I wanted to know the difference between grains when it comes to bullets, so I figured hickok45 would have a video explaining the difference, and surely enough he did! You can deffidently tell he was a teacher. He is great at explaining things. Love the videos! Fun, AND educational.
@FEDSJ More than likely they would just reclassify them as "assault" pitchforks if they are either longer than three feet, have more than one tine, or are sharpened. Any one of those 'assault features' automatically makes it an unregistered "assault" pitchfork. There is no longer any way to register unregistered "assault" pitchforks. Possession of "assault" pitchforks is now a felony and no one is grandfathered in. Greetings from California. Literally what we have here.
Wow, I have to admit: I was one of the crowd who thought the grains were talking about the powder and not the bullet. Thank you, Hickok. This is a great, informative channel. Keep up the good work.
As a retired nurse, I remember learning about grains and minims in school. Once we got out in the workforce, though, only the oldest doctors actually used those measures. Everything had moved into the metric system with mg, mcg, ml, etc. Always a good reminder of just how small this measurement is.
+Keyser Soze Sure, but did you miss all the clarification about the context of mass measurements? Hickok45 may be a tad on the verbose side here, but it's a point that needs to be strongly made.
Christopher - Thanks for posting the metric info. Although I *AM* American, I prefer using metric for small measurements, especially for model work. I *HATE* fractions. They are *NOT* my friend...LOL
The elusive and misunderstood "grain". A grain is old English measurement of weight equal to 01 grain of mature barley. This was known as tower weight measurement. In the attempt to standardize weights and measurements the International System of Units agreement established 01 grain as equal to 64.7 milligrams. Used to measure bullet weight and gunpowder today. To become a great shooter, this is where it all starts. When I went to the Marine Corps Scout Sniper program many moons ago this was minute one of class one. The GySgt showed us a single grain of gunpowder and told us to learn about this, then layer everything that was built around it from casing to chamber to optics/sights all of the way to the target and we would understand how to be a great shooter. It all begins with a chemical reaction and rapid expansion of gas pushed in the path of last resistance. Master that and you master the weapon. Thank you for a great topic which all shooters should at least have a basic understanding of. Many Thanks Sir!
There are 7000 grains in a pound. Grains are not grains of powder like grains of sand. Bullet and powder are both measured in grains. Say is someone says this 9mm round is 124 grains. that's the weight of the bullet not the amount of powder. The bullet is just the part of the cartridge that is fired at the target a bullet is NOT another word for ammo. There are 4 parts the a cartridge 1 The bullet (The object that leaves the barrel and is sent at the target) 2 The case (The brass part of a cartridge that holds the powder the bullet and the primer) 3 The powder (The nitrocellulose propellant that burns (not explodes) that pushes the bullet out the barrel due to high pressure in the case due to expanding gasses as a result of combustion) 4 The primer (The round object put in the base of the case that is impacted by the firing pin and detonates burning the gun power and causing a shot to be fired) There are the basics of ammo.
Excellent posting. Although I thoroughly enjoy +hickok45's vids, this one came up a little short. A "grain" is nothing more than a unit of measure so 150 grains of lead weighs exactly the same as 150 grains of powder. Potency, on the other hand is an entirely different matter. Although 10 grains of powder A weighs the same as 10 grains of powder B, powder A may be many multiples more potent than powder B.
Your property is so nice... I wish we all had a place to go 'plink and think'. Learning from your knowledge base is better than trying to use Google, or something like that. My son and I have learned SO MUCH, just from watching your videos. I trust you for accurate and unbiased information. Thanks for the education!
All I could say is WOW...You break everything down when it comes to firearm and you make it so educational. Most people just shoot their guns because they just wanna show off and their self esteem is so low and a gun makes them feel good about themselfes but you are not like that at all. I really admire your videos on firearms and you are like the Bob Ross of guns...lol...Keep up the good work and best of luck and please dont change on how you are..
Excellent lesson! I've been licensed to carry and have carried concealed for 21 years now. So I'm not a complete newbie to guns. BUT within the last 3 weeks I learned what a "bullet" actually is by getting sidetracked into it when studying "grains" on Wikipedia. I love and learn much from topics and videos!
