#handloading

In the world of reloaded ammo, one of the main goals is to get the best accuracy possible. While we mostly account for our own skills to justify our accuracy, we often overlook the other factors that contribute. Simply put, what happens inside the barrel hugely impacts what comes out of it.

One key attribute for accuracy is gunpowder. Unless if you’ve dabbled in the art of handloading, chances are you have rarely considered powders. Whether you are aware of it or not, the advancements in firearms is closely correlated with the advancement in powders. From the traditional black powder to today’s smokeless powders, the world of reloaded ammo has changed.

For starters, there are three forms of powder: stick, ball, and flake.

Stick Powders

The stick powder is a long strand-shape that is usually cut into varying lengths. This type of powder is mostly seen in rifle cartridges and is known for its slow burning rate.

Ball Powder

Ball powder works wonders for rifle cartridges with limited case capacities. There are also flattened ball powders which are perfect for shotgun shells because of their minimal powder movement in the shell.

Flake Powders

These powders hold the highest burning rate out of the bunch. Flake powders are more common for shotshells and handguns.

If you are in the hobby of reloaded ammo, picking the right powder can be essential to getting the right velocity. The newer powders that are on the market are currently tackling the issue of temperature fluctuation and lot-to-lot variance. While these factors may still affect the ending velocity and accuracy, these powders still serve to be the most advanced powders to date.

Whether you are looking for a change in powder for your reloaded ammo, or you plan on sticking to your tried-and-tested powders, do not underestimate the affect that gunpowder has on your accuracy.

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