What the hell is grain in referrence to ammo? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

thomye · 11-20-2006, 02:16 PM

Guys,
Sorry for the lame @ss questions but what is grain?

i used to think it was the ammount of gun powder which made sense to me (the more gr the more power). But i went to a gun store this weekend looking for a 45gr+ 22lr round. the store clerk, an older gentleman, who seemed to know what he was talking about showed me three types.

1. 36gr 22lr "High Velocity" round
2. 40gr 22lr standard target round
3. 62gr 22lr special round.

here's the weird part. When i looked at it and when the guy explained it to me, it confused the heck out of me since i had already thought i knew what it meant. the reason i was looking for a larger grain was becuase my 22 Mosquito pistol isn't ejecting completley. my thought was, the spring is a little tight and i needed more grains to increase the kick of the firing bullet. when i explained what i was trying to do, the clerk then told me i wanted less grain more velocity.

When he showed me the 62gr special 22lr round, it was the strangest thing. the bullet was the same size as the casing. The casing in fact was a 22short. hense, my conclusion was less powder. how is it possible that 62gr is in smaller casing than the 36gr. And how is it possible that 36gr shoots faster?

please explain....

sloopy70 · 11-20-2006, 02:22 PM

Grain...

7000 Grains = 1 pound...

in the conversation you had with the store guy...

The grain was the Weight of the Bullet, not the powder...

and thats how it is with most handgun ammo...

so less grain... faster moving bullet...

**agalindo** · 11-20-2006, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sloopy70

Grain...

7000 Grains = 1 pound...

in the conversation you had with the store guy...

The grain was the Weight of the Bullet, not the powder...

and thats how it is with most handgun ammo...

so less grain... faster moving bullet...

As explained above grain is a unit of measurment. It is used to measure weight of both bullet and powder. Unless you are reloadinng or pull the bullet apart and weigh the powder, you won't know the weight of the powder charge in the ammo you buy off the shelf, what you'r seeing on the box is the weight of the bullet ie 42gr 22lr, 180 gr 40S&W 115 gr 9mm etc...

**beardman2** · 11-20-2006, 04:16 PM

just for info sake some of the older cartridges refer to the bullet diameter and the charge (refering to the original black powder design I believe). Such as 45/70 is .45 cal with 70 grains of BP.

Bidah · 11-20-2006, 06:35 PM

Guessing from what you have posted, you are shooting standard velocity ammo and you are looking for some high velocity ammo.

40gr is usually standard velocity.
36 to 32 grain is usually what you will find in High Velocity.

Then you get the Raptor, Stingers, and all sorts of neat names..

-Bidah

Krackels · 11-20-2006, 07:08 PM

I've had good luck with Federal Value Packs (36 grain), Federal Champion (40 grain), and any variety of CCI ammunition in my Ruger MKII and my 22 conversion for my 1911. I've also had good luck with Winchester's Wildcat ammunition.

What brands did you already try?

I've had problems with Remington's Golden Bullet and Remington Thunderbolt(?) (it comes in a can) due to poor quality control resulting in mishapen bullets. I've had as many as 20 bad bullets out of a hundred.

thomye · 11-20-2006, 07:14 PM

thanks for the info. based on what i was seeing and what the guy was telling me, i should have figured.

thanks guys

rescottpac · 11-20-2006, 10:18 PM

CCI Stingers and Velocitors work beautifully in my Mosquito, Ruger Mk III and Walther P22. Have had 1 FTE (Walther) out of thousands of rounds shot.

**Glenn** · 11-22-2006, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sloopy70

Grain...

7000 Grains = 1 pound...

in the conversation you had with the store guy...

The grain was the Weight of the Bullet, not the powder...

and thats how it is with most handgun ammo...

so less grain... faster moving bullet...

Not so... the speed of a bullet is determined by pressure build up inside the cartridge the weight of the bullet + the powder charge determine the pressure

**DanTheEldest** · 11-22-2006, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenn

Not so... the speed of a bullet is determined by pressure build up inside the cartridge the weight of the bullet + the powder charge determine the pressure

I think you're both right. The amount of powder combined with the bullet setback determines the pressure inside the case at the moment of burn, but the weight of the bullet has a direct effect on velocity. It's like putting a V8 in a stripped-down racer (it goes fast), then taking the same motor with the same power output and putting it in a 3-ton pickup--not so fast.

