OK, I have been in a controversy on another forum about measuring black powder by weight verses volume, which is like discussing which is the only true God it seams.
I come here for insight, knowing that this habitation is more civil and scientifically based.
Anyway, I was arguing that you can't really measure BP by volume, because different granulations and even different manufacturers of powder will produce different densities. While you can under many conditions use volume to reproduce a charge with reasonable consistency, one can not simply go out and buy a "60 grain" powder measure and expect it to be correct.
But...
All of a sudden I was confronted with a different point of view that made me think that there was a different meaning. Sadly, when I asked for a reference to back up the one key fact, the "opposing viewpoint" person got wishy-washy and ws not quite able to substantiate his source, and then sort of started flip-flopping... the "discussion" still continues.
Hopefully we will not launch our nuclear weapons at each other before it ends...
But, anyway, I thought I would throw this out here for discussion and see if anyone has any historical references that might back this possibility up.
Here is the "Theory"...
Grains of black powder have absolutely nothing to do with what a charge weight...
What it has to do with is the volume of the black powder charge as measured in a container that is calibrated in "grains of water".
Grains, from what I gather, are actually a unit of mass, not weight, for those that are inclined to care. However, at reasonably close to sea level on the planet earth, we can use a scale to approximate it.
So, here is how the "Theory" has us making a powder measure.
1 grain = 0.06479891 grams
15.432358 grains = 1 gram
1 gram = 1 cubic centimeter.
15.432358 grains per cc
So, a 1cc measure will hold 15.43 grains of water. The "Theory" is that a 1cc measure is a 15.43 grain measure of water, and someplace in history, possibly, someone decided that the amount of black powder that will fill such a measure is to be considered to be 15.43 grains (by volume).
It seems that granulated BP has a specific gravity of about 1.2 - 1.3 (+-), so in reality the 1cc measure will hold closer to 18-20 grains by weight of BP - depending on granulation and brand and simply how you poured it into the measure.
However, there is the whole deal about buying a "60 grain" powder measure and expecting it to pour 60 grains. There is also the deal about using BP subs by volume rather then weight. These kind of things sure would be easier to get a handle on if volume, rather than actual weight, meant anything.
If such a "theory" was in deed a standardized fact that has been long since forgotten about, it would have a significance that would be earth-shattering. I think they could make a movie about it. I would , of course, play the hero who gets the hot blond in the end... but... huh? where was I going with this?
There is little doubt that commercial ammo companies did not have a row of little old ladies weighing out 70 grains of black powder to load .45-70's. I am sure that it was loaded by volume.
Is anyone aware of some remote, quotable source of a factoid that might link BP measurement by volume with the mass and displacement of water?
Of course, even if such a source of info can be found, there is no guarantee that it was adhered to by all. Not 15 minutes ago I was playing with a Lee powder scoop measure set. The slide rule conversion chart included with it gives different grain weights for a given scoop depending on the granulation. Under the circumstances discussed about that would not be the case. I am guessing that some lab dude simply measured out some BP and other powders and wrote down his findings, which ultimately became the LEE powder measure slide rule.
Let the discussion begin?
