Author Topic: Powder burn question (Read 328 times)

mag41vance · « **on:** June 12, 2004, 01:27:26 AM »

I was shooting on a range the other evening and noticed the loads I was testing had a lot of flash that I was seeing through the scope at the rifle report. One load I tested had none.(IMR4198)
Should the powder burn completely before the bullet exits the barrel as the IMR 4198 did or be burning after the bullet exit. It would seem to me the burning powder flash would indicate that the bullet and pressure behind it are inefficient with a 1 foot flash.
Help me folks. please :wink:

The barrel is 22inches. 30-30

New Hampshire · « **Reply #1 on:** June 12, 2004, 02:44:04 AM »

A previous thread. Hope this answers the questions: http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=33918

Brian M.

PaulS · « **Reply #2 on:** June 13, 2004, 05:48:47 PM »

The powder is all burning as the bullet leaves the case and is burned a few inches down the bore. The flash you are seeing is the superheated gases exiting the bore as the bullet leaves.

If there was powder burning as it left the bore it would be like little "tracers" flying in random directions not as a fireball or flash.

PaulS

unspellable · « **Reply #3 on:** June 14, 2004, 07:47:04 AM »

I will add a comment to PaulS's remarks. Some of the gases produced by the powder are not completly oxidized. Since they are superheated, they ignite on contact with the air. How much of the flash is due to this effect and how much is due to the gases simply being superheated is a mtter of conjecture, but it's probably a large factor in why some powders seem to produce more flash than others.