I wanted to say thank you for your videos. As a new firearm owner I'm trying to educate myself as much as I can and videos like this are very helpful and well done. I appreciate it, thank you sir.
Thanks Hickock. I've been reloading for about 20 years, and I've been asked this question a time or two. As an NRA basic firearms instructor, teaching those who have very little knowledge of a gun or ammo, you're video will help me explain it. Thanks for the great work!
Thanks. I don't get accused of that very often, although I have to admit that gunpowder, heavy lead, copper jackets, cartridges, firearms, etc. are pretty darn "sexy"!!
As a new firearm owner and getting the hang of things hickok45 is right there along the way with you. Thank you for the lesson, you all are greatly appreciated.
Everyone is acting like Americans need to use the metric system. WE DO! We learn both in school, and only use metrics in science class. We also often refer to liquids in terms of liters. For example, a big bottle of soda for multiple people is a 2 liter. Most Americans can use both extremely effectively, we just use imperial units more often in day to day conversation.
+theAwakener Yeah, most Americans. I only ever use metric when talking soda, artillery guns (up to 203mm or 8 in), or long distance shooting (even then it's 50/50)
Wanted to start 2023 learning about gunpowder and grains. I just kinda knew you would have a video on the subject. I really thought grain meant the actual powder in the round. You have totally schooled me. Thank you for your videos. I never watch one and don't learn something. All the best in 2023. Rich at Fright Trail
I like how you're going into a reloading video sub-category! I've loved reloading and try to convince anyone who shoots a lot to get into it. I don't know if you mention it in the video, but 1gr = 1/7000 lbs. So, 7000grs = 1 lb. You may want to put that in the description. Thanks for the video!
Now, as for a comment to Hickok, since this is your video, sir : Thanks. It's nice to just see some of these things clearly explained in a way that's easy to understand and not condescending or judgmental. For the most part, I'd say shooters are the friendliest and most helpful community I belong to and it's something most people who aren't shooters find most surprising when I talk about it.
A worthwhile subject very close to the heart of a true reloader. Quite common for experienced shooters to know what powder someone is using just from the smell of the gun smoke, or even the extent of fouling the powder produces. Just like knowing what brass comes from who's gun after a club day shoot by looking at the primer indentations. Great videos, keeping this sport alive and kicking, good on you Hickok45.
Thank you Hickok45 you've became my all time guide to shooting and technique and my accuracy and over all shooting ability has increased. I've been shooting for 3 years now and I've always thought that the grains on the box meant the powder and amount of punch....Never knew it was the bullet weight. Thanks again you have been so helpful.
Great video! This is one of many videos that I found to be very informative and help full. You are very professional and an advocate of gun safety and correct practice in the use of firearms. Keep up the support of the 2nd Ammendment.
Dearest Hickok45, You have inspired me sir. In the last 2 days i've taken my dremel to my g19c, thinning out the trigger guard. Disassembled my slide and cleaned it out (thank you so much. Was disgusting!) and polished my feed ramp on the g19c and the 1911. And built a brass "bead" out of a brass rod for my dad's marlin model 97 (built between 1905-1915). Thank you for the confidence and the fun. Subscribed!
Thanks, Hickok for your teaching style. You take complex topics and make them totally understandable to folks. Anytime I'm not certain about a topic involving firearms, cartridges, powder or anything else pertaining to shooting, I always go to your channel to get the score. Thanks, sir.
.22 short is probably the smallest weight of a somewhat regular caliber and it's 27gr in a hollow point. That is still about 3.5 times the weight of a BB. The new Federal Punch in 22LR is 29gr and CCI stingers are 32gr but as always, thanks for all the wonderful information. You, Sootch00, and Paul Harrell are my go to guys for gun videos.
Hickok my man, one of the most knowledgeable and legendary pop culture shooting icons, I lost 100+ pounds since COVID, so I know it when I see it.. you act, sound, and look younger than you did in videos from 8 years or so ago. You're doing something right. Have you been working out? Dieting? Share your secrets to longevity!! Seriously, I am speaking with the utmost respect. Your balance of intellect and humor comforts a brain like mine. Thank you for all you do and have provided us with, for free nonetheless!!
