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Approximate burning rate of commercially available powders

(Some powders listed below are discontinued, and not all new powders are shown.)

 

Items in each horizontal row of the table are approximately equal in burn rate.  Fastest burn rate at the top of the table.  Burn rate change from row to row is NOT equal.  For information and comparison only.  Do NOT substitute powders without consulting published load data.

Rocky’s Best Guesses at Powder and Primer Burn Rates

Rifle Primer Brisance (“burn rate”)

 

This table was developed using completely unscientific methods and reflect only my own best guess about the comparative “heat” of the primers shown.  I prepared known consistent loads in .308 Win and .223 Rem cartridges, and changed only the primers in each test batch.  Ten shots of each load were fired over a chronograph, and the results below are ranked purely by their respective velocities.  It is assumed that “hotter” or higher brisance loads produce higher velocity.  That assumption may or may not be valid and the results may change in any other gun, with a different load combination, different lots of components or under other circumstances.  No pistol primers have been tested, and not every possible rifle primer style was available.

 

Note:  “Hottest” primer at top, “Coolest” at bottom.

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