Volume vs weight - powder loads

[dilly]

Just starting out in the world of muzzle loaders. I am going to use Blackhorn 209 with my new gun. I have not made it to the range yet, but I did test the powder by pouring 100 grains measured by volume into a scale and was a little surprised to see it weighed 74 grains by weight. I checked the BH209 bottle and all data it refers to says "by volume" beside it. Am I correct in assuming everything in the black powder world is by volume?

[sharps4570]

Just starting out in the world of muzzle loaders. I am going to use Blackhorn 209 with my new gun. I have not made it to the range yet, but I did test the powder by pouring 100 grains measured by volume into a scale and was a little surprised to see it weighed 74 grains by weight. I checked the BH209 bottle and all data it refers to says "by volume" beside it. Am I correct in assuming everything in the black powder world is by volume?

In the case of both traditional and in-line MLs volumetric measure (gram) is used. Rifles that use metallic cartridges, BP charges are measured in grains.

BH209 load data here (includes a chart for metallic cartridges) - http://www.blackhorn209.com/load-data/

[dilly]

Well, I'll be darned. The chart pretty much confirms what I found. Thanks Sharps. I guess I will not worry about weights and go by volume.

[Kilo Charlie]

In the case of both traditional and in-line MLs volumetric measure (gram) is used. Rifles that use metallic cartridges, BP charges are measured in grains.

BH209 load data here (includes a chart for metallic cartridges) - http://www.blackhorn209.com/load-data/

The volumetric loads are also in grains, not grams.

[werner.reiche]

If you use grams instead of grains, make sure you wear real good hearing protection...its going to be loud.

[MikePal]

I noticed last year that Randy Wakeman when using BlackHorn209 he loads by weight in his reviews of the Ultimate.

Not sure why he uses weight vs volumetric with that powder. I don't remember him doing that with T7.

[seabast]

The variation of weight (grams or grain doesn't matter as long as you do the conversion) of the same volume might only change slightly if you use the same can of powder but it might change quite a bit if you compare two different cans of the same powder.

Back in August I contacted Lee Precision about their Lee Dipper and accurate loads. They replied to me that "The powder manufacturer have a 16% tolerance in the density of their powders. So you can have variance of weight from volumes of the same powder. Use a scale to verify".

So in practice, if I oad let say 250 cartridges with the same can of powder X and hit the target at 2" high at 100 yards, and with the next can of the same powder I shot 3" high, that could be why.

Same with case volume, if someone is looking for best accuracy he should buy his cases by batches and keep them together.It increase the odds of having cases of the same internal volume.

If you are looking for best accuracy, you should weight your loads.

[sharps4570]

The volumetric loads are also in grains, not grams.

Absolutely! I stand corrected. Admittedly, I was under the impression that the powder measure tubes (defined by volume) applicable for MLs was a conversion of grains = grams .......

1 Gram = 15.4323584 Grains

1 Grain = 0.06479891 Grams

If you use grams instead of grains, make sure you wear real good hearing protection...its going to be loud.

LOL! That was actually a somewhat dangerous statement on my part.

[line052]

I have just printed this info. Do you know how hard it is to find this....

1 Gram = 15.4323584 Grains

1 Grain = 0.06479891 Grams




LOL! That was actually a somewhat dangerous statement on my part.
[/QUOTE]

[werner.reiche]

454 grams per pound
7000 grains per pound
Those haven't changed since I was in highschool.

Know those and you can figure out the rest.