I know that you posted this video a while ago, but I'm a new shooter (to guns anyway - cameras for the last 30 yrs). I found this extremely helpful and answered most of my questions. I kept getting asked what kind of grain that I shoot; my response was "whatever the box says that I'm shooting and in this day and age whatever I can get my hands on." I also was thinking that it was the powder load; thanks for clarifying. Maybe you can do a future video of what grain (in my case 9mm) would be best for self defense, home defense or just plinking away at paper targets or defenseless pumpkins or melons. Thanks so much.
man, I've put so many rounds down range in old crappy ranges, and breathed in so much burnt powder and lead over the last 25 years. I know the lead is bad, obviously, but I wonder if the burnt powder can create adverse health effects later in life?
That is why metric system is the best way to measure things. Can't understand why US is not using it and the Celsius vs Fahrenheit. Using Lb (and call it a pound), once, pint, qtr and etc. Metric is so much easier and less possibilities for mistakes.
Grains is NOT part of the metric system. and 1 grain is 0.06479891 grams. and in the match ammo I produce we are doing to .01 grain or 0.0006479 gram accuracy. They are different. NOT better
Thanks for clearing that up for me Hickok45, I am not a seasoned shooter, and did know that grains was bullet weight, but never knew why they were measured in grains, I clearly see now it is because the bullets are too light to be measured in ounces, Thanks for the video, I really appreciate your informative videos, as well as all the others too.
Great video hickok45. Looking into purchasing my first firearms and the more I research the more questions continue to have. The whole grains term had been confusing me for a while until now. Finding your channel has made me more confident and educated on all firearms. Thanks and keep up the good work!
Not really. Every manual and scale in the reloading world is based on grains. I'm afraid it's totally "ingrained" in anybody who reloads. Any other measurement system would be like traveling to another planet now. :-)
Great vid Hickok, this subject is close to my heart-been handloading for almost 40yrs. What I can't understand is how could one person dislike this let alone 12?
If they just used mg there wouldn't be any confusion. People think of grains as in grains of sand, what looks like grains of sand gunpowder. But i guess if they switched over it would confuse people even more lol
Great video! I am a fairly new firearm owner and only shot before as a kid with my father. Being a new owner, your videos are quite helpful and this one is no different.I watch quite a bit before going to shop for anything. You've got yourself another subscriber here my friend....thank you for your videos!
+Krevin Grard Because blackpowder predates the Metric system, and the most successful firearms companies are from the UK and US, which still uses the imperial system (although the UK is transitioning to metric). It is hard to change because most engineering processes and tools involving firearms and ammunition production are still in Imperial, and people from the area just grow used to using the imperial system and see no reason to change. In the engineering world, the metric system most times only show real advantages when dealing with fluids, electricity and energy/power. In uses for solids measurement, velocity, force, torque and energy, it is just a matter of being used to the system, either metric or imperial.
The rest of the world does. The imperial system is hanging on in the firearms industry because of how influential the American market is. Things are so much simpler and easier to understand with a single unit of measurement for mass. Milligrams and grams 😍
Appreciate the detailed explanation. The powder details help to understand why a 357 is a more powerful bullet than 38 special despite having so many other similarities. Always enjoy your vids.
Just watched your video on the 10mm hog hunting....but it just hit me watching this video..just out of curiousity Hick..how many acres do you have and how did you clear all those trails ???
+Steve Mahalko All the trails you see in the "hog hunting" video were just part of an open field when I bought the place 30 years ago. For the most part, I just began keeping trails mowed and let the rest grow up into woods. It worked, but it took a few decades to grow trees there.
Great to have this educational material available sir! I had the misconception of grains as referred to powder and got co fused all the time. Googling it didn't clarify enough. Thanks for the complete explanation.
