Can anyone tell me what the difference is between pistol powders and rifle powders? I want to make up a load for a Mosin carbine and I want a fast burning powder to use with a 125 gr bullet. Any suggestions or are pistol powders no-no for rifles.
From the sound of it, you need to get a couple or three reloading manuals and read them. I would advise against going down the road you appear to be wanting to take. Learn what you're doing, first.
Pistol powders are a no no in rifles they tend to make them blow up. They are too fast, look up hodgdon on the computer they have load data for 110 to 220 (including 125) for this round.
Don't ever try a pistol powder in a rifle load!There are a few internet loads floating around that use pistol\shotgun powders, but the amt. of powder is very small, which opens up a whole 'nuther can of worms relating to powder position\hangfires\detonation. Your best bet is to go to the powder mfgr's websites and look for published loads, or best of all, get one or ten good reloading manuals and cross-reference your loads. To answer your initial question, the difference is burn-rate. Pistol\shotgun powders burn very quickly to facilitate moving a bullet out of a short barrel using lower powder charges. Rifles need a powder that burns slower and longer to build to optimal pressure without blowing the gun to smithereens.
If you see data for a pistol powder in a rifle, such as Unique or 2400, the projectile is lead, which is a whole different animal from a jacketed bullet such as that used in the Moisin's.
Moisin jacketed bullet loads use rifle powder and the type and charge are based on the bullet weight and composition.
++++1 JBS' and Toolman's recommendations for some reloading reading. Any of the popular manuals will give you a pretty good background in the first 8-10 chapters .
DocAitch
Last edited by DocAitch; 08-29-2009 at 11:18 PM.
Reason: acknowledged JBS,Toolman,spelling
There are some reduced loads now with Clays, and others. About 1100 fps target. Check the Manufacture's web site. Always. Kinda like rocket science, you get one shot.
The only time I tried a recipe that used a pistol powder for a rifle round was some 2400 with 7.62X39. They shot fine, but they would not cycle my SKS. Probably was too fast for the recoil to do it's thing.
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if you see data for a pistol powder in a rifle, such as unique or 2400, the projectile is lead, which is a whole different animal from a jacketed bullet such as that used in the moisin's.
Moisin jacketed bullet loads use rifle powder and the type and charge are based on the bullet weight and composition.
++++1 jbs' and toolman's recommendations for some reloading reading. Any of the popular manuals will give you a pretty good background in the first 8-10 chapters .
Docaitch
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OK, you've convinced me on the pistol powder part. Now I just need to locate a good, fast rifle powder and see if I can find a decent load for a short barreled Mosin. I have the Lee manual and the Load Book for the 7.62x54r, but I think most of those loads assume the longer barrel like the 91/30 or the M39. The pictures of the fireballs out of the M38 and M44 Mosins has me thinking that the standard powders are too slow. I'm wondering if a max load for a 30/30 might be a way to proceed. Guess I'll just have to do a bit more experimenting.
OK, you've convinced me on the pistol powder part. Now I just need to locate a good, fast rifle powder and see if I can find a decent load for a short barreled Mosin. I have the Lee manual and the Load Book for the 7.62x54r, but I think most of those loads assume the longer barrel like the 91/30 or the M39. The pictures of the fireballs out of the M38 and M44 Mosins has me thinking that the standard powders are too slow. I'm wondering if a max load for a 30/30 might be a way to proceed. Guess I'll just have to do a bit more experimenting.
Since you are determined to go against advice by lerned reloaders and make your own rules I expect you to get hurt/dead and not be around to read this,but the reasons for not using powders that aren't listed are many,including,you have no idea how much is too much,a cartridge can blow the chamber up from the powder flattening out and being ignited the full length,changing burn rate, creating very high pressures,faster burn rates build higher pressures quicker than slower burn rates,and if you are still with us,if a powder isn't listed there is a reason the powder/bullet press Co,s don't list it so you just shouldn't use it.Are you dead or maimed yet? ,,,sam.
if you wanna ditch the fireball get a lee production pot and a 2 cavity mold and lube sizing kit from them (about $100 altogether) and start casting your own bullets, then you can use pistol and shotgun powders listed in manuals like lyman, less recoil, cheaper shooting, and less muzzle flash.
pistol powder in a rifle 
Teach
