Ranking for powder

[Flat Land Shooter]

Is there a ranking for powder as far as clean to dirty burn? I searched this site and found where one is compared to another but could not find any listing.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Larryh128]

I've never seen one but that doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. The same powder can burn clean in one load & dirty in another. A lot depends upon the cartridge & bullet weight & also the primer being used.

 

[finnaddict]

I wouldn't let a dirty burning powder deter you from using it. You have got to find out what the rifle does and does not like. Depends on the rifle bore too. Some prefer a cleaner bore over others and some inbetween for optimal accuracy. Example, mine likes a cleaning after 10 rounds using W760 and 40 using H380. Then accuracy deteteriates. As far a dirtyness, I think they are both about the same but it can be hard to tell. There is no dirty gage to make that kind of measurement that I know about. Wouldn't waste money buying one if there was.

 

[Shynloco]

I've only seen charts that rank powder by burning rates and not dirtiness. I can only speak from experience that I ignore how clean or dirty a powder will burn, but am acutely interested in how the powder performs in terms of precision and accuracy. Take for instance my 6mmbr. At 100 yds, I use VVN133 pushing a Bart's 68 Gr Ultra FB and get nice tight groups. When I shoot anything out to 1K, I use 107 Sierra Matchkings being pushed by Varget. I've found VVN 133 is a very cleaning burning powder, while Varget is the opposite. But the final results downrange on the target is all I worry about and it really doesn't take me hardly that much longer to clean the barrel after using either powders. IMHO, I wouldn't be concerned with how clean or dirty the powder burns so long as the results put a smile on my ugly face. Just my thoughts.

 

[Flat Land Shooter]

Thanks to all for the feed back. I was just curious if such a chart existed. I've found what the guns like and clean after 25 rounds, don't have enough experience to tell if what I'm using is considered clean or dirty as I haven't tried different powders in the different guns. I use VV-135 in a 6BR, VV-133 in a 6PPC and varget in a 308, accuracy issues can be directly related to my lack of reading the flags.
Thanks again.

 

[savagedasher]

How clean a powder burns has a lot to due with pressure it is shot at. Larry

 

[K22]

In general, I've found that ball powders such as H380 and H335 are produce more powder fouling than stick powders such as Varget and H4895 however I wouldn't let it deter me from using them if they produced the best results in my rifle.

PS - H380 is known for producing excellent accuracy in the 22 250 and H335 in the 223.

 

[finnaddict]

In general, I've found that ball powders such as H380 and H335 are produce more powder fouling than stick powders such as Varget and H4895 however I wouldn't let it deter me from using them if they produced the best results in my rifle.

PS - H380 is known for producing excellent accuracy in the 22 250 and H335 in the 223.

Seems to be the opposite for me.

I use to use powders in the area of Varget, H4895, IMR 4064 which are all stick. After switching to ball powders like W748, H380 and W760 my accuracy greatly improved although I do believe the ball powder is less dirty in my rifles than the others I mentioned.

H380 is my prime propellant and the most accurate producing.

 

[bigedp51]

How clean a powder burns has a lot to due with pressure it is shot at. Larry

BINGO we have a winner

I load W748 in my 30-30 and .223/5.56, in the 30-30 at 42,000 psi the W748 is a little dirty. In my AR15s and .223 bolt action at 50,000 to 55,000 psi it is much cleaner.

If you have black soot on your cars spark plugs you use a hotter spark plug and lean the mixture. (sorry my first car was a 54 Chevy)

 

[Shynloco]

How clean a powder burns has a lot to due with pressure it is shot at. Larry

(my first car was a 54 Chevy)

Oh you lucky dog! I had to settle for a 56 Ford. Loved those models when I was growing up as a kid!

 

[amlevin]

How clean a powder burns has a lot to due with pressure it is shot at. Larry

(my first car was a 54 Chevy)

Oh you lucky dog! I had to settle for a 56 Ford. Loved those models when I was growing up as a kid!

At one time or another I owned both. That's why I don't worry about "soot" in my rifle. I got used to plenty of it with both those cars.