Pistol loads and muzzle flames/flash

[AJC]

When loading for pistols with normal length barrels I am trying to figure out how to understand powder burn rate and bullet weight vs muzzle blast. As an example when loading 4.0 grains of tight group under 115 grain rounds in 9mm I get zero flash. Even at a max load i get none. With power pistol at 6.5 grains under the same bullet it's a flame thrower. I get like a 10-12 inch flame and a huge amount of blast. My first thought was that the powder may be to slow but what I'm really curious about is if i go to a heavier bullet if it will reduce the flames. My thought being it may accelerate slower and maybe burn more in the barrel. Is a 4 or 5 inch barrel of a pistol to short to effect this or is it a reasonable goal. Will a 124 be enough to change, or would I have to run 147 heavies.

 

[Doug Beach]

Different powders are radically different in visible flash. It isn’t necessarily an indicator of anything else.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I have a 460es and it has the absolute biggest fireball of any gun ive ever heard of. The coonan 357 is the second worst

 

[AJC]

Different powders are radically different in visible flash. It isn’t necessarily an indicator of anything else.

I know some powders have flash suppressant in them and that's a factor. For some a major consideration in self defense loads.

I intended in also testing power pistol in my 45acp to see if it maintains the same character or changes because of the bigger slower projectiles. PP does not seem to be a good powder for 357 mag or I would just run it in a rifle.

 

[JayHHI6818]

Sighted in my 14 in Thompson Contender chambered 445 SM last week 36.0 grains of AA 1680

 

[AJC]

Sighted in my 14 in Thompson Contender chambered 445 SM last week 36.0 grains of AA 1680


View attachment 1141439

Wow that's quite the fireball. Yours beats mine by a lot.

 

[JayHHI6818]

Couple years ago I touched on off and my Son said Dad give me your phone so I can take a video. I heard that was guy getting reading to leave the range Say I have to watch another shot. Son asked if I could shoot one at dark.

 

[DirtySteve]

faster powders, less flash. Slower powders more. Big cases heavy bullets and slow powder, huge fire balls..

 

[Oso]

What DirtySteve said. There is only so much powder that can be burned / consumed in a given barrel length. Faster burning powders such as Bullseye, Titegroup, and Vihtavuori powders burn fast and clean. Another great fireball is Unique powder.

Shooting evening IDPA club matches (outdoor) during winter (gets dark early) is eye opening. Surprised by the fireball that even W231/HP38 produced.

 

[AJC]

What DirtySteve said. There is only so much powder that can be burned / consumed in a given barrel length. Faster burning powders such as Bullseye, Titegroup, and Vihtavuori powders burn fast and clean. Another great fireball is Unique powder.

Shooting evening IDPA club matches (outdoor) during winter (gets dark early) is eye opening. Surprised by the fireball that even W231/HP38 produced.

I have not seen the fireball with unique but I'll load some up for comparison. I dont recall it being as bad. Ramshot siloette doesnt seem to have that problem.

 

[Oso]

Unique is famous for being really dirty with a lot of blowback (ie unspent powder). Once it starts getting dsrk you really start noticing the fireball. My club has a Wednesday night practice that starts at 6pm. For the next couple of months sunset is 5pm and nightfall by 6pm. The guys gave fun being creative with stage setups. You get a chance to shoot using Halogen Shop lights, road flares, camp fire, lasers, lights mounted on your pistol, night sight, etc. It is a great opportunity to try out your gear and technique. The first thing you realize is how much of a flame ball your reloads produce and how quick you recover from blinding yourself from the inadvertent "shock & awe". It made a number of shooters revisit their powder selections.

 

[AJC]

Unique is famous for being really dirty with a lot of blowback (ie unspent powder). Once it starts getting dsrk you really start noticing the fireball. My club has a Wednesday night practice that starts at 6pm. For the next couple of months sunset is 5pm and nightfall by 6pm. The guys gave fun being creative with stage setups. You get a chance to shoot using Halogen Shop lights, road flares, camp fire, lasers, lights mounted on your pistol, night sight, etc. It is a great opportunity to try out your gear and technique. The first thing you realize is how much of a flame ball your reloads produce and how quick you recover from blinding yourself from the inadvertent "shock & awe". It made a number of shooters revisit their powder selections.

Care to share some insight on what you learned. I have tightgroup dialed in at 3.9-4 grains for target loads and when I get back home I will have my dads siloett load. Tested power pistol with results above. I have unique but that's the limit so far on testing.

 

[Oso]

unique is very dirty and produces large flame... not worth it.
9mm - CFE Pistol with 147gr bullets
TiteGroup and Bullseye are very good for 9mm