Thread: Short barrels and full powder burn?

When it comes to standard centrefire rounds, all the powder *that is going to be burnt* is consumed within the first few inches of the barrel. No powder ever burns 100% of the kernels inside the barrel.

Muzzle flash is the gas created during conflagration reigniting on contact with the atmosphere.

The most efficient range of powders for a given cartridge/bullet combination is a result of the case capacity to bore size ratio, moderated by projectile weight (heavier bullets equals slower burn rate for best velocity/pressure). The notion of using faster burn rate powders in shorter barrels is an incorrect and dangerous myth that refuses to die.