Shiloh Rifle Forums

Apparently fines are produced after the powder is sieved (screened) and canned, from handling because of additional grain fracture. It could also be linked to static suspension I suppose, as well. I would think any amount of powder mixing that could be an effective means of even distribution of grain size(which does effect burn rate) would produce more grain fracture hence more fines.
It has not been my experience, on a per can basis ,that the fines remain suspended for very long with any movement. I have noted that Goex has more fines per can than does Swiss.
Course once loaded compression will stop any separation.

mdeland wrote: ↑Mon Apr 05, 2021 8:41 pm Apparently fines are produced after the powder is sieved (screened) and canned, from handling because of additional grain fracture. It could also be linked to static suspension I suppose, as well. I would think any amount of powder mixing that could be an effective means of even distribution of grain size(which does effect burn rate) would produce more grain fracture hence more fines.
It has not been my experience, on a per can basis ,that the fines remain suspended for very long with any movement. I have noted that Goex has more fines per can than does Swiss.
Course once loaded compression will stop any separation.

Mike,

I agree with all your comments including that Goex has more fines than Swiss which may or may not be true now but certainly was a few years ago when I was using it. I even built a powered tumbler type screening device using a BBQ motor to turn the powder & separate the fines. It's definitely not needed with Swiss. As to how much I created in the mixing process, I just don't have any idea. It likely wasn't much since I was gentle.

Wayne

Thanks for Posting this. It's a topic I've always wondered about.

Wayne,

There are a lot of things that I have done and am willing to do in my 69 years, but mixing several pounds plus of black powder is not one of them. Go for it if that is your thing, but I will not and do not advocate this. It's not the assumption that it may stretch your powder supply, it's the fact that when several pounds decide to say "Hello", it's too late to decide that this was a bad idea.

Woody

I have some mixed in a coffee can.

But it's spilled and junk powder, Diamond back, some Goex, Swiss, OE, KIK from 3F to 1 F and all in-between
But I use it for blowing the shoulders out for the .44-90 bn and the .44-77 with the .44 Bell basic brass or just busting bowling pins.
I put some holes through a few targets and that mix did quite well

Woody wrote: ↑Tue Apr 06, 2021 7:52 pm Wayne,
There are a lot of things that I have done and am willing to do in my 69 years, but mixing several pounds plus of black powder is not one of them. Go for it if that is your thing, but I will not and do not advocate this. It's not the assumption that it may stretch your powder supply, it's the fact that when several pounds decide to say "Hello", it's too late to decide that this was a bad idea.
Woody

Woody,

Due to the precautions I take I figure I have a better chance of dying in an accident on the way to a match than blowing myself up. At the current rate I use powder 45lbs should last 3 years give or take. Approaching my mid 70"s means that if I'm lucky & can shoot for many more years, I'll only have to mix up 5 more batches of so. But if I forget to use metal pots and grab a plastic 5-gal bucket it may indicate it's my time to go anyway. And if I can make it to 90, going out with a BANG doesn't sound like a bad way to "kick the bucket".

BTW, as a precaution, the mixing is done in my workshop, separated by a good distance from the house - I wouldn't want to "take out", so to speak, my better half & our pooch if a mishap was to happen.

Wayne

Yeah and you'll likely have your boots on when the "big" light comes on!