lzhome
Member
Shot some .38 Spl 158g CP Flat Point test loads with 5.8g AA#5 and there was some unburnt powder in bbl and case.
Do I need more crimp? Or something else?
Do I need more crimp? Or something else?
Unburnt Powder
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Steve C
Member
Powder is not completely consumed during combustion and some remnants is common even with factory ammo. I would question if the powder is indeed unburned or just remaining combustion remnants, like ash remains from burning wood.
Higher pressure decreases the amount of remaining residue but you're not going to get there at .38 spl pressures. Load up .357 mag level and they should clean up. You could try more crimp or change primer but don't expect any powder to be completely clean, some are just cleaner than others.
Higher pressure decreases the amount of remaining residue but you're not going to get there at .38 spl pressures. Load up .357 mag level and they should clean up. You could try more crimp or change primer but don't expect any powder to be completely clean, some are just cleaner than others.
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
Iz,
I doubt that it was unburnt powder. Not that it isn't powder residue, just that it isn't from it not burning.
I have had similar results with AA#5 in the 38spl. What I found though was that the residue is brown, not black. Seeing as AA#5 is black, that excluded it from being unburnt!
Unburnt powder can be caused by several things. One being too light of a charge. The second being poor ignition due to using the wrong primer. The third could be too light of a crimp. All three contribute to poor ignition/burning.
Is your residue hard brown stuff or black?
I doubt that it was unburnt powder. Not that it isn't powder residue, just that it isn't from it not burning.
I have had similar results with AA#5 in the 38spl. What I found though was that the residue is brown, not black. Seeing as AA#5 is black, that excluded it from being unburnt!
Unburnt powder can be caused by several things. One being too light of a charge. The second being poor ignition due to using the wrong primer. The third could be too light of a crimp. All three contribute to poor ignition/burning.
Is your residue hard brown stuff or black?
What kind of crimp ? I'm assuming CP = copper plated, to much roll crimp will cut the plating and you'll have pieces of Copper smeared into the forcing cone and barrel. I use a taper crimp die for CP bullets.
What diameter are the bullets ?
What diameter are the bullets ?
Have had a similiar experience lately, but don't want to hijack the topic.
Loading 44mag loads with 7.1 gr. of unique, 240 SWC laser cast. Also seeing the black flakes, especially in the 4 inch gun. Just using regular large pistol primers.
Would switching to magnum primers help?
Loading 44mag loads with 7.1 gr. of unique, 240 SWC laser cast. Also seeing the black flakes, especially in the 4 inch gun. Just using regular large pistol primers.
Would switching to magnum primers help?
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
Mike,
Your problem is a different one than the OP's.
Unique is notorious for leaving unburnt powder at the lower end of the data. Before I would use magnum primers I would look at the data and see if I could bump it up a tad. Sometimes all it takes is a couple of tenths of a grain and it goes away with Unique.
FWIW
Barrel residue means doesn't mean anything on it's own. If it is unburnt powder, it means you are a lazy reloader or you are satisfied with the accuracy you are getting. You have the ability to work those residue problems out, even if you have to switch powders.
Your problem is a different one than the OP's.
Unique is notorious for leaving unburnt powder at the lower end of the data. Before I would use magnum primers I would look at the data and see if I could bump it up a tad. Sometimes all it takes is a couple of tenths of a grain and it goes away with Unique.
FWIW
Barrel residue means doesn't mean anything on it's own. If it is unburnt powder, it means you are a lazy reloader or you are satisfied with the accuracy you are getting. You have the ability to work those residue problems out, even if you have to switch powders.
