Photo Database for all Powders

[crockett]

I was thinking about setting up a camera, macro lens and lighting in order to get my own powder photo database started. But then I thought, maybe somebody else did all the work and searched the web.

Guess what, the National Center for Forensic Science has basically every powder not only archived but also made the data available to the public.

They even list the components, size, lot, date, color, etc.

http://www.ilrc.ucf.edu/powders/sample_detail.php?powder_id=1

This link might be sticky-worthy. Up to you guys.

I bought a cheap digital microscope on Amazon and this really makes it easy to compare powders with photos from this database.

https://www.amazon.com/Plugable-Microscope-Flexible-Observation-Magnification/dp/B00XNYXQHE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1484408798&sr=8-2&keywords=digital+microscope






LongShot, photo taken with my microscope





LongShot, photo from National Center for Forensic Science

[The_Shadow]

Yes that site is one I have used regularly, but also like to have actual samples to compare and test results to see how things perform.

BTW they finally updated some of the powders into the database recently.  Still waiting on them to add LOVEX, the powders Shooter's World is rebranding to various names.  Then there are the newer powders from Hodgdon Red, Green, Blue, Target and Unequal.  These are likely going to be very confused with the Hercules / Alliant Red Dot, Green Dot, Blue Dot powders...

Can't wait to get a close look at these as their performance also closely tracks by charge weights.  Target powder tracks like Bullseye and Unequal near Unique and Herco...  Since ATK sold off some of the reloading portion of the market I have to wonder if Hodgdon may have picked up some of the propellants but had to rename them?

[crockett]

Yes that site is one I have used regularly, but also like to have actual samples to compare and test results to see how things perform.

BTW they finally updated some of the powders into the database recently.  Still waiting on them to add LOVEX, the powders Shooter's World is rebranding to various names.  Then there are the newer powders from Hodgdon Red, Green, Blue, Target and Unequal.  These are likely going to be very confused with the Hercules / Alliant Red Dot, Green Dot, Blue Dot powders...

Can't wait to get a close look at these as their performance also closely tracks by charge weights.  Target powder tracks like Bullseye and Unequal near Unique and Herco...  Since ATK sold off some of the reloading portion of the market I have to wonder if Hodgdon may have picked up some of the propellants but had to rename them?

I've 34 powders as of right now. I'll compare them down the road when I use them... you never know what powders / names changed or are being used under different names. I might end up with my own database after all.

[bobonit]

Thanks for the link to the Microscope.  That looks like it could be pretty handy.

[crockett]

Thanks for the link to the Microscope.  That looks like it could be pretty handy.

For $34.95 it's a no-brainer.

Here's the link to the software: http://plugable.com/products/usb2-micro-200x#drivers

The program is very good and intuitive.