Rookie question...pardon me

[Juliet Lima]

I hate to ask rookie questions but I just don't get it.

What is the grain number when dealing with ammo? I've seen 9mm have 115/124/147/etc and 45 ACP have 185/200/230/etc. What does that mean? Is that the amount of gun powder in the casing? I thought that's what it meant until I started looking at prices and saw that Speer had some round cost more when they were lower grain. Wouldn't it cost more for higher grain? More gun powder afterall?

I was just wondering and couldn't find an answer that seemed correct.

[Jicko]

I hate to ask rookie questions but I just don't get it.

What is the grain number when dealing with ammo? I've seen 9mm have 115/124/147/etc and 45 ACP have 185/200/230/etc. What does that mean? Is that the amount of gun powder in the casing? I thought that's what it meant until I started looking at prices and saw that Speer had some round cost more when they were lower grain. Wouldn't it cost more for higher grain? More gun powder afterall?

I was just wondering and couldn't find an answer that seemed correct.

Weight of the BULLET.

Theoretically... heavier is more material, and is more expensive (that may be the case when buying the bullets as reloading components)....

But, in real life, when it comes to loaded ammo, it really doesn't matter much... in terms of pricing... it is more likely that one is more readily available than the others... that may affect the pricing...

[Sheldon]

Yep, it is the weight of the bullets in grains. There are 7000 grains to the pound. The price for raw components is based partially on weight. The "designer" bullets are more expensive regardless of weight. You're paying for the advertising, research, and design, for presumeably better performance.

[hoffmang]

Thanks for the grains to pounds conversion. This thread made me hit google and its not an easy answer to find there.

-Gene

[Technical Ted]

Thanks for the grains to pounds conversion. This thread made me hit google and its not an easy answer to find there.

You need to take up reloading as a hobby. Then you'd know that conversion off the top of your head

[Jicko]

+1 on taking up reloading as a hobby...

25gr per round for 223..... 1lb of Alliant RL15 will make 280rounds...

[hoffmang]

I've got too many hobbies already. Its on my list for sometime in the next decade.... Maybe when I have less legal fighting to do.

-Gene

[Juliet Lima]

Thanks for the grains to pounds conversion. This thread made me hit google and its not an easy answer to find there.

-Gene

I know. I tried to get an answer from google and found conflicting answers. I knew I could get the correct answer, and quickly, from you guys.

I appreciate it.

JL

oh btw...one more if you guys have the time...what is "double tap?" i've heard it a bunch but not sure what it is.

[Fjold]

Wait until you start reloading shotguns shells, they use "Drams" of powder instead of grains and ounces of shot.

[mike100]

it so happens that powder charges are also measured in grains also, basically it's a system of fine measurement in the sub gram range.

I think shotshell nomenclature still refers to drams as the old black powder measuerment equivalents.


the last question about doubletap: two shots fired quickly or rapid succession or rather what they prefer to call it now- controlled pairs, because a double tap can turn into a wild miss if you haven't practiced it much.

[Sheldon]

Double tap is two fast controlled shots to the same spot. Then there is the Mozambique....two to the chest and one to the head.

[TonyM]

Double Tap is also a company name. They produce ammo that is known to be loaded "hot", as in more velocity than a standard load.

Double Tap's Website.