[JCanfield]

I wanted to find a powder that would funnel through my powder feeder easily and found alot of reloader talking about this powder and how they liked it, so I bought a pound of it to try.

Heres my problem. It is throwing a muzzle flash out of the barrel in excess of a foot. I loaded up 5 different loads starting at 20.8 and ending at 24 and it didnt seem to get any better as I went through the loads. I did get great results with the loads.

I was using IMR3031 and did not seem to have this problem (or maybe I didnt notice it).

Has anyone else notice this using this powder or is it just me.
Any advice?

Thanks.

 

[DeeDubya]

H335 is quite a bit slower than IMR 3031. Your probably burning a lot of powder past the muzzle (especially if a short barrel).

 

[rcairflr]

You never even stated what you are using this load in and what bullet.

 

[JCanfield]

AR15
16" bbl
55 gr hornady sp

 

[steve4102]

Some powders have more muzzle flash than others.
Regardless of the burn rate all the powder is burned up in the first few inches of the bore. The flash is the result of the gasses created by the burned powder igniting when they exit the barrel and enter an oxygen rich environment.

I use 748, 2230/X-T for most of my 223 loads and I haven't noticed excessive flash from either.

 

[langenc]

Im just looking for some AR loads and H335 is quite highly recommended for that-24 or 25 grains w/ 55 gr bullets.

I use that load in my Ruger 22" barrel bolt w/ quite good accuracy.

 

[LDBennett]

H335 is not a slow burning powder. On the Hodgdon powder relative burn Rates chart IMR3031 is 78 and H335 is 81. Varget, a common choice for 223, is 99. W748 is 101 on the list. So I suspect it is not the burn rate of the powder. It could be the short barrel.

But all powders are a little different. I suggest that if it is no problem for firing the gun then don't worry about it.

LDBennett

 

[DeeDubya]

"Regardless of the burn rate all the powder is burned up in the first few inches of the bore. The flash is the result of the gasses created by the burned powder igniting when they exit the barrel and enter an oxygen rich environment."

I respectfully disagree. Ask any indoor range operator and they will tell you how much unburned powder they have to sweep up. A light bullet and slow powder will result in unburned powder out the muzzle. I've developed loads for 222rem, 222rem mag and 223 all using H335. The trick to optimum performance is to have complete combustion by the time the bullet reaches the muzzle. Any less and you're not reaching full potential. Any more and you're just wasting powder (fire ball). Hence a perfect balance between powder, bullet weight and barrel length with result in a round's full potential.

Regardless, H335 is still a good (maybe the best) choice. After all it was developed for the military for the 5.56.

Here's a burn rate chart with 266 powders. IMR3031 is 148 and H335 is 167. IMO, everyone should have one of these handy.

http://www.reloadersnest.com/burnrates.asp

 

[steve4102]

I posted this question on "Ask the Gun Writers" a few months ago. I also asked this of Johan at Western Powders and got a similar reply, but I can't prove it as I have misplaced it or deleted it.

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...729/Powder_Burn_and_Barrel_Length#Post6996729

Let me clarify. All the powder that is going to burn is burned up in the first few inches of the bore, it will not re-ignite when exiting the muzzle. It will fall to the ground to be swept up by the range officers.

 

[steve4102]

Here's a burn rate chart with 266 powders. IMR3031 is 148 and H335 is 167. IMO, everyone should have one of these handy.

http://www.reloadersnest.com/burnrates.asp

Burns charts are great for reference only, but are very inconsistent from one to the other.

Here is Hodgdon's burn chart, note how much different 748 is on the scale than your RN chart.

http://www.hodgdon.com/burn-rate.html

Then we have Western Powders chart that is again "different".
http://www.ramshot.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/burn_rates.pdf

One more.

http://www.adi-powders.com.au/handloaders-guide/equivalents.asp

OK, Two

http://www.lapua.com/upload/downloads/brochures/2012/vihtavuorireloadingguideed10_2012eng.pdf

Note the position of VV N-130 on the Reloaders Nest chart compared to all the rest. IMO it is in error, No way n-130 is faster than AA 1680 or Win 680.

 

[DeeDubya]

I posted this question on "Ask the Gun Writers" a few months ago. I also asked this of Johan at Western Powders and got a similar reply, but I can't prove it as I have misplaced it or deleted it.

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...729/Powder_Burn_and_Barrel_Length#Post6996729

Let me clarify. All the powder that is going to burn is burned up in the first few inches of the bore, it will not re-ignite when exiting the muzzle. It will fall to the ground to be swept up by the range officers.

That sounds reasonable. I'm still not convinced about the "fire ball" though. Whatever is actually happening is explosive. Just a few months ago we were at Red's in Round Rock and this guy was shooting an AR. I didn't ask him about his loads but they were as loud as a 300 win mag and flashed a fire ball at least 18". He thought he was impressing everyone, but that only works for a while and then becomes annoying. Be it igniting gasses or powder, it is definately an explosion outside the barrel.

 

[LDBennett]

There are many factor that lead to the flash. In pistols the biggest one I personally have seen was out a AMT semi-auto in 22 Mag. The CZ52 in 7.62 x 25 makes a flash you can easily see from the shooting position and I don't load it up to European machine gun specs either.

I have a 14 inch TC Contender in 223 and I use H335 and 55 grain bullets. I have never noticed a fireball out of it from my shooting position. I have noticed that it is really loud and gets the attention of shooters around me.

LDBennett

 

[DeeDubya]

Burns charts are great for reference only, but are very inconsistent from one to the other.

Here is Hodgdon's burn chart, note how much different 748 is on the scale than your RN chart.

http://www.hodgdon.com/burn-rate.html

Then we have Western Powders chart that is again "different".
http://www.ramshot.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/burn_rates.pdf

One more.

http://www.adi-powders.com.au/handloaders-guide/equivalents.asp

I wasn't choosing a chart, I know there are many. Back to the OP, I was pointing out that H335 is slower than IMR3031, and it is on most charts. I'm not new to powders, but I must say that when I started reloading (1981) there were only about 60 or so to choose from. IMR3031 and H335 were popular then, and so were always on my shelf. IMR3031 is great in a 30-30 rifle. But, shoot the same load in a 16" Contender and you will get a huge (loud) fire ball. One can only attribute the fireworks to the short barrel and incomplete combustion.

 

[JLA]

335 is just a flashy powder. especially in a short barrel

 

[Bindernut]

My results with H335 and short barrels (in .222 though, not .223) are similar to JLA & LD. It does throw a pretty good flash out the end of a 14" or 18" barrel but not a big fireball. I don't notice it during daylight hours but twilight and after dark it does do a good job of flashing my night vision.

For .223, I used to prefer W748...but I've never loaded any AR-specific ammo, just 22" & 24" bolt rifles. It's a ball powder and meters very nicely.
Since adding the .204 to my stable, I started using BL-C2 in the .223 too and it's been about as consistent as W748 so I might just drop 748 from my stock. BL-C2 is another ball powder...it meters great.

 

[nitro=express]

x

 

[zant]

Try a better flash suppressor...I like the Vortex,mutes the flash of combloc powder pretty good.Pricey-50-75,but quality always is.

 

[Scoutsout]

Im just looking for some AR loads and H335 is quite highly recommended for that-24 or 25 grains w/ 55 gr bullets.

I use that load in my Ruger 22" barrel bolt w/ quite good accuracy.

What type of brass

 

[crystalphoto]

What type of brass

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