Moderator: If you believe this is in the wrong subforum, please feel free to move it to where it should have been placed.
*****
When I owned Freedom Arms Model 83s in 475 Linebaugh and Ruger SRHs in 480 I could tolerate three full-power [not "maximum"] 400-grain H110 loads per shooting session. While muzzle velocities were 1200-1300 fps, give or take, muzzle blast was too much for me to handle. When I created 4227 loads for the 400-grain bullet, two things happened. From full-power [not "maximum"] loads muzzle velocities were 1100-1150 fps, give or take, and muzzle blast was dramatically reduced. That muzzle velocities were lower made zero difference in terms of either cartridge's suitability for whitetail and elk for me. But the change in muzzle blast prompted me to query about this facet of handgun handloading.

When handloading for 2-4 inch 357 Magnum 140-160 grain bullets and Ruger large frame Blackhawk 45 Colt 250-300 grain bullets, what powders offer significantly reduced muzzle blast while retaining the ability to achieve "not maximum" muzzle velocities you normally handload to achieve?

I am not asking you to identify loads. I am not asking about powder fouling, or any other facet of a powder. I am not asking about revolvers, barrels or any suppressors. I am trying to identify which among the bazillion currently available smokeless powders offer the benefit of reduced noise.

You may want to look at HS-6. I use it for loads in the .45 Colt up through the 500 Linebaugh.

quote:

Originally posted by MS Hitman:
You may want to look at HS-6. I use it for loads in the .45 Colt up through the 500 Linebaugh.

Good stuff.

Vihtavuori N105 (yes, N105 not N110) works for me in keeping flash and blast down while still getting decently good velocity in short barrel magnum loads. It is Vihtavuori's fastest rifle powder, and gets almost no press. It is a small kernel, extruded powder that meters well enough for me to use thrown loads.

I use N105 in the following short(er) barrel magnums: 357 Mag (3" and 3.125" barrels), 41 Mag (4" barrel), and 44 Mag 4" barrel). I don't load the .45 Colt at the moment so I can't comment on that one.

I find the flash and blast much less than the Win296, H110, Accurate #9 burn range powders while still keeping velocity and case load density up.

Have a look at QuickLOAD, and you will see what I mean. Propellant burnt percentage at 100% or as close to as possible, and low exit pressure at muzzle are what you are looking for.

Im using Blue Dot in my 357, 44 mag and 45 long colt, works well in all 3 without bad muzzle blast and im getting the velocity i want, easy to meter too.

The "secret" to low muzzle blast is low muzzle pressure in conjunction with low gas volume. The exact powder giving the least blast will always depend on the performance desired. Fast powders like Bullseye or AA2 will have low gas volume and at lower velocities will have low muzzle pressure, hence lower blast. But raise the pressure to max and the muzzle pressure will be high too.....more blast.

At the same velocity, slower powders like H110 and AA1680 will produce larger gas volumes and maybe higher muzzle pressures....more blast. So the powder which gives the lowest blast....is a balance of factors and depends on what the OP wants. Powders on the faster end of the burn rates will usually have the best chance of meeting the OP's goal.

Muzzle flash is something else.



.

You might also look at AA7. I have been playing with it in the .41 mag. and the .44 mag. You can get within 100-200 ft/sec of 'max' 296/H110 loads with about 1/2 the powder.
C.G.B.