Author Topic: powders and recoil (Read 341 times)

Ranger J · « **on:** September 29, 2005, 05:16:07 AM »

While I have always heard that there is no such thing as a dumb question this may border on it. Do certain powders seem to impart more felt recoil than equivalent loads of another powder? An example would that my .44 mag loads using H110 seem to kick more than AA#9 or Blue Dot loads with the same weight bullets and at the same velocity? Mind you this could be just me having another senior moment.

Cottonwood · « **Reply #1 on:** September 29, 2005, 06:09:30 AM »

H110 makes some pretty sout loads... I found that I didn't like them in either the .44 mag or .45 Colt Rugers.

Reed1911 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 29, 2005, 07:38:31 AM »

Ranger,
Powder absoutly makes a difference. Even if the same velocity is shown in the books, the velocities will be different and more velocity means more recoil. Even with the same or very close velocities, all powders have a different burn rate and some will seem to recoil more than others, some will give the feel of a smart snap and others will feel like a hard push.

Questor · « **Reply #3 on:** September 29, 2005, 08:02:37 AM »

I agree with Reed1911. Muzzle flash is another consideration because different powders flash differently. I had one powder for 44 magnum that gave me a bright white flash that was just unbelievable. Changing to another powder have me a very modest muzzle flash, even though the velocity of the bullet was the same.

John Traveler1 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 29, 2005, 09:59:50 PM »

For two same-velocity loads using the same bullet and two very different powders, the felt recoil will be heavier with the larger powder charge.

This has to do with simple physics. The "ejecta mass" or material expelled from the gun as well as the mass and velocity of the projectile determines velocity.

Example 1: If Unique and H110 are loaded to give the same velocity in a .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .45 Colt, etc, the heavier powder charge will recoil more. The powder charge weights will be very different because Unique is a medium-fast flake type powder and H110 is a slow ball-type spheroidal powder.

Example 2: .38 Special, .38-40, .44 Special, .44-40, .45 Colt, etc. were originally loaded with blackpowder. The same velocity loads using smokeless powder recoils less.

HTH
John