"Quieter" powder?

[LawDog101]

Ok, don't think I am crazy but at some point the ATF will approve my suppressors and since I reload, I had a question...

Are certain powders "quieter" than others? What i mean is whether or not certain powders, depending on their composition, burn rate, etc. are actually quieter given the same velocity?

I know that I can load subsonics, but I am really getting at if, there is a difference in powders with full power loads?

For example, I currently load H335 in my .223, if change to a comparable powder, say TAC, given the same velocity, will there be a difference in sound output? I know that for the same velocity, i get more flash (visually) with H335 versus Varget.

A few dB could make a real difference. However, if I am way off and this is a bogus topic, I will delete and move on.

LD

 

[gcoulsey]

Re: "Quieter" powder?

Same bullet, same rifle,
VihtN550 is louder/more over pressure from the brake
Than Varget in all the load development I've done with it.

(even at start loads, when the 550 is producing lower fps than Varget)

 

[milo 2.0]

Re: "Quieter" powder?

Why would you care? Guns are loud, wear hearing protection.
You should only be concerned with the loudness of your wife's, or your bosses' voice.

 

[LawDog101]

Re: "Quieter" powder?

Yeah, whatever dude. Its a legit question. If i am using suppressors and i can drop another 3-5 dB that makes a major difference at 100+ yards. Thanks above for the post with useful information. Maybe a few more will chime in.

LD

 

[vinsonr]

Re: "Quieter" powder?

Factory 300 blackout is designed to burn completely in a short barrel, they recommend hodgdon h110 in supersonic loads and A1680 for subsonics.

 

[BigtimeAub]

Re: "Quieter" powder?

I'm definitely no expert but I often think about things such as this (and I've designed several suppressors/brakes that I think would work well but have never built). To my understanding, the concussion from a gun is essentially the same as thunder (I learned most of this from artillery school, Marine Detachment, FT. Sill, OK). The amount of db achieved from the muzzle blast depends on a few different elements. I don't remember the exact formula (explained by our instructor but not taught as a part of the course) but there is a relation between the temperature of the gases leaving the muzzle, the outside temperature of the environment, and the speed in which the gases exit the muzzle. Based on knowing these three elements alone, I would say that there is definitely a correlation between the various forms of powders (due to their various burn rates, pressures, etc..) and the loudness of the concussions produced. If you think about it, your suppressors work by limiting the amount of hot gases exiting the muzzle and interacting with the outside environment by redirecting the gases, slowing down the gases, and gradually cooling the gases before reversing flow and seeping out of the silencer after the round has long since exited the muzzle. I would surmise that by using a powder that creates less pressure, lower temperature, and slower velocities would in fact lower the db level. However, the idea is to maintain velocity while lowering the pressure and temperature of the gases thus maintaining the same accuracy while simply lowering the db level. Hope this helps.

 

[BuzzBoss915]

Re: "Quieter" powder?

Well, at the risk of saying something not "useful", I think you have a lot of sound recording equipment to buy and a whole lot of testing in store.

What I would do is try to narrow it down by sorting powder by burn rate, and by spherical and extruded and double base. That might give you some insight as to the direction where your answer lies. BB