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How much powder is in a pound of cartridges

tenmetre

Plastic
Joined
Sep 21, 2014
Location
United Kingdom
This is an interesting question I was posed the other day.

How much powder is there in 50 pounds of 50 cal ammo as compared to 50 pounds of 22 ammo? Is there a relationship to this do you think? So for instance could you draw a linear graph between 22 rimfire .223 .308 and 50Cal? How much powder is there in a .22 rimfire cartridge anyway? 2 grains, three?

This all came about because of an insurance questionnaire for fire risk. They had asked what weight of ammunition was being stored and the answer was that the question was not relative as much as how much powder was being stored. An interesting question though which demonstrated, to me at least, that the rest of the questions were pretty much made up too and had no real relevance, but someone needed to justify their salary.
 
This is an interesting question I was posed the other day.

How much powder is there in 50 pounds of 50 cal ammo as compared to 50 pounds of 22 ammo? Is there a relationship to this do you think? So for instance could you draw a linear graph between 22 rimfire .223 .308 and 50Cal? How much powder is there in a .22 rimfire cartridge anyway? 2 grains, three?

This all came about because of an insurance questionnaire for fire risk. They had asked what weight of ammunition was being stored and the answer was that the question was not relative as much as how much powder was being stored. An interesting question though which demonstrated, to me at least, that the rest of the questions were pretty much made up too and had no real relevance, but someone needed to justify their salary.

Not an answer to your question, but if the insurance company is trying to jerk you around for more $$ show them this YouTube
 
I know that in most ammo, the projectile out-weighs the powder charge.

There are a few exceptions, but honestly, why exactly are they asking? Loaded ammo is not a hazardous material, it can be shipped without paying a hazmat charge. Yet the reactive components, ie, powder and primers, are hazmat and have to be shipped as such and the buyer pays the bill.

Their "fire risk" sounds like a complete smoke screen, it sounds more like an anti-gun company trying to figure out a way to assess the risk of people being the next mass shooter...

Do they also ask how much gasoline you keep in gas cans for your lawnmower, and how big the gas tank on your car is? Are they worried if you have a propane grill?

I'd be looking for different a insurance company.
 
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A 22 LR cartridge has about 1 grain of powder.
A. 50 BMG cartridge has about 225 grains of powder.
I don’t know how many cartridges of each ones equals a pound but if you have a decent scale you can weigh the 22 cartridges .
I don’t think it takes very many 50 cal to make a pound.
 
7000 grains to the Lb. Say the fifty slug was 750 and the powder 225 - makes 975 or less than 1/7 of a Lb. Of course you have yet to weigh the primered case.:D
 
This is an interesting question I was posed the other day.

How much powder is there in 50 pounds of 50 cal ammo as compared to 50 pounds of 22 ammo? Is there a relationship to this do you think? So for instance could you draw a linear graph between 22 rimfire .223 .308 and 50Cal? How much powder is there in a .22 rimfire cartridge anyway? 2 grains, three?

This all came about because of an insurance questionnaire for fire risk. They had asked what weight of ammunition was being stored and the answer was that the question was not relative as much as how much powder was being stored. An interesting question though which demonstrated, to me at least, that the rest of the questions were pretty much made up too and had no real relevance, but someone needed to justify their salary.

One pretty much just needs to quantify the caliber and look up the load data for that caliber to figure the powder qty. If so inclined...

I've reloaded .223 and .308, typical loads for the .223 range around 20-25 grains of powder, 30-40 grains for 308 Winchester. Or a whole lot lower or slightly more, depending...

Here in the socialist North, there is a limit on the amount of powder content you are supposed to be allowed to store, around 50 pounds, IIRC, but for the life of me, I cannot tell you that anyone has ever been checked, let alone any enforcement taking place.

Maybe they are more concerned about the guys buying can after can of surplus and exceeding the weight limits of the structure you live in.... :)
 
I'd be looking for different a insurance company.

I just thought I would revisit this comment. I don't know whether or not you realised I was in the UK but here you go:

Very shortly we will not be allowed Steak Knives here. It is a Criminal Offence to post a knife, of any kind, without first undertaking stringent checks (such as obtaining a copy of the recipients Passport) and ensuring that the postal carrier is undertaking the same checks upon delivery.

It is a Criminal Offence to even GIVE a deactivated gun to anybody unless it is accompanied by a current, up to date deactivation certificate.

Getting a Bank Account with ANY Bank is just not possible, many have total anti-gun policies. If you deal guns, or accessories, you are not getting a bank account.

Insurance, just walk eh! Show em who's Boss. Money is good anywhere is it? Just try it and see.

Don't weep for me, I have spent years working out my workarounds, I am good. No, I would look at your own situation. I used to live in New York, I cannot believe how few gun places you now have. Give it time and you will know EXACTLY where I am coming from.
 
I just thought I would revisit this comment. I don't know whether or not you realised I was in the UK but here you go:

Very shortly we will not be allowed Steak Knives here. It is a Criminal Offence to post a knife, of any kind, without first undertaking stringent checks (such as obtaining a copy of the recipients Passport) and ensuring that the postal carrier is undertaking the same checks upon delivery.

It is a Criminal Offence to even GIVE a deactivated gun to anybody unless it is accompanied by a current, up to date deactivation certificate.

Getting a Bank Account with ANY Bank is just not possible, many have total anti-gun policies. If you deal guns, or accessories, you are not getting a bank account.

Insurance, just walk eh! Show em who's Boss. Money is good anywhere is it? Just try it and see.

Don't weep for me, I have spent years working out my workarounds, I am good. No, I would look at your own situation. I used to live in New York, I cannot believe how few gun places you now have. Give it time and you will know EXACTLY where I am coming from.

OK, first off, no, I hadn't noticed you were in the UK. My apologies, good sir, for missing that important fact.

Which part of New York did you live in? The Big City, one of the smaller cities, or the ever so lovely "rest of New York." Myself, I hail from the Finger Lakes, and it a wonderful place. You spoke of a lack of "gun places" ummm, this is why I'm thinking you were in the Big City... because where I live, the closest gun shop is six miles from my house. There are six more within a 30 minute drive from home. And three gunsmiths within that range as well, one of whom I will gladly do business with because he is a true gentleman and his work is top-notch. Also withing the same 30 minute radius from home... I know of no less than five shooting ranges. So, where I live, there is no lack of "gun stuff" unless one is truly obsessive...

That said, you are correct in that we, as gun owners, have to fight tooth and nail at every bend to keep the rights we are still allowed. Never mind that our politicians neglect two basic points... One, by definition, criminals break the law, so adding more laws means nothing to them. Two, injuring or killing another person is already illegal, therefore the method of injury or killing should be irrelevant because it is already an illegal action.

Weapon control laws have no effect on criminals except to disarm their law-abiding victims.
 








 
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