Weak loads
- Thread starter Dumbo
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That's a loaded question. Ha! I kill me 
Sure it can, just as driving a particular load to fast will do the same. With light loads and big cases sometimes you get into how the powder ignites depending on it lays in the case. Start at recommended starting loads and work down or up from there, there is no set rule, you have to see what works for you.
Sure it can, just as driving a particular load to fast will do the same. With light loads and big cases sometimes you get into how the powder ignites depending on it lays in the case. Start at recommended starting loads and work down or up from there, there is no set rule, you have to see what works for you.
Zak Smith
Member
If you want to load down from normal power, there are some advantages of going to a faster-burning powder: you'll use less, it will burn more completely, and the recoil impulse will be shorter.
If we take 9mm as an example: Vihtavuori 3N37 is a great choice for full-power 9mm. It's a "slow" powder for 9mm. If you load down too much, it will not burn completely because it won't reach high enough pressure.
N310 is a very "fast" powder in 9mm, but you won't be able to reach the same velocities as with 3N37 because it will reach the maximum pressure much sooner.
Many competition shooters think that in handguns (at least, non-compensated pistols), for two loads at the same power factor (velocity * bullet grains / 1000), the one with the faster powder and heavier bullet will have less recoil impulse. This requires a careful approach because normally you would use a slower powder with the heavier bullets.
I know this doesn't really answer your questions, but hopefully it'll give you some background for working up a good reduced load-- I load "super-wimp" loads of 100PF (115gr at 870fps) and normal powder but reduced recoil impulse (124gr at 1060fps with Titegroup) in 9mm.
-z
If we take 9mm as an example: Vihtavuori 3N37 is a great choice for full-power 9mm. It's a "slow" powder for 9mm. If you load down too much, it will not burn completely because it won't reach high enough pressure.
N310 is a very "fast" powder in 9mm, but you won't be able to reach the same velocities as with 3N37 because it will reach the maximum pressure much sooner.
Many competition shooters think that in handguns (at least, non-compensated pistols), for two loads at the same power factor (velocity * bullet grains / 1000), the one with the faster powder and heavier bullet will have less recoil impulse. This requires a careful approach because normally you would use a slower powder with the heavier bullets.
I know this doesn't really answer your questions, but hopefully it'll give you some background for working up a good reduced load-- I load "super-wimp" loads of 100PF (115gr at 870fps) and normal powder but reduced recoil impulse (124gr at 1060fps with Titegroup) in 9mm.
-z
When working up weak loads, if you can use wadcutters, dried out target paper and backers look for the perfectly round holes. Even a slight oblong shape will tell you your bulets aren't stabilized. Most of the WEAK TARGET loads go between 650 and 850FPS in revolvers and (45 acp) and up to about 1050 in the smaller semi-autos. These are sometimes called mid-range target loads - good for up to 50 yards. I sometimes shoot air pistol where the .177 pellet is going only 380FPS, but the gun will shoot hole through hole at 10 yards.
Fast, quick powders work for these loads, heavy loads are accurate also. But it's hard to win a match when you start flinching.
Elliot
Fast, quick powders work for these loads, heavy loads are accurate also. But it's hard to win a match when you start flinching.
Elliot
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