Is Longer Really Better?

[flaming canvas]

Hey Rebel,
I have often seen burning grains exit the bore. I have personal pictures of my guns spitting streamers of fire. Now these were roundball loads with 80 grs or more of 2fg. 3fg usually doesn't spit streamers.
YHWH bless.
volatpluvia

I once busted two ballons with one shot. They were a good 4 feet apart and about 30 feet down range. Had to be unburned powder.

Even if all the powder burns, the gases will still exert force on the ball. The Combined Gas Law tell us that the pressure will decrease in an inverse proportion to the volume and temperature of the gas. As long as the force from the gas is greater than combined friction and atmospheric pressure, the ball will accelerate. Since it takes about 10 lbs force to push the ball once its started and atmospheric pressure will yield less than 3 pounds force, and the cross section of a 50 cal barrel is about .18 square inch, there will be greater force from the gas as long as the internal pressure is above 75 psi or so. With a 100 grain charge, I would guess this pressure would be maintained in any barrel less than 15 feet or so.

Smoke less reaches the break point sooner because of the higher level of friction between bullet and bore. Just pull the bolt out of your 06, drop a bullet in the chamber and try to push it through with a cleaning rod.