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Let’s talk powders

4K views 29 replies 23 participants last post by  slowshooter 
Clays is just fine for the purpose you describe. With all powders, there are two characteristics to keep in mind: (1) burn rate and (2) density. Typically, the faster a powder burns, the lighter the powder charge and the higher the pressure. With a relatively heavy shot charge, you will wind up with slower velocity because you have to lower the powder charge to keep the pressure down. Slower burning powders typically require a heavier powder charge but the pressure are lower.

Density is a factor that effects the stack height of the components in the hull. You can have the same weight of two powders with one bulky and the other dense and if you use the same wad you might wind up with one producing tented crimps or crushed hulls and the other producing dished crimps. You can fix either problem by using a different wad with a shorter or taller crush section. The way you judge density is by looking at the bushing charts. Pick a charge weight and the the powders with larger bushings are bulkier and the powders with smaller bushings are denser.

And this brings up the subject of hulls. If you plan to use Clays, it is a one of the bulkier powders and produces stack height problems when using Winchester AAHS hulls. There are 2 types of AA hulls, the AACF (long out of production but still lots of them around) and the current AAHS. While the data lumps the two hull types together, the two hulls are not the same internally. When using Clays in the AAHS, you need to be careful with wad selection to get the stack height correct. The conventional wisdom is to use either the DRA12 wads from Downrange or to use a wad of the same type called for in the data only made to hold 1/8 more shot than you are dropping. Both solutions will give you a wad with a bit shorter crush section giving you a proper stack height and good crimps.
 
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