I wandered if smokeless powder had to be compressed under the bullet like black powder does because I can hear what I think is the powder when I shake a 30-06 round....

Typically it is not compressed. It is different than a muzzloader. If you reload stick to the reloading books and you will be safe. One of my favorite loads doesn't leave much room I would expect it to be compressed. It is loaded to specification per my reloading manual and works fine. I have heard some compressed loads can be erratic so compressed loads are more of an issue.

Your reloading manual will tell you if its a compressed load or not.


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Normally not. Generally the ammo companies are going to want to use a faster powder to save a little money. Less powder in millions of bullets every year will add up. By the way black powder doesn't have to be compressed in a bullet either. Traditionally they were, to get the optimum power out of a cartridge. Say a 45-70 would have 70 grains of powder and it would be compressed. But you could load a 45-90 with 70 gr of powder and it would be safe. Not talking muzzle loaders here, just bullets. You absolutely have to compress the powder with the projectile in a muzzle loader.

You can hear the powder rattle around in side the case of most of my reloads. I use stick type powder IMR 3031, 4350, 6440 and such.

Always go by a reloading manual, what uncle Joe uses is dangerous unless it matches some thing in a manual for the cartridge your loading for.


Al

I would say that typically, factory loads with smokeless powder are not compressed.

Smokeless powder is manufactured with a particular burning rate for each type or number of powder. Generally, powder with a faster burning rate is used in smaller capacity cases, and a powder with a slower burning rate is used in larger capacity cases or with heavier bullets.

Reloading manuals list a variety of powders for each weight of bullet for each cartridge. My Hornady 8th edition reloading manual lists 18 different powders for loading 150 gr bullets in the .30-06 cartridge. These listed loads vary from less than 40 grains of A 2495 powder to over 60 grains of H 4350 powder.

60.5 grains of H 4350 powder in a .30-06 case is just about level with the case mouth, and would definitely be a compressed load. You might be able to safely work up to that load in your .30-06.

In that same manual, the maximum listed weight of A 2495 powder is less than the minimum listed weight of H 4350 powder for the 150 grain bullet in a .30-06. A compressed load of A 2495 powder with that bullet in a .30-06 would be very dangerous, and would probably blow up your gun.

Not all reloading manuals identify compressed loads. MY Hornady 8th edition and Barnes No 4 do not, Nosler 5th edition does.