DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Firearms and Ammunition
HTML https://firearmsandammunition.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Anything firearms related
*****************************************************
#Post#: 25--------------------------------------------------
Lighting the fire.
DIR By: allmanav
Date: February 26, 2018, 11:05 am
---------------------------------------------------------
The thin willow switch I pick out for my grandma stings like the
blazes on my tiny-hiney. I am no more than 5 years old at the
time. My crime? Playing with Strike-Anywhere (SA) matches while
burning the trash in the burn barrel in her backyard. It isn’t
so much the fire that fascinated me, but the “What the heck
makes those matches work? Why can you strike them anywhere?”
This question sparks my curiosity and imagination. Fortunately,
the sting of the switch doesn’t deter my young, scientific mind.
It isn’t too much longer that I figure out SA matches make dandy
“reactionary targets.” Just make the BB hit the white match tip,
and the complex chemical reaction makes a caveman-pleasing fire,
while my target burns. Granted, this isn’t a common occurrence,
but it does work when I hit my target just right. Low shots snap
the matchsticks, while high and wide leave my matches safe. Aim
small, miss small…aim right, fire bright!
In case YOUR curiosity is piqued, I have the scientific chemical
reaction written below, from a YouTube video. If not, jump to
the next paragraph.
“SA matches are made of slow burning white aspen sticks dipped
in mono ammonium phosphate, a fire retardant, so you don’t burn
your fingers. The magical white tip is powdered glass, which
creates friction when ‘struck’ on practically anything. This
friction ignites potassium chlorate, which in turn releases
oxygen and ignites phosphorus sequisulfide, which burns hot
enough to catch the white aspen stick on fire. The secret sauce
is potassium dichromate, a highly combustible oxidizer that
accelerates burn rate.”
Light The Fire
Guess I never fully got over the fascination of chemical
reactions. I liked things that created energy, that burned or
went bang. I’m no pyro, mind you, I just enjoy a nice fire and
things that have a controlled burn rate. An interest in guns and
handloading was the natural progression from BB guns and the
chemical chain reaction of Diamond brand SA matches. I’ll bet
that smokeless powder and primers share some of the same
chemicals as the SA matchsticks.
Handloading gives one freedom from store bought ammo. After the
initial investment of basic equipment, you are home free for
some cheaply made, accurate ammo. Many won’t save a dime
handloading, they merely shoot a helluva lot more, with a smug
smile on their face, feeling proud of actually shooting ammo
they make themselves. It is a great feeling indeed!
Ammo is nothing more than a smokeless powder contained in a case
that is ignited by a primer. The ensuing burn rate of the powder
releases gases, which creates pressure. This pressure builds up
until the projectile (bullet) is forced out of the case and down
the barrel — pretty basic stuff. Reloading manuals are nothing
more than cookbooks with different recipes for different
calibers.
Wanna make a cake of the caliber you have? Look it up and check
out all your options. Check the ingredients. What powder and
primers do you have? What bullets do want to shoot? Look it up
in the book! If you want a nutty fruitcake, look up the recipe
for the proper components listed. Remember, any change in
components can spike pressure. While a cake may not taste as
good with substitutions, spiked pressures can lead to a blown-up
gun. Just follow the load book and you will be fine.
All About You
Besides saving money or shooting more, handloading will allow
you to fine-tune your loads for your guns. I can’t tell you how
many times I have “saved” guns with handloads. Some guns just
don’t like being fed factory ammo, but once handfed with
handloads, they can become top performers, accuracy wise.
Feeding long-discontinued cartridges in Grandpap’s favorite
pistol or deer rifle may lead you down the path as the only way
to make it go bang. Handloading is definitely a handy skill or
option to have for a serious shooter.
Think it over. Get yourself a single stage press, dies, a scale,
some powder, primers, save your brass, think about the type of
bullets you like, and become your own ammo factory. You’ll learn
a lot, get some great self satisfaction, fine tune loads for
your guns, as you either shoot more, or save money. What else
are you gonna do during those long, cold winter nights when it’s
too nasty to shoot? (think tank)
*****************************************************
Page 1 of 1