Do certain powders yield hotter ejected brass? What factors affect temperature?

[Begle1]

I read recently that Titegroup makes brass hotter than other powders. That got me to thinking...

I've only ever used Green Dot, around 4.5-6 grains under a 200-250 grain bullet in 45 Colt or 45acp, and my brass doesn't seem near as hot as that of some others I shoot with, whose brass will stick to skin and cause burns. (I shoot with one brass magnet who seems to have that happen at least one stage per day.)


So what factors come into play for ejected brass temperature?

Are 38's going to be hotter or colder than 45's for a given power factor?

Do some powders indeed produce significantly hotter brass temperatures than others?


For the top-ejecting rifles, it'd certainly be nice to know how to avoid nasty burns when they bounce off faces and down shirt collars.

[Abilene]

I don't know about individual powders, but as a dedicated brass picker I can tell you that light loads yield much hotter brass than medium loads.  So, the dirtier the brass looks (from light loads) the hotter it will generally be.  My theory is the loads that swell the brass better to seal the chamber cause some of the heat to be transferred to the chamber walls, even though the brass isn't in the chamber long before it is extracted/ejected.

[Cap'n Redneck]

"..For the top-ejecting rifles, it'd certainly be nice to know how to avoid nasty burns when they bounce off faces and down shirt collars."

-Top tip: wear a wide-brimmed hat & a neckerchief.

(the wild wimmens of CAS, with the bountiful cleavages, tend to run side-eject Marlins, go figure....  )

[Coffinmaker]

  Well

I know for a fact, there is a perfectly good answer in Physics for this phenomenon that fully explains the difference in "Hot" cases.  Butt damn'd if I know what it is.  Must have something to do with different propellents burning at different rates and temperatures.  The actual answer does escape me though as I have no real knowledge of Thermal Dynamics beyond the barrels of my Side-by-Side get really really hot after three or four rounds so I don't grab it by the barrels.  I also equipped my early English and Belgian Hammer Double guns with special Barrel Wraps 'cause they had those useless "Splinter" fore ends.

Ok.  It's Wednesday morning, or as in my end of the swamp, Trash Day.  Obviously I'm just a little bored and this thread looked as good a place as any to park for a while.  Obviously I had nothing of earth shattering knowledge to share on this subject but dropped in anyway.  If you've gotten this far in my little dissertation, IT'S TOO LATE 'cause you're here!!  Burma Shave

[Froogal]

Do not touch the barrel of a 44-40 immediately after firing off 10 black powder loads.

[1961MJS]

Hi
To quote: 
Reloading with Titegroup  See Post #19

"Double base powders have both nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin. Single base powders are only nitrocellulose. Titegroup is double based with a very high nitroglycerin content. I read somewhere it is around 40%."

I've never noticed it being hot, but then I've only shot it in a 1911.

Later

[Griff]

Do certain powders yield hotter ejected brass? Yes... Black powder especially.

What factors affect temperature?  I don't know...but Coffinmaker's explanation makes sense.

[Major 2]

Could not say among smokeless, But I know BP on 44/40
will 3rd degree burn you and accompany blister when it ejects down your collar. Ask me how I know     

[River City John]

Black powder and fast burning powders throw hotter brass.

[Coffinmaker]

  Well Heck

I had a perfectly good Ee-Piffit-aney on this subject last night (Middle of the night), but I was rudely awakened by my phone really early this morning which blew the thoughts clean away.  SO:  I can't really contribute any meaningful dialogue.  I can share the comments about 44-40 with Black Powder are spot on and are also applicable to 45 Colt, 44 Special, 45 Schofield and All Brass 12Ga, when loaded with APP as well.  Run a stage with yer 12Ga, don't be real quick to grab it by the barrels 

I forgot to include, I do believe this phenomenon is caused by the deliberate burning of propellants in cartridge cases and barrels.  TA DA!!

Burma Shave

[Froogal]

I've heard that the original style Henrys in 44-40, without a fore stock, can get uncomfortably warm.

[Coffinmaker]

  Frugal 

Ha Ha Ho Ho Hee Hee!!  Oh Yea, the original style Henry, sans a "fore stock" uncomfortably warm.  I point of fact "uncomfortably" is somewhat of an "UNDERSTATEMENT."  Regardless of propellant, the Henry Barrel can and will raise blisters.  ALL of my Henry rifles have a leather wrap around the barrel for just this reason.  Uncomfortably . . . HA!!  Damnd HOT!!

Forgot to add:  The Henry Barrel gets HOT no matter the Cartridge!!