Dirty Powder?

[vanbuzen9]

Hi all,

I was wondering if factory powder is cleaner-burning than anything one can buy at a store.  I get a very dark residue inside the case after fireing
my 9mm w/ alliant power pistol. Is there a cleaner-burning powder out there?

thanks,
vanbuzen9

[jgalar]

I use Unique, which is a very dirty powder. It works well for me in most reduced rifle and handgun loads so I keep using it. Cleaning up doesn't bother me. Just because a powder doesn't burn as clean as others doesn't mean its a bad powder to use. The fouling I get doesn't affect accuracy, it just looks messy. There is a lot if different powders available. Some burn clean and some may not, but that shouldn't be your only consideration.

[Questor]

Apparently so. I've noticed it too. There seems to be a trend toward making cleaner burning handgun ammo.  I see some mighty clean brass coming out of guns that have fired Winchester or PMC ammo lately.  I believe that some of this must have to do with differences in priming.  We got some promotional shotshell loads from Winchester last year and without exaggeration I can say that the bores of our guns were so clean after two rounds of skeet that it was as if they had not been fired.  

I wonder if you would send one of the manufacturers an e-mail about this and let us know what their answer is.

Historically the factory loads have typically been loaded closer to maximum pressure than many of the handloads we develop. That accounts for a differences in the amount of soot from a load.

A lot of the soot we get is from the primers. For instance, I have loaded 45ACP with just the primer and no powder (this was for a special test; don't do that unless you want a bullet lodged in your barrel), and the amount of soot is just amazing.  Turn that same powderless load into a light target load with cast bullets and clean-burning Winchester 231 and you get soot on the outside of some cases.  Take the same components, replace the lead bullet with a jacketed bullet and load it to near maximum pressure and you get a pretty clean burning load and sometimes a very clean burning load.

[Redhawk1]

I guess I don't worry about it. I clean my guns after shooting them and tumble my brass. I just shoot the powder that gives me the best performance. Clean burning powder does not mean good performance.
 

[WD45]

I'm with redhawk.... I tend not to worry much about how clean the powder  burns. I look at the performance and accuracy and if its a little dirty big deal. One of the most accurate light loads I have in 45 colt is with 700X which most people dont like just cause its on the dirty side.

[Patriot_1776]

jgalar wrote:

I use Unique, which is a very dirty powder.

 :?  :?

What lot date is on your powder container?

I've used Unique in a few hundred rounds of 45 ACP, and have found it to be cleaner than Bullseye.  On the container I have, it says "Cleaner Burning" (Lot date Jul. 03).

I would not get as much residue inside my firearm as I did with B.E. and there was less residue just outside the muzzle area as well.

 
-Patriot

[jgalar]

I've never used Bullseye so can't comment on it. I have been using Unique for years and don't really notice the new "cleaner burning" stuff  being any cleaner than what was available in the past. I don't have any problem with using it, but some folks won't use it because they think its too dirty. Remember I am also using it in large rifle cases (very light loads) and it can be very dirty with that usage.

[jd45]

If you're concerned about residue, you may want to try Win. 231, which I've heard, is a very clean burning powder, or the Vitavuori powders. These are noted for their clean-burning characteristics, altho a bit pricey. The VV powders listed for the 9mm Luger cartridge are N105, N310, N320, N330, N340, N350, & N3N37. I use N350 for my Colt Combat Eilte in .45acp, of course. Accurate & clean-burning, jd45.

[Lloyd Smale]

WELL SAID!!!

I guess I don't worry about it. I clean my guns after shooting them and tumble my brass. I just shoot the powder that gives me the best performance. Clean burning powder does not mean good performance.
 

[Castaway]

I'm with Redhawk 1 and Lloyd.  I've never had a handgun fail to fire with extended range sessions when using Bullseye or Unique.  Doesn't bother me, doesn't hurt the pistol, now does it affect the inside of the brass to any point as far as I can tell.

[ricciardelli]

Powder residue is a byproduct of shooting.

Period.

If you don't want the residue, then I suggest firearms made by Daisy and Crosman.

[Redhawk1]

Powder residue is a byproduct of shooting.

Period.

If you don't want the residue, then I suggest firearms made by Daisy and Crosman.

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