Quote from: The_Shadow on October 13 2013 08:37:14 AM MDTJust remember that some of the commercial Power Pistol loadings, show the translucent/whitish gray flakes in their composition. I am still trying to figure out if they are there as a flash suppressant, identifier or modifier being used to adjust burn rates.
Try to separate these "mystery" flakes and test them. I would start by using a safe area (like the underside of a metal trash can lid, or a couple of cinder blocks) and pouring a small pile of PP from the can onto test area. Then, put the "mystery flakes" a few feet away in another small pile. Ignite both and see if you can tell any difference(s).
Next, I would use the remaining flakes to add to my own loads - starting charges, low-power, of course - and substitute, grain-for-grain, these flakes with your PP powder. Then check for differences by firing them. I would have someone video record you firing these in low light (along with an equal amount of rounds loaded to the same exact capacity of PP by itself) to see if, in fact this is a flash deterrent. If no differences can be detected, it is in all likelihood some kind of identifier. Depending on how "cooperative" the person at the other end of the phone is, I would then call the respective manufacturer and explain the "pulling of rounds" and the testing. Ask if the person could help you out by telling you what these flakes are (make sure you say it's for your own info only). Chances are - in my experience dealing with any manufacturers firearm-related - you will get a "We don't/can't give that kind of information out." And if a reason is offered, it will be one of 3 things: "It's a liability issue" "It's a proprietary issue" or "It's per company policy" .....BUT, seeing as you actually do these "pull downs" you are obviously very curious, so it can never hurt to ask. But, you may get lucky and your test(s) will confirm enough so that you won't even need to make that phone call in the first place.
EDIT: I just noticed that in all the pictures you took of the flakes (looks like they are under a microscope), it seems as if some are just lighter in color than the others. But in the pic where you have the powder emptied into a pan, it looks like a fine, white powder is in there - completely separate from the flakes. Is that just an optical illusion due to the lighting or how the photo was taken? If this is a fine powder separate from the flakes, I'd like to see some "microscope images" of this stuff as well. Fine powder almost always equals flash deterrent. Identifiers (both BlueDot and RedDot are perfect examples) have - in the case of the 2 powders just mentioned - blue or red-colored flakes (respectively) in a ratio of about ~3:10.
