Powder equivalence chart

[Lead Waster]

I stumbled into this chart;

http://www.adi-limited.com/handloaders/equivalents.asp

Which shows powder "equivalents" in terms of a 5% deviation of burn rate.

So if you use one powder and can't find it, this chart can show you what MIGHT be a good substitute.

[stilly]

0o0o0 thanks.

[Loopwell]

Excellent chart when looking for alternatives of whats available.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

[Bikertrash]

Nice find. Thanks!

[Carcassonne]

They are not "equivalents" except for Winchester, Hodgdon, and ADI since ADI makes Winchester and Hodgdon powder. They are what is close.


.

[mjmagee67]

To the ignorant or foolish that chart looks like a recipe for disaster.

There only a few "equivalent" powders and they are will documented.

[jtake]

The chart states that equivalents are "approximate" and are "within about 5%".

Within about 5% at 40 grains is plus/minus 2 whole grains!

So an actual load using 42 grains might actually be 40-44 grains "within about" its equivalent powder. So not very accurate and dangerous for someone to rely upon.

[JagerDog]

To the ignorant or foolish that chart looks like a recipe for disaster.

There only a few "equivalent" powders and they are will documented.

Certainly has an opportunity for "knows just enough to be dangerous".

Probably a bit better than just a burn rate (closed bomb test) chart, but not much.

[ar15barrels]

The chart is to show you what other powders might work when you can't get a particular one.
It is NOT to say that you can substitute LOAD DATA from one powder for ANOTHER powder.
You would still need to use the proper LOAD DATA for the powder you are using.

[Lead Waster]

The chart is to show you what other powders might work when you can't get a particular one.
It is NOT to say that you can substitute LOAD DATA from one powder for ANOTHER powder.
You would still need to use the proper LOAD DATA for the powder you are using.

Exactly!

That's why I mentioned the 5% deviations of burn rate. So people can say "oh I need a powder like 231".... They can pick one similar in burn rate and then WORK UP A LOAD like you should for every new powder/bullet combo you want to try.

[JagerDog]

The chart is to show you what other powders might work when you can't get a particular one.
It is NOT to say that you can substitute LOAD DATA from one powder for ANOTHER powder.
You would still need to use the proper LOAD DATA for the powder you are using.

To you and I, yes. And if someone else starts at 10% under and works up in metallics, no harm will come. But we also know, some folks can't read the fine print. "Look here...this chart says "X" can be substituted".

I'm curious what the 5% is based on. Closed bomb tests?

[ar15barrels]

I'm curious what the 5% is based on. Closed bomb tests?

That IS the standard method of determining burn rate.

[ar15barrels]

That's why I mentioned the 5% deviations of burn rate. So people can say "oh I need a powder like 231".... They can pick one similar in burn rate and then WORK UP A LOAD like you should for every new powder/bullet combo you want to try.

Some of the people are not understanding that you can't substitute LOAD DATA, but you can certainly use a different powder and use the LOAD DATA for that powder.

As as example, here is a quickload powder chooser pass for a 142gr SMK in a 6.5 Creedmoor.
I have narrowed it down to JUST the powders that ADI says are similar to H4350 which would be my default powder.

89 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 70%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
ADI AR 2209                        100.5     43.5     2.82    2788    98.3    55000    9188   1.307  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 760                      91.2     42.0     2.72    2783    99.4    55000    8990   1.325  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H414                        91.2     42.0     2.72    2783    99.4    55000    8990   1.325  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N550                     93.3     41.4     2.69    2769   100.0    55000    8719   1.335  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4350                       95.6     41.6     2.70    2768   100.0    55000    8592   1.348  ! Near Maximum !
Norma 204                           95.8     43.0     2.79    2763    98.1    55000    8987   1.318  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4350                       98.1     41.7     2.71    2723    98.9    55000    8479   1.328  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4350                            96.3     41.7     2.70    2723    99.0    55000    8462   1.328  ! Near Maximum !

Look at how different the charge weights are when loaded to the same 55,000psi pressure level.

[JagerDog]

That IS the standard method of determining burn rate.

Agreed. But I'm not sure I've ever seen any type of units assigned. Simply an order (and the order can even vary a bit) and they aren't equispaced. Even if there were units, they don't neccesarily transfer to a different application (ammunition).

[JagerDog]

Some of the people are not understanding that you can't substitute LOAD DATA, but you can certainly use a different powder and use the LOAD DATA for that powder.

Ummm......no. What's concerning is someone else doing just that though.

What I saw most valuable is referencing powders we typically don't see here in the states or simply aren't popular (like the VV powders due to price structure). The ADI powders nomenclature simply isn't found in most reloading books.