Gunpowder and load development

[Kevin Stenberg]

If i want to only use a powder that will give me a 90% or higher case fill. For a cartridge i am loading. Is there some way other than filling a case with powder. Weighing the powder then looking in loading manuals for minimum/maximum charge weights for the cartridge being loaded. I have done just that with some pulldown powders.
But i am hoping there is an easier way.

 

[Brad]

You could buy Quickload. It won’t tell you right off if you are on the right path but you can tell it you want 90% fill and it will calculate the pressure expected. You can then see if the pressure is safe for your firearm.

Any reason you want 90% or better fill?

 

[fiver]

going to a too slow for caliber powder speed will also do that.
you take the risk of not burning the powder very well and either using a kicker charge or switching to faster and faster powders until you get what you want.

 

[Bret4207]

I don't know if it will help, but you can sort of extrapolate powder volume using the Lee dipper scale. You might have to try the first powder in a case, but it should give you a rough idea of the possibilities. THe newer type of dippers with the cc scale would probably be far easier to use than the old red ones that were just numbered since I don't know if the numbers have an actual value, eg- cubic inch or whatever.

 

[Kevin Stenberg]

Quickloads for me is above what i can spend.
I have heard other loaders say that the less unused space in a case produces a more efficiant burn of the powder.

 

[Brad]

Efficient is good but does it matter on target? Look at many of the groups Ben posts. Those loads are way below 90% fill and yet they shoot really well.

Only time I want 90% or better fill is when I am using a slow burn rifle powder. Stuff like 4350, 4831, and slower. They are prone to SEE if downloaded too much.

 

[Ian]

Brad's right, efficiency isn't everything. Get yourself a Lyman #49 manual, there's a bit of good "high speed" cast bullet data in there for many of the rifle calibers where they actually used powders like Reloder 7, WW748, IMR 3031 for cast bullets at about 80% of full velocity. Proven, safe loads there.

 

[Kevin Stenberg]

I have both the 49 and 50 issue. The 50th issue has a lot less powders per caliber/bullet combination than the #49

 

[RBHarter]

I'm really glad I have 60+ yr of manuals to expand data from .
IMR 4350 cleans up the Mummies between 30-32kpsi depending on how much neck constriction .