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Posted: 5/30/2011 10:04:53 AM EDT
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Hey guys, I loaded up some .45 auto over the weekend and shot a few rounds a little bit ago and I noticed after shooting my arms had specks of gunpowder on them from the powder not burning completely. Is this normal? The load was 6.0 grains of Power Pistol with Fed large pistol primers and 230 gr lead projectiles. I had very good results as far as accuracy goes but why isn't the powder burning completely? Thanks! |
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Quoted:
Hey guys, I loaded up some .45 auto over the weekend and shot a few rounds a little bit ago and I noticed after shooting my arms had specks of gunpowder on them from the powder not burning completely. Is this normal? The load was 6.0 grains of Power Pistol with Fed large pistol primers and 230 gr lead projectiles. I had very good results as far as accuracy goes but why isn't the powder burning completely? Thanks! I do not use that powder , but I see that with Unique , maybe Bullseye . Yhis can be improved with those 2 powders by raising the powder charge / pressure , if you are below max . Do not know about your powder ? Where are you , in the range between min and max ? Are you getting any smoke / soot on the outside of the brass ? God bless Wyr |
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Power Pistol really performs with heavier loads. The lead bullets you're using have less friction than a jacketed bullet, of the same weight, so the full charge probably isn't getting a chance to burn completely. With lead projectiles, I've had better results using charges of Red Dot or Unique. |
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You MIGHT need a heavier crimp. Some powders don't do well in some calibers, so you might need to change powders. I experimented with Blue Dot in 40 S&W, one day I was shooting behind a shooting table that was painted white, I was stunned by how much unburned powder was on the table when I finished, it really showed up on the white paint. |
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Incomplete ignition is because the pressure is low and it is pressure which assures 100% ignition. Power Pistol is too slow for .45 ACP with lead. Peak pressure happens before the bullet moves in most pistol rounds, if below about 15,000 PSI, you can have unburnt particles. If you are shooting SWC bullets, a bit LONGER OAL can increase the pressure since the bullet doesn't get to "run up" before hitting the throat/leade. This increases the bullet pull but it COULD cause reliability issues. Since most are sized 0.452, this is possible even with OALs less than maximum. I go for 0.015" of the first driving band outside of the case, this assures crimping will form a ledge engraved into the driving band, preventing telescoping. |
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I've got a question along the same lines.
Loading .45 cal Rainier plated 185gr truncated cone flat point over Titegroup 5.2 gr (max load for the 180gr LFP listed in Hodgdons data) My issue is the same, lots of powder kernels left in the case and all over, and a velocity of only 800fps, Hodgdons data shows 950fps. I believe it is from excessive case volume, I'm seating them right back where the corner of the bullet meets the case. 1.220" OAL. Can I raise the powder charge until I get the velocity up there? A little nervous about blowing up my GSR 
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Quoted: I've got a question along the same lines. Loading .45 cal Rainier plated 185gr truncated cone flat point over Titegroup 5.2 gr (max load for the 180gr LFP listed in Hodgdons data) My issue is the same, lots of powder kernels left in the case and all over, and a velocity of only 800fps, Hodgdons data shows 950fps. I believe it is from excessive case volume, I'm seating them right back where the corner of the bullet meets the case. 1.220" OAL. Can I raise the powder charge until I get the velocity up there? A little nervous about blowing up my GSR 5.5 grains is the max for 200 grain jacketed. Remember, this fast powder needs a bit of pressure to function. Plated bullets don't have high engraving force. A truncated cone bullet behaves differently than a round nose but it being plated, this is nothing. |
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I'm going to guess its because its too slow of a burning powder for your application... its even slower than universal which is considered "slow" for normal 45acp loads.
If you load it hotter and put more crimp on the round it will probably burn better... still I'd switch to a faster burning powder if the unburnt stuff bothers you. MIke. |
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