Maximum pressure for fast powders?
Fast handgun and shotshell powders usually work at pressures up to 1000 bar (shotshells) or 2000 bar in Magnum revolver cartridges.
If one uses a fast powder like Blue Dot in rifle cartridges as discussed here on the board, at much higher pressures, is still safe or do these powders considerably change their burning characteristics?
The reason I am asking is that I developed two Blue Dot loads (thanks, Seafire), one for the 338 WM and the other for the 222 Rem. The 338 WM load with 36 grains and a 200 grain BT was calculated to be at 3650 bar, the 11 grain for the 222 Rem produce a primer picture which is not too different from a regular N133 load, I'd guess around 3000 bar. (Remark: 1 bar is 1 kg/sq.cm and corresponds roughly to 15.5 psi.)
I was told that the famous SEE only might occure with reduced loads and slow powders. However, is there anything else I should keep in mind?
31 August 2004, 01:29
ReconoI hope my answer is not the last or best on this subject, but I believe that if one were to plot charge versus pressure with one of the fast powders, one would find that pressure increases all too dramatically with charge weight. Unfortunately, other slightly unpredictable variables also affect pressure.
In other words, the charge weight and total conditions are too critical with the fastest powders. Best to stick with the tried and true. Experimentation is really not for those without pressure measuring equipment and a safe place to blow things up.