@@danielcruces4374 mg is to small, g is to large...Grains works perfectly, since metric doesnt have a unit that works well for explaining bullet weights, or powder
@@granddukeofmecklenburg I honestly know nothing about firearms, I just mentioned that as a possible option. Yeah, I guess that if grains have been used for centuries it's because it works well for bullets. Thanks for the reply
To summarize the video: grains are a unit of measurement of weight. There are 7000 grains in a pound. Different powders produce different energy per grain. Bullets and powder are both measured in units of grains. When most shooters talk about grains, they are referring to the weight of the bullet (projectile).
This is a great 'introduction' to reloading... (Thanks!) - It's part of a great series of videos... For new Reloders : Please - always visually inspect any fired cases you are going to reload - to make sure there are no cracks in the case! (If in doubt - Throw it out!) I reload for accuracy - the powder that fills the case as fully as possible (with room to seat the bullet head) gives a more even burn and more consistent pressure when the round is fired. So it's worth using even if you do use 4 times as much. - It also stops you from accidentally putting way too much propellant in by mistake!!! - (As shown in the Video - Winchester is FOUR times more powerful that some of the other powders!!! - so you could actually fit 4 x Times the intended load in a case - an easy way to blow up your gun!!!) Reloading makes for more accurate ammo - you can weigh every component - to make every bullet exactly the same! My best Tip! - Every caliber I reload has it's own tool box - with powder, primers, bullets in - and I make sure everything is put away and my powder thrower is empty before I change my set up for the press.
I looked it up, and evidently it began in biblical times. It was the weight of 1 grain of cereal grain. Maybe barley. The English standardized it . it's used in pharmacies for medicines too.
ChrisHallett83 I agree. The transition from one to another has been long, painful and still incomplete. As a tool and die maker, most of my life, it has been a nightmare. You remember, even the Hubble telescope was screwed up because of that.
The old system was established around commonly occurring things that made convenient measures. The metric system was established to make calculations easy. All the math is decimal. In the old system, all the math is in multiples of 2.
Excellent video, Hickok45. Very informative. I appreciate your no nonsense approach and I especially enjoy the fact that you stay pretty objective without being a zealot about this or that. Great job.
abu zaben That's funny. I wouldn't have noticed the bird had you not made the comment. But this one time while fly fishing, the spring black birds made me want to slaughter them all, kind of like red squirels. What's almost as annoying is how this guy assumes his audience cannot comprehend the difference between powder and bullet weight while using the same unit of measurement. Now I'm really annoyed. Actually a great video though. At the end a different bird chimes in...literally.
Imperial = .45 acp cartridge with a 230 gr bullet and 5.7 gr of powder Metric = 11.43mm acp cartridge with a 14.9 gram bullet and 0.369 grams of powder. Metric just sounds silly
It depends on the origins or the cartridge. If a bullet was manufactured in Europe, it will likely have dimensions that look better in metric descriptors, and vice-versa with the US.
Man am I glad I found you. You are the man. I had seen you in other videos that only had your first name and initials. You’re an amazing shooter. The proof is in the puddin as they say. Much respect.
Outstanding video, sir. I didn't know there were 7000 grains in a pound, so that gives some new perspective on bullet weights. I'm always happy when I wake up and there's a new video in my inbox. Thanks.
Jeff Newman I sat through 14min 25 seconds of the same thing to get 56 seconds of what I wanted to know about. Incredible. Very knowledgeable. I get it. I am a rookie. I get it, but please assume we have some brains.
Really cool to see the old Lyman reloading manual. Having a verified load is important when reloading -- you don't want your gun to explode in your face, or bullets to get stuck in barrels. The key point is to use the right number of grains (weight) of the specified powered with a specified bullet (weight, composition, and style).
In Europe, they do. Here, its for the same reason we use miles, feet, inches, etc. In the UK, it's even worse. You'll actually hear sentences like "I drove 100 kilometers at 60 miles per hour". You'll hear a guy quote his height in meters and his weight in stone.
Thanks for these teaching videos. It helps me to be safer by knowing what i'm doing. It also keeps me from filling like a fool when i'm talking about guns.
