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That doesn't mean it doesn't happen all that means it they didn't get it to happen in their sample of tests, read the publication I've suggested it puts these statements into context.

Of the top of my head I couldn't see SEE happening in a 9mm case as you wouldn't have a low loading density of a medium to slow burning powder for a 9mm load would you?

SEE is a phenomena related to low density medium to slow rifle powders in rifle capacity cases.

And what, pray tell, are the differences betwixt and between rifle and pistol powders?

I think Adam as already explained that Pistol powders are fast burning. Rifle powders are slow burning.
Fast burning short barrel.
Slow burning long barrel.

We were thinking more along the lines of are they different formulations, or the same formulation but with different particle geometries...

meles meles wrote:And what, pray tell, are the differences betwixt and between rifle and pistol powders?

Their burning rates.

In all honesty, buy a book. Individual questions on the subject will take ages to explain....

Get the basics, then question the specifics that you don't quite grasp. The best to learn from? IMO, this one;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-ABCs-Reload ... eloading#_

Burning rate chart
http://www.hodgdon.com/burn-rate.html

meles meles wrote:And what, pray tell, are the differences betwixt and between rifle and pistol powders?

As a relative beginner I find the Vhitavouri powders easy to understand due to their labeling....

There's the basic pistol powders; N310, N320, N330 and N340 (with 310 the fastest burn rate and 340 the slowest) - And the basic rifle powders; N110, N130, N140, N150 and N160 (again with the lower number having the faster burn rate)...

...A bit of trial and error (within reason) is OK - I (and many others) found that N140 is perfect for .308 and .303, where as the long thin barrel of a M96 Mauser requires the slower burning N160 to push the bullets all the way up the barrel - Also, I had a Winchester lever action rifle with a 22" barrel that shot well with N340, but when I swapped for a Marlin with an 18" barrel; the same load produced a muzzle flash (as the powder was still burning after the bullet had left the barrel)...so I changed to the slightly faster burning N320, and that cured it....

....It's actually pretty logical, but If I had to swap brands I'd have to learn the comparative burn rates of the specific powders...


As for your specific question; I think it's a combination of both chemical and physical properties of the powders...Vhitavouri also make whats called 'double base' powders; where the outer layer of a piece of powder burns at a different rate to the core.

This seems a complex subject oomans: maybe too complicated for a small brain...

Last week I tried something different for my .303 Martini Enfield carbine, using Rogers 215gr .315" cast spire point gas checked Boolit, and Triple 7 FFFG I got 40.5 gr into the case and seated the boolit to compress the load.
300 yds, so set the sight to 300 as you do, first shot in the black as were 7 of of 10 the rest were all on the frame I was more than happy with it, still a bit of smoke very easy to clean with very little fouling.
If I shoot std .303 out of this rifle it shoots very very high, sights at 100 and aim towards the bottom of the mantlet.