Stored energy

[Jim]

I think most folks don't have a clue how much stored energy there is is modern smokeless powder. Yesterday, I loaded 1 grain of Bullseye under a 100 grain bullet in a .308. I test fired it at a 30 gallon oil drum and the bullet went through one side and almost through the other side, leaving a split.
1 grain of Bullseye and a 100 grain bullet did that. I was amazed. I expected to have to break out my "stuck bullet" ramrod.

[303Guy]

You are right! I began to get an incling recently when I used the same powder charge in my hornet and 303 Brit. 55gr Hornet and 245gr Brit. The difference in 'thump' was astounding! That means more energy was being released in the Brit. It is indeed amazing!
Thanks for the thread!:drinks:

[Deano]

Have you chronographed that load?

[Trapshooter]

I think it was in Hatcher's Notebook, but I recall reading that 1 pound of "typical rifle powder" contains 1.25 million footpounds of available energy. If a gun is like most other mechanical systems and gets about 50% efficiency, it is still A LOT OF WHOMP!

Trapshooter

[RU shooter]

It dont take much of a fast burning poweder for sure, I use 2.3 gr of Bullseye or Red dot whichever is closer to the bench and the rcbs 170 in my 32 spl. for my backyard load and it will bury itself in a dry solid oak 4x4 I use as my back stop that is at 50 yds .works well for animals prowling too near the chicken coop.

Tim

[Bob S]

Two and a half grains of Bullseye (the lightest charge I can throw with my old RCBA Uniflow) will not reliably get a Lee 95 grain bullet out of the 31" barrel of my Swiss GEW 1911. Five grains with that bullet is a reliable gallery load in 7.5x55.

Resp'y,
Bob S.