700x vs Longshot

[1SOW]

Powder Drop:
AA #5:  very small ball powder that can easily be double charged(or even more) if not careful in your process.  #5 runs very well at 130-134 PF with 9mm 124/125 gr plated/jacketted bullets in my tests (I don't use lead or coated),  meters very well if your powder drop system can handle the smallest particle powder. 

Vit n320:  More expensive per pound,  but takes less powder than many other powders,  burns COOL,  pretty clean,  very small rod,  meters perfectly from most anything,  no muzzle blast/flash,  can't double charge a common 9mm load..  Liked by many competitors for 9mm and higher cals..  Add about 1 - 1.5 cents/9mm round for higher powder cost.

Win 231/HP38 (same powders):  small flattened ball,  meters perfectly,  like said above  has a wide range of uses through 45 cal.  Does burn a little dirty with med. to light loads in the 130PF or less range.


See Powder comparisons  here: https://picasaweb.google.com/116217991651932882942/POWDERCOMPARISONS#slideshow/5984948538649273906

[Wobbly]

Thanks for the recommendations and suggestions! I am looking through these powders and the main thing I am seeing is the burn rate as a differentiation. Would you all mind elaborating a little more as to aspects such as the powder shape (so how well it feeds or drops), how clean they are, and so forth? Some of those things that I wouldn't glean just looking at the numbers in reloading charts.

Ball powders meter/measure the best due to shape. Unfortunately they don't always burn the best, so you typically need more power per load. Making the balls very tiny helps, thus you see powders like Accurate No2 are so small that it can leak in some powder measures. Accurate and Western have some of the more popular ball powders.

Flake powders seem to burn very good, but they don't always meter that well. Typically these powders are very economical to use. This is an older technology you'll see with 700x and Red/Green/Blue Dot.

Flattened Ball powders were developed to have the better burn of flake, but with the better metering of ball. Find these in Winchester 231 (aka HP-38) and WSF.

Stick powders are the product of an extrusion process, when the long rods are cut into short lengths. Stick is the hardest to meter, but burns very well. Today these are mostly used in rifle powders. VihtaVuori N300 series powders seem to be what might be called "mini-stick" with good burn characteristics and ultra small size delivering good metering.

More info here.... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smokeless_powder

[IDescribe]

I want to throw out that while I have no problem with N310, N320 does not meter all that well for me in my Hornday drop.  When I am hand-cycling to get it set up, it binds.  And SD numbers are generally poor, or at least higher than what I'm accustomed to with other powders, which suggests inconsistencies in metering.  Others with the Hornady drop have noted the "binding" that I have experienced.

[Wobbly]

My logical mind just keeps...

Some parts of this you simply can't reason through, and thus the need to experiment with several powders and compare notes with other shooters. You experiment and learn. There is no one, single "perfect", and your requirements are a moving target, changing over time as your shooting evolves.

As an example, Clays uses less powder than 700x. Logically I see that as more economical based on just the numbers, but... does it meter well, is it too hot, can it not load with heavier bullets, is it really dirty?

Many people swear by Clays. It's a small flake that meters well and shoots cleanly. It's only problem has ever been consistent delivery from Australia. Now, Hodgdon has apparently resolved that within the last 6-9 months with Canadian manufacture. So we should soon see more of it and in volumes hard to previously find.

I feel like a burden on this sub-forum sometimes.

I feel the exact same way. The only cure is to make you a Moderator, then you can feel like a burden AND look like an idiot ! 

Truth is, you're simply smart enough to ask the questions that 20 lurkers are only thinking about.

 

[Wobbly]

VihtaVuori N300 series powders seem to be what might be called "mini-stick" with good burn characteristics and ultra small size delivering good metering.

I want to throw out that while I have no problem with N310, N320 does not meter all that well for me in my Hornday drop.  When I am hand-cycling to get it set up, it binds. 

That is the signature issue with stick type powders. The sticks protrude across the rotor cavity/ hopper boundary, and when the rotor turns the sticks have to be cut by the rotor causing "binding". The way the Dillon PM slams closed precludes the "feeling", but not always the inaccuracy.

This is one reason I fell in love with 7625; it cleared the final hurdle of N320. I really miss 7625.

Now you've got me crying again ! I hope you're happy.   

[painter]

Go shoot a chronograph. You'll feel better.

[Wobbly]

That's funny because I just ordered a ProChrono Digital not 3 minutes ago.

Man, you are psychic !   

[painter]

People usually call me psycho...

[1SOW]

The 300 series Vit  powders are also 'single base' powders ,  meaning no nitroglycerin is added to the cellulose.  It does tend to leave less burn residue.

IMR Sr 7625  was a BIG loss for reloaders.  Sure would like to see it come back.  Shotgun loaders feel the same way.

[Scarlett Pistol]

Thanks again for even more advice. I'm really excited I found this guy locally who has started stocking  powder. Got my 3 lbs of HP38 to try out and I have 8 lbs of Clay Dot or American Select (whatever comes in first) on order, so whenever his wholesaler can get it. He said he has another 10 lb of HP38 arriving next week. If anyone is local in norther Utah let me know if you want his info. He doesn't have much of an online store so I don't think he is shipping any right now...

  I feel the exact same way. The only cure is to make you a Moderator, then you can feel like a burden AND look like an idiot ! 

Yeah.... Doesn't sound like much more fun Haha.