Need input: .357 Huge Fireball wanted

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You mean like this?Those were some old factory loads head stamped
S&W 125 gr.hollowpoints.Haven't been able to duplicate that same effect with reloads yet.

This is a big reason for LE loads with flash retardant powders - the so called low flash loads. Big ball of flame does not help night vision, nor does it mix well with active meth labs. Fun to watch, though!!
 
Muzzle flash is caused by powder that is still burning after it leaves the barrel.
If you have some fast rifle powder like 1680 or 4198 try filling up the case with it under a normal weight bullet.
With a magnum pistol powder like 296/110 try NOT crimping the case to reduce the efficiency.
Obviously these should be fired one at a time. Use magnum primers for all this.

I got a huge sheet of flame out of my Dan Wesson 445 using W680
when I didn't use enough bullet pull in new cases. The cases didn't
blow out and there was crud all over. Range dude wanted to know
if I had a howitzer license.

<Standard disclaimer, YMMV, I didn't do it, etc> :)

---
Nemo
 
Well, there's WW296............



Also known as H-110.........



And my personal favorite powder, Power Pistol. Not as bright, but even milder charges will blind you!



Indoor ranges make the flash even more pronounced!



BTW...........We WILL Need Pictures.
 
YOU PROBABLY WON'T TRY THIS BUT IF A BIG FLASH IS WANTED MIX FFF BLACK POWDER ( PYRODEX WON'T WORK) AND THE CONTENTS OF AN OLD FASHIONED FLASH BULB IN THE CASE. TOP IT OFF WITH A CIGARETTE FILTER AND LET 'ER RIP.
 
I thought that 7.9 grains of Unique under a 185 gn. 45 caliber bullet was a high flash load until I saw what some of you all are doing. I now realize that I'm not just an amateur, I'm not even in the same state.

BTW, I would NOT advise mixing either powdered aluminum or powdered magnesium into any charge. Because both of these metals burn at extremely high temperatures and the most likely result of this type of experiment would be some rather severe erosion in the barrel.
 
Using W296 in a low light indoor range gets everyone's attention. :)
 
Flash is achieved by using:

1.) Lightweight jacketed bullets

2.) H110/W296

3.) Maximum loads

You can thank me later. :)
 
Well I WAS going to post some flash from a 105 that's on the cover
of A-Square's reloading book, but yours kind of takes the cake.
You do have to like a reloading manual that includes data for the 105.

Unless someone has a pic of the Musashi broadsiding, that is one of
the largest muzzle flashes in history.

Look closely and you can see the whole ship move sideways several feet under the recoil.

Think about what it would be like if one of those barrels let go.
It has happened. I can't find the pix now but somewhere I have some
of a 12" barrel lying on the deck after it blew off a gun of the original Iowa BB4 in 1903.

---
Nemo
 

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I fired some 357 rounds using 100gr bullets and 20gr of H110 one time that literally made a 2 or 3 foot wide fireball... barrel length was 2"
 
Wish I had a picture of a test load from a few years ago. Max load of 4227 under a 110 gn. jacketed HP in a 357 Maximum (7 1/2" Ruger Blackhawk). Covered outdoor range. The ROs said the flash was impressive, not to mention the blast. This load crono'd just over 2000 FPS. Ah, such fun with reloading.
 
Contact a Gunner's Mate who served on any of the Iowa class battleships.

bidgedp51


Thanks for the great images!
The second one clearly shows why a battleship could not fire to both sides at once. The recoil would tear the gun mounts off of the ship!
Note the water near the bow. You can easily see the way the ship was pushed to the side by the recoil.
 
Battleship Missouri

We used to cruise with the Missouri and the Gunners said a full broadside would move the ship 16' sideways!
 
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