Very informative hickok.. Grains is the best Unit for shooters.. All Shooter manuals and reloading notes use grains.. But i believe the SI system is more efficiant.. And its becoming a standard worldwide as more countries join the meter convention.. Using grams and miligrams as weight units.
When I first started shooting this topic was very confusing. I remember having a discussion with a fellow new shooter about grains,and if it meant bullet weight or powder charge. This video would have helped immensely
I learned more in the past 15 minutes than I have all day! I hope we will see another video that delves into some of the differences between powder, like what "dirty" powder is, or fast burning, etc. I've also heard some powders are what make some ammo "corrosive". I'd love to hear more.
I agree. I also handload and videos like this just take my mind off of things for a while and slow life down. Reminds you that the simple pleasures are what life is all about. Thanks Hickok
I don't suppose he ever reads this, but Hickock really does produce some of the highest quality videos not just on shooting but generally, that are on UA-cam. They're always informative, always entertaining and frequently very funny.
Simply put, grain is just another unit for "mass". For those familiar with oz/lb units, 1 oz = 437.5 grains... and given that it only takes a small amount of powder to propel the bullet (typical range : 5 to 10 grains), it is much easier to talk about powder mass in terms of "grains" as opposed to other mass units.
Thank you. I'm new to shooting and didn't know this, I thought gains on ammo pckg meant powder, this was great info. I'm tying to learn and this was a great lesson. Thx hickok45
OK. This is the third time I say this on three different videos of yours, but please, PLEASE make a video with the Luger P08. There are multiple reasons why i want you to do it. 1: It's one of the first automatic pistols. 2: It's operating action is one of a kind. 3: It was the first firearm to use the 9x19 mm cartridge. 4: It looks pretty good. It's fine with me if you don't want to, but i really recommend it. Im sure one of your local firearm store got one, or one of your friends.
yep - always thought the grains on the box were the number of grains of powder in the cartridge (i guessed a grain of powder physically was really small, and yeah I then wondered how you count 147 grains of powder out when you hand load) I assumed that the bullet caliber determined the bullet size and weight so that any 9mm, .40, .45 etc that you got would always be the same size and weight. Always appreciate a good bit of knowledge :)
I agree. "Pet Loads" is a good resource. It will give a shooter & reloader some very good advice about where to start, but the only way to know which of those loads work in your rifle, and which ones work best in your rifles, is to shoot them & find out. If you want to find the best load for your rifle or handgun it still comes down to trial & error in the end. "Pet Loads" just reduces the amount of error, usually. (Some of the newer cartridges aren't covered in Ken Water's excellent book!)
You know you're American when you point to things in a book with a bullet, I love Hickok
Lol i hella noticed he was treating it like a yard stick.
Jebać USA
Thanks for the explanation. Now i have a MyGrain...:)
Lol CareyHolzman shoots?
I wanted to know the difference between grains when it comes to bullets, so I figured hickok45 would have a video explaining the difference, and surely enough he did! You can deffidently tell he was a teacher. He is great at explaining things. Love the videos! Fun, AND educational.
JonP227GT I reply to your comment 5 years later
@@eljuanzas9589 I reply to your comment 1 month later
Jeremiah Fyan 5 months later
Flamics 2 months later
Mikes Breakfast 15 hours later
"important" is relative. The "important" points I wanted to make were made.
hickok45 as always. Hence your popularity 😁
Without firearms we are nothing more than peasants with pitchforks
@FEDSJ More than likely they would just reclassify them as "assault" pitchforks if they are either longer than three feet, have more than one tine, or are sharpened. Any one of those 'assault features' automatically makes it an unregistered "assault" pitchfork. There is no longer any way to register unregistered "assault" pitchforks. Possession of "assault" pitchforks is now a felony and no one is grandfathered in.
Greetings from California. Literally what we have here.
Wow, I have to admit: I was one of the crowd who thought the grains were talking about the powder and not the bullet. Thank you, Hickok. This is a great, informative channel. Keep up the good work.
ME TOO!!
I was looking at reloading and was thinking the same thing.
Yep. Me too! So glad I found this video. He sure knows how to explain a thing!!
Sames.
Honestly same.
