Holy SMOKES

[davsco]

ok dumass question from someone who has never reloaded - how come all or most all of the reloads smoke WAY more than factory ammo?  i'm guessing it's due to different powders, but why?

[Sarge]

usually the bullet. Or lube on lead bullets. Exposed lead on bottom of FMJ's will smoke too. Powder comes into play when certain types don't mix well withg certain bullets and coatings.

 

What are the loads that smoke so much for you?

[njl]

Depends on the reloads.  The people doing it cheapest are casting their own bullets, and most of them are shooting wax lubed bullets.  The wax can produce quite a bit of smoke.

[Beef15]

Lubed bullets.

Some coated bullet and powder combinations.

Low powder charges not burning clean/completely.

Some powders just smoke more.

[anachronism]

Lighter loads tend to smoke more than hotter loads, depending on the powder you use. I've seem lots of smoke from light loads of Titegroup, Bullseye, and Unique. Add some cast bullet lubes to the mix and you can really lay the smoke down.

[davsco]

just trying to figure out if you reloaders are intentionally doing something different than Federal, Winchester, etc, or you don't have access to their powders, bullets, lube, etc, and/or something else.  Sounds like it's at least partly the weaker, less than Major power factor, loads and unburnt or smoldering powders.

[njl]

None of the major manufacturers load waxed lead, so that's one big difference.

[superdude]

it's just different bullets and powders. Cast lead bullets with lube smoke like crazy.

Edited April 30, 2017 by superdude

[nbot]

I don't think it has been said yet.  Also, when people are trying to load just at PF this can cause more smoking as well.  Some powders smoke a lot less when loaded hot..