Originally Posted by
DoubleBuck
jmh54738;
"What am I not doing, as my density is about 83% of Goex ?"
Learning to cook Brown powder has made my most remarkable difference in weight/volume ratio.
Another thing that raised my density was getting the fines out until your head falls off. It can be tedious, but as long as fines keep falling, your density is going up. You really can't screen it too much.
yep I have been pedantic about screening since the get go
I've polished some powder, but did not see an appreciable difference in density. And, I may not have done that exactly correct, by either time or method. It did make it look good, and removed some more dust, when finally screened. A couple of other guys have reported the same general results.
I have seen it discussed here, but another thing that may affect final density is breaking the pucks up damp out of the press, or dry. I have had good luck breaking them up dry, but have read a couple of things from Bill Knight, that stated the commercial houses let the pressed powder cakes 'cure' a bit, then break them up. Then they go to the drying shed. I have not done both ways and then compared the results, as to weight/volume ratio.
Interesting - worth trying for sure - my gut says more fines but maybe not?
As others have noted, my best chronograph results were with screened Sassafras, with weighed 60 grain charges, which were nearly a third larger volume, than a weighed 60 grain charge of Schuetzen, or my corned powder.
Screened vs commercial ---60% to 65% density - is pretty much par I think - I havent seen Schutzen (Wano) for years = dirty and slow I reckon
Probably about your 83% difference. It performed very well in accuracy, speed and cleanliness. It was just light. But then again, I was using a muzzle loader, so more volume was not an issue for me.
I spent a lot of time working on density and it is still the most elusive of problems to solve. With the press/die you are using, I would think your problem is not due to your press, or your methods. The woods could be lighter initial density, than what Goex uses. I read they used Maple in the past. Which is dense compared to the woods you listed.
If you can get equal performance from equal weight charges, about the only thing I can think of that would positively affect your loading density is grain size and pressed density. Some say that when commercial powder is polished and glazed with graphite, that it increases the density a small amount, but graphite also adds to the carbon content, which 'moderates' the burn. It definitely makes it harder to light.
I probably didn't help you a bit, with your problem, but maybe others can. I will wish you good luck in the quest!