'm of the opinion that the average shooter can not shoot well enough for pinpoint accuracy to be a major issue. So what if your matching load shoots 6 inch groups at 25 yards? Factory ammo, very likely, isn't going to do much better in the hands of the _ AVERAGE _ shooter. From what I've learned about you Scott? You _ ain't _ the average shooter, so my broad sweeping statement doesn't include folks like you, that shoot more than 10K rounds a year.

#2 point.  Your recipe book doesn't quite match up... perhaps?

Use the load that comes the closest.
Simple. No mention of accuracy, just velocity, performance, recoil, and gun behavior.

If you're lucky, it'll also be accurate.

Jim

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[Jim Fleming]

Incidentally folks? I've taken apart factory ammo that for a CLASS A #1 SOLID GOLD GUARANTEED FACT, that had two different types of powder in it. It was some non-American manufacture old 8 mm Mauser ball ammo that had a blend of both flake and ball (spherical) powders in it. It Shot fine just had blended types of powder. Cupronickel Jacket FMJ, I don't know what the bullet weight was.

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