As a retired nurse, I remember learning about grains and minims in school. Once we got out in the workforce, though, only the oldest doctors actually used those measures. Everything had moved into the metric system with mg, mcg, ml, etc. Always a good reminder of just how small this measurement is.
1 gram = 15.432 grains
1 grain = 64.798 milligrams
+Keyser Soze Sure, but did you miss all the clarification about the context of mass measurements? Hickok45 may be a tad on the verbose side here, but it's a point that needs to be strongly made.
Christopher - Thanks for posting the metric info. Although I *AM* American, I prefer using metric for small measurements, especially for model work. I *HATE* fractions. They are *NOT* my friend...LOL
Thanks for that. I was going to ask.
Keyser Soze Hickok is "detail oriented." You'll probably only appreciate him when he's gone one day. Even his melon selection is something to revere.
Keyser Soze
well, you didnt really have to say anything.... im 100% positive NO ONE cares about your opinion compared to ol hickok
Your like the shooty uncle I never had
Kelly Davis *you're
He reminds me of my gramps. RIP
*you're
You mean to tell me that your uncle didn’t teach you about guns or grammar?
He should teach us how to make booby traps too
The elusive and misunderstood "grain". A grain is old English measurement of weight equal to 01 grain of mature barley. This was known as tower weight measurement. In the attempt to standardize weights and measurements the International System of Units agreement established 01 grain as equal to 64.7 milligrams. Used to measure bullet weight and gunpowder today. To become a great shooter, this is where it all starts. When I went to the Marine Corps Scout Sniper program many moons ago this was minute one of class one. The GySgt showed us a single grain of gunpowder and told us to learn about this, then layer everything that was built around it from casing to chamber to optics/sights all of the way to the target and we would understand how to be a great shooter. It all begins with a chemical reaction and rapid expansion of gas pushed in the path of last resistance. Master that and you master the weapon. Thank you for a great topic which all shooters should at least have a basic understanding of. Many Thanks Sir!
MrAzrancher I'm not sure hickok is 64.8 kg.
Thank you for defining it straight up. That it related to a barley grain made sense.
+Allan Folmersen he didn't say hickok was 64.7 mg. he was comparings grains to mg. nothing about hickok's weight
Thanks for YOUR explanation & your service. I wish Hickok45 had broken it down like you did. NOW grains make sense.
Path of last resistance. You are so right.
The Walter white of firearms.. explains without confusing his students and viewers! Keep up your good work !
There are 7000 grains in a pound. Grains are not grains of powder like grains of sand. Bullet and powder are both measured in grains. Say is someone says this 9mm round is 124 grains. that's the weight of the bullet not the amount of powder. The bullet is just the part of the cartridge that is fired at the target a bullet is NOT another word for ammo. There are 4 parts the a cartridge 1 The bullet (The object that leaves the barrel and is sent at the target) 2 The case (The brass part of a cartridge that holds the powder the bullet and the primer) 3 The powder (The nitrocellulose propellant that burns (not explodes) that pushes the bullet out the barrel due to high pressure in the case due to expanding gasses as a result of combustion) 4 The primer (The round object put in the base of the case that is impacted by the firing pin and detonates burning the gun power and causing a shot to be fired) There are the basics of ammo.
Thanks for the explanation
Excellent posting. Although I thoroughly enjoy +hickok45's vids, this one came up a little short. A "grain" is nothing more than a unit of measure so 150 grains of lead weighs exactly the same as 150 grains of powder. Potency, on the other hand is an entirely different matter. Although 10 grains of powder A weighs the same as 10 grains of powder B, powder A may be many multiples more potent than powder B.
Logan Barnette ..thanks lot man!
Logan Barnette woah! Nice breakdown, I would love to hear more!
Logan... That was a really good breakdown.
