The Accurate Reloading Forums
Unburnt powder exiting the barrel?
06 September 2008, 02:47
old4x4Unburnt powder exiting the barrel?
Asked by a friend if unburnt powder can exit a barrel and accumulate on a range floor. I told him yes as I've seen it in the barrels of most of my pistols while cleaning them.
Whaddya think?? Am I correct?
"It's like killing roaches - you have to kill 'em all, otherwise what's the use?"
Charles Bronson
06 September 2008, 03:08
Ol` JoeYep,
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06 September 2008, 03:09
ireload2Depending on the load and powder you will get a lot of zombies which are partially burned grains.
Unroll some plastic and fire a 44 Mag loaded with 2400 over it.
06 September 2008, 03:18
Hot CoreYour timing could not be better. Have him turn to pages 62 & 63 in "your" Sep08
NRA American Hunter and take a look.
On page 63 is what appears to be a Handgun Bullet to me(though the article is about Rifle Bullets?

) flying along with a string of Clear Air Turbulence(CAT) trailing along behind it.
Now, back on page 62, at about 1 o'clock from where it says Field "Editor" is a small "Round Object" which also has CAT following along indicating to me that it is moving in the same direction as the Bullet, at nearly the same speed and not just a stationary Black Dot in the flick.
What would you and your buddy think that small Round Object happens to be?
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You can also suggest that he talk to a Coroner in a city which has a good bit of drug fights involving revolvers/pistols at a relatively close distance or a good number of suicides. Ask the Coroner if he ever finds unburned Gun Powder near an Entrance Hole.
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Is this completely out-of-touch with Reality Government Agency in the USA Government?

06 September 2008, 05:07
old4x4Great answers. Exactly what I was looking for.
"It's like killing roaches - you have to kill 'em all, otherwise what's the use?"
Charles Bronson
06 September 2008, 05:41
308SakoYes you are correct. Many years ago when shooting in an indoor range just north of NYC, the booth caught fire from the unburned powder which had accumulated over the year. Ruined a good target, but was handled well by those present!
Hot core is refering to the powder tattooing from GSW's and their residue.
Member NRA, SCI- Life #358 28+ years now!
DRSS, double owner-shooter since 1983, O/U .30-06 Browning Continental set.
06 September 2008, 08:51
303GuyMy uncle was an armourer in Egypt during WWII. He told me of how they used to sweep up the unburned or partially burned powder from in front of the 50 Browning machine guns. So, yes.
I used to get unburned powder in my 44 mag barrel if I did not load it up hot enough. My gun had a heavy hammer and so did not need to be too hot to burn clean but some folks found it necessary to use magnum primers to get clean burning.
Regards
303Guy
06 September 2008, 14:29
wildboarIn 1994, in northern Italy, a policeman (Carabiniere) died and several were injured due to a blast and fire in an indoor range. The accident was caused by the accumulation of unburned powder exiting the barrel.
06 September 2008, 17:00
Red C.Yes it does, and it doesn't just happen in handguns.
Red C.
Everything I say is fully substantiated by my own opinion.
06 September 2008, 18:35
Hot Corequote:
Originally posted by 308Sako:
..Hot core is refering to the powder tattooing from GSW's and their residue.
Hey 308Sako, Thank you. Didn't know they used the term "tattooing", but it fits.
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By the way old4x4, I was thinking more about the question last night and would say "it depends on the Load". Some light Target Loads do seem to consume all the Powder for me. But as I get into the Bambi-Blaster Loads, using the slower Powders, then I do see some Powder Particles.
So, yes it can happen, but it depends on the Load. The Government Agency that would ask such a question should be completely shut-down and that bunch of deadbeats tossed out.
Best of luck to you.
07 September 2008, 00:30
DUKquote:
Originally posted by wildboar:
In 1994, in northern Italy, a policeman (Carabiniere) died and several were injured due to a blast and fire in an indoor range. The accident was caused by the accumulation of unburned powder exiting the barrel.
We had a similar accident on a poistol shooting range here some years ago. Unfortunately this seems to happen on indoor ranges, several shooter died, if I remember well because of suffocation.
07 September 2008, 00:43
Alberta CanuckYes, you are correct. You also have just provided yourself with a rsponse to use when some self-ordained "ballistics expert" starts telling you the muzzle flash you see at the end of a barrel in the twilight or later can't include burning powder...he'll say something like "All the powder burns in the first 1-to-3" of the barrel ahead of the cartridge case." Yeh, right!!

07 September 2008, 02:40
old4x4quote:
The Government Agency that would ask such a question should be completely shut-down and that bunch of deadbeats tossed out.
Best of luck to you.
It's not a branch that really ever deals with this kind of thing. I'd get reamed if I went into any more details...really
"It's like killing roaches - you have to kill 'em all, otherwise what's the use?"
Charles Bronson
07 September 2008, 03:55
Hot CoreI believe you and understand. If you can tell them what "I said" without getting yourself in a pile of clinton, feel free to do so.
