Powder Types with Photos

[SteveWag]

Recently I've hand quite a few new (and some older) reloaders come into my shop asking about power types and I realized how little they know. Here are some photos that I have used to explain the different types of powders and their physical characteristics: IMR -

Improved Military Rifle
Like miniature oil barrels cot from extruded (tooth) paste with a hole through the center. The hole provides a more constant total surface are during combustion.


"Ball" Powder
Made from true spheres, then flattened in order to achieve desires surface area-to-volume ratio in order to deliver the desired burning rate.


Flake Powder
Looks like extremely small pancakes.


Cut Powder
Made from a sheet of plastic, thickness adjusted for the desired burning rate, the cut example is cut at right angles some cuts are diagonal. Looks like tiny brownies, eating type not young girls.


The powders, I order shown are 4895, WC844, 700X, and Argentine Military (German)

Steve Wagner

[mrat]

Thanks. I had not heard of "cut".