Your property is so nice... I wish we all had a place to go 'plink and think'. Learning from your knowledge base is better than trying to use Google, or something like that. My son and I have learned SO MUCH, just from watching your videos. I trust you for accurate and unbiased information. Thanks for the education!
im not sure that's his property. I recall in 1 of his older vids. I believe its a range he goes too. think not positive but it is awesome no doubt
All I could say is WOW...You break everything down when it comes to firearm and you make it so educational. Most people just shoot their guns because they just wanna show off and their self esteem is so low and a gun makes them feel good about themselfes but you are not like that at all. I really admire your videos on firearms and you are like the Bob Ross of guns...lol...Keep up the good work and best of luck and please dont change on how you are..
Excellent lesson! I've been licensed to carry and have carried concealed for 21 years now. So I'm not a complete newbie to guns. BUT within the last 3 weeks I learned what a "bullet" actually is by getting sidetracked into it when studying "grains" on Wikipedia. I love and learn much from topics and videos!
Damn. I'm visiting this video 8 years late. Great content, then and now.
I wanted to say thank you for your videos. As a new firearm owner I'm trying to educate myself as much as I can and videos like this are very helpful and well done. I appreciate it, thank you sir.
one grain = 65 milligrams; 437.5 grains = 1 ounce
Grain measurement is used for arrows as well.
+dcanmore One grain=6.479891 mg
Thanks Hickock. I've been reloading for about 20 years, and I've been asked this question a time or two. As an NRA basic firearms instructor, teaching those who have very little knowledge of a gun or ammo, you're video will help me explain it. Thanks for the great work!
Thanks. I don't get accused of that very often, although I have to admit that gunpowder, heavy lead, copper jackets, cartridges, firearms, etc. are pretty darn "sexy"!!
As a new firearm owner and getting the hang of things hickok45 is right there along the way with you. Thank you for the lesson, you all are greatly appreciated.
Everyone is acting like Americans need to use the metric system. WE DO! We learn both in school, and only use metrics in science class. We also often refer to liquids in terms of liters. For example, a big bottle of soda for multiple people is a 2 liter. Most Americans can use both extremely effectively, we just use imperial units more often in day to day conversation.
We pretty much use metric when it's truly needed, like precise measurements
+theAwakener Yeah, most Americans. I only ever use metric when talking soda, artillery guns (up to 203mm or 8 in), or long distance shooting (even then it's 50/50)
well we know your profession ^^
Hahah ..
You crashed an isreali plane because the isrealis use metres/sec and you use foot/sec
It's feet idiot not foot it's not singular
Wanted to start 2023 learning about gunpowder and grains. I just kinda knew you would have a video on the subject. I really thought grain meant the actual powder in the round. You have totally schooled me. Thank you for your videos. I never watch one and don't learn something. All the best in 2023. Rich at Fright Trail
I like how you're going into a reloading video sub-category! I've loved reloading and try to convince anyone who shoots a lot to get into it. I don't know if you mention it in the video, but 1gr = 1/7000 lbs. So, 7000grs = 1 lb. You may want to put that in the description. Thanks for the video!
Now, as for a comment to Hickok, since this is your video, sir : Thanks. It's nice to just see some of these things clearly explained in a way that's easy to understand and not condescending or judgmental. For the most part, I'd say shooters are the friendliest and most helpful community I belong to and it's something most people who aren't shooters find most surprising when I talk about it.
There is a bird that tweets the same song in every video
Damn I never noticed now I can't stop hearing him lol
Mockingbird, but sometimes a Northern Cardinal
Jaffawho that’s definitely not a mockingbird lol like really guys come on...
A worthwhile subject very close to the heart of a true reloader. Quite common for experienced shooters to know what powder someone is using just from the smell of the gun smoke, or even the extent of fouling the powder produces. Just like knowing what brass comes from who's gun after a club day shoot by looking at the primer indentations. Great videos, keeping this sport alive and kicking, good on you Hickok45.
Awesome tutorial, thanks Hickok :D
Thank you Hickok45 you've became my all time guide to shooting and technique and my accuracy and over all shooting ability has increased. I've been shooting for 3 years now and I've always thought that the grains on the box meant the powder and amount of punch....Never knew it was the bullet weight. Thanks again you have been so helpful.
Great video! This is one of many videos that I found to be very informative and help full. You are very professional and an advocate of gun safety and correct practice in the use of firearms. Keep up the support of the 2nd Ammendment.
Dearest Hickok45,
You have inspired me sir. In the last 2 days i've taken my dremel to my g19c, thinning out the trigger guard. Disassembled my slide and cleaned it out (thank you so much. Was disgusting!) and polished my feed ramp on the g19c and the 1911. And built a brass "bead" out of a brass rod for my dad's marlin model 97 (built between 1905-1915). Thank you for the confidence and the fun. Subscribed!
"a nice BIG, LONG number when SHE gets on there". I'm surprised you're still making videos after this comment 😂😂
And you’re still alive after this comment?? Must have a truly loving wife!👍😂😂😂😂😂, mine of 43 years would just given me the hairy eyeball!
Thanks, Hickok for your teaching style. You take complex topics and make them totally understandable to folks. Anytime I'm not certain about a topic involving firearms, cartridges, powder or anything else pertaining to shooting, I always go to your channel to get the score. Thanks, sir.
A very informative 15 minutes. Much appreciated.
.22 short is probably the smallest weight of a somewhat regular caliber and it's 27gr in a hollow point. That is still about 3.5 times the weight of a BB. The new Federal Punch in 22LR is 29gr and CCI stingers are 32gr but as always, thanks for all the wonderful information. You, Sootch00, and Paul Harrell are my go to guys for gun videos.
"Someone ask me how much I can bench press... Uuggghh.. 2 million...." LoL Classic Hickok...
Hickok my man, one of the most knowledgeable and legendary pop culture shooting icons, I lost 100+ pounds since COVID, so I know it when I see it.. you act, sound, and look younger than you did in videos from 8 years or so ago. You're doing something right. Have you been working out? Dieting? Share your secrets to longevity!! Seriously, I am speaking with the utmost respect. Your balance of intellect and humor comforts a brain like mine. Thank you for all you do and have provided us with, for free nonetheless!!
Wasn't clear on this, so I Googled it. Should've known ol' Hickok45 would have the best answer.
i didn't google, i was wondering myself, knew hickok45 would know and have a video, just had to ask the right question
Had to go back 10 years to find a video where Hickok45 isn't shooting anything!
Still relevant information. Thanks for putting it out there.
Those are some loud, brave birds in the background.
They shut up when they see his gun come out, like an annoying neighbor. Lol
You are a great teacher, Hick45. You do a wonderful service as a teacher, coach, and as a person.
"In the gunsafe lies my treasure, with lead and powder of equal measure."
I know that you posted this video a while ago, but I'm a new shooter (to guns anyway - cameras for the last 30 yrs). I found this extremely helpful and answered most of my questions. I kept getting asked what kind of grain that I shoot; my response was "whatever the box says that I'm shooting and in this day and age whatever I can get my hands on." I also was thinking that it was the powder load; thanks for clarifying. Maybe you can do a future video of what grain (in my case 9mm) would be best for self defense, home defense or just plinking away at paper targets or defenseless pumpkins or melons. Thanks so much.
man, I've put so many rounds down range in old crappy ranges, and breathed in so much burnt powder and lead over the last 25 years. I know the lead is bad, obviously, but I wonder if the burnt powder can create adverse health effects later in life?
I'd say all the carbon monoxide we breathe driving around and living in town is a lot worse than anything we just breathe on occasion.
everything causes adverse health effects later in life
That is the best tutorial I have seen on the relationships of grains, bullets and powder. Thanks
That is why metric system is the best way to measure things. Can't understand why US is not using it and the Celsius vs Fahrenheit. Using Lb (and call it a pound), once, pint, qtr and etc. Metric is so much easier and less possibilities for mistakes.
Grains is NOT part of the metric system. and 1 grain is 0.06479891 grams. and in the match ammo I produce we are doing to .01 grain or 0.0006479 gram accuracy. They are different. NOT better
@@hughtanner3340 he didn't say that it was part of the metric system he only said that it was better
Thanks for clearing that up for me Hickok45, I am not a seasoned shooter, and did know that grains was bullet weight, but never knew why they were measured in grains, I clearly see