11-20-2006, 02:16 PM	#1
thomye XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: OC, California Posts: 761	What the hell is grain in referrence to ammo? Guys, Sorry for the lame @ss questions but what is grain? i used to think it was the ammount of gun powder which made sense to me (the more gr the more power). But i went to a gun store this weekend looking for a 45gr+ 22lr round. the store clerk, an older gentleman, who seemed to know what he was talking about showed me three types. 1. 36gr 22lr "High Velocity" round 2. 40gr 22lr standard target round 3. 62gr 22lr special round. here's the weird part. When i looked at it and when the guy explained it to me, it confused the heck out of me since i had already thought i knew what it meant. the reason i was looking for a larger grain was becuase my 22 Mosquito pistol isn't ejecting completley. my thought was, the spring is a little tight and i needed more grains to increase the kick of the firing bullet. when i explained what i was trying to do, the clerk then told me i wanted less grain more velocity. When he showed me the 62gr special 22lr round, it was the strangest thing. the bullet was the same size as the casing. The casing in fact was a 22short. hense, my conclusion was less powder. how is it possible that 62gr is in smaller casing than the 36gr. And how is it possible that 36gr shoots faster? please explain.... __________________ Next XD-45 SC "still waiting" STI 2011

11-20-2006, 04:16 PM	#4
beardman2 XDTalk 4K Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 4,950	just for info sake some of the older cartridges refer to the bullet diameter and the charge (refering to the original black powder design I believe). Such as 45/70 is .45 cal with 70 grains of BP. __________________ - He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself. ~Thomas Paine I will not be involved with the dreams of angry men. Founding Documents Freedom isn't free: http://www.anysoldier.com

11-20-2006, 07:08 PM	#6
Krackels XDTalk 15K Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 19,001 Blog Entries: 5	I've had good luck with Federal Value Packs (36 grain), Federal Champion (40 grain), and any variety of CCI ammunition in my Ruger MKII and my 22 conversion for my 1911. I've also had good luck with Winchester's Wildcat ammunition. What brands did you already try? I've had problems with Remington's Golden Bullet and Remington Thunderbolt(?) (it comes in a can) due to poor quality control resulting in mishapen bullets. I've had as many as 20 bad bullets out of a hundred. __________________ "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." --Benjamin Franklin America's Third Parties --- Duping the Foolish and Idealistic since 1832. PA Roll Call .................... My Blog

11-20-2006, 07:14 PM	#7
thomye XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: OC, California Posts: 761	thanks for the info. based on what i was seeing and what the guy was telling me, i should have figured. thanks guys __________________ Next XD-45 SC "still waiting" STI 2011

11-20-2006, 10:18 PM	#8
rescottpac XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: NC Posts: 134	CCI Stingers and Velocitors work beautifully in my Mosquito, Ruger Mk III and Walther P22. Have had 1 FTE (Walther) out of thousands of rounds shot. __________________ XD45 Compact w/ Tru-Glo TFO XD45 Tactical TLR-1 XD40S w/ Tru-Glo TFO XDM .40S&W XD40 Subcompact XD9 Subcompact "For those who fought for it, freedom has a taste the protected will never know." -- Author unknown, found written on an ammo crate at Khe Sanh

11-20-2006, 02:22 PM	#2
sloopy70 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Southwest Louisiana Posts: 1,123	Grain... 7000 Grains = 1 pound... in the conversation you had with the store guy... The grain was the Weight of the Bullet, not the powder... and thats how it is with most handgun ammo... so less grain... faster moving bullet...

11-20-2006, 06:35 PM	#5
Bidah XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Isolated, Montana Posts: 691	Guessing from what you have posted, you are shooting standard velocity ammo and you are looking for some high velocity ammo. 40gr is usually standard velocity. 36 to 32 grain is usually what you will find in High Velocity. Then you get the Raptor, Stingers, and all sorts of neat names.. -Bidah

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