Fast powder for shorter barrels?

[fatelvis]

Just wondering if barrel length (including rifle cartridges out of 14" Contender barrels) affects what speed powder you use when loading. In fact, as far as handguns go too. Does it matter?
As always, thanks for your input guys!

 

[JRS]

Depends on what you are trying to accomplish. As long as the peak and total pressure is safe, you'll get more velocity using a faster powder than you will a slower power in a shorter barrel.

 

[JSH]

I have been fooling with TC's,BF's,MOA's and XP's for longer than I like to admit.
Some of the better loads were the same load I used in a rifle.
Yes you may get a fireball. If you can over come any issues with that you are good to go.
I shoot a lot of 748,BLC2 and H335. Some around me complain, but the proof is on the paper.

The thoughts of having to use a faster pistol type powder in the pistols shooting rifle cartridges has been proved over and over as BS. Those thoughts were printed in a gun rag quite a ways back, yet it still haunts the single shot pistol platform to this day.
There are a few pistol loonies that lurk about(you know who you are). They were performing feats 10-15 years ago that is just now seeing popularity with rifles. Pre 6.5 Creedmoor for sure.
Jeff

 

[shortthroat]

For the TC I spend some time looking at various powders in Quickload. Mostly I am looking for better than a 90% case fill and a powder that is all or better than 90% burnt in the barrel I am using. That isn't always an easy choice, but it does give you a starting point to find a pressure well within limits for the bullet/barrel combination. As stated by others you will often find that 748,BLC2 and H335 are usable, as well as some VV like N-133 and N-140. I use the same strategy to find powders for rifle calibers. So for 338 LM it only confirms H1000, Retumbo, and RL-33 are the favored powders. But for the difference in loads you can shoot quite a lot of TC in .223 or 6.5 Grendel for the cost of not so many of the LM loads. In the end, you will wind up with quite a few powders on your shelf, and keep in mind that your chronograph is your friend.

 

[bsekf]

Don Bower was the Contender guy that was shooting 1000 yards with his handguns. One of his better cartridges was a 307 AI, he called it the 30 Alaskan. He used slow powder to keep the pressure down to Contender safe levels. W760, RL 15 and 19, 4350. I have a 7X444, 15 inch Encore that shoots RL 19 well. You wil lose your night vision it you shoot at twilight.

IMHO Depending on cartridge, you will lose about 30fps per inch below 28. Unless you are trying to stay supersonic at 1000, it makes no difference in accuracy.

Bill

 

[JayHHI6818]

Nasty fireball from a 15 inch 25-06 Encore pistol. Guy shooting it was hitting steel plates @ 400 yds.

 

[bsekf]

Jay, that's what I am talking about! Was he shooting a ball powder like 760 or BL C?

Bill

 

[Iowa Fox]

Just to many variables to make a carte blanch statement. With a factory twist and light to medium weight bullets fast powders can work well. In the same length barrel say 15" same cartridge with a fast twist using heavies some what slower powders work the best. Just look at what the winners of the long range pistol matches are using for powder.

 

[sawcarver]

Like Jon said it's hard to make a broad statement for all scenarios. I use the same powder I would in a rifle. Varget in Washers, Retumbo in the 7-300 win, h322 in a .223. I like a full case and an accurate load, don't worry much about faster or slower burning

 

[Handi204]

I'm no expert by any means, I have a Savage Striker in 7-08 14" barrel.
I load a minimum amount of H4895 under a 120 gr. Bullet seems to work well. 3/4" 5 shot groups are the normal. I'm pleased. It does have a fireball but just adds to the fun.IMR 4350 with 140 gr. Bullets looks like it will work also.

 

[JayHHI6818]

I don’t know what powder he was using in the 25-06. I have a 445 Super Mag and use AA1680.

 

[Uncle Ed]

You can look in the reloading manuals for rifles and Contender pistols and the Lyman manual is a good one.
And you will see the same powder that produce the highest velocities in a rifle will be the same in the shorter barrels.

I have a Winchester 30-30 Trapper Model with a 16 1/2 inch barrel and the load data is the same.
The only difference is the blast and muzzle flash with the shorter barrel. And you will notice this at the bench but when shooting at a running deer you don't even think about it.

 

[BronzeArcher]

You don't gain much by switching to a faster powder, but you usually lose less (velocity in a shorter barrel) by switching to a heavier bullet.

 

[Brians356]

FWIW I do not believe there is a rifle cartridge powder you could shoot in a 14 or even an 18-in barrel that would not create a fireball. You might not see it in broad daylight, but a fast camera would catch it (as shown in this thread.) So no need, really, to keep pointing out a particular load "does have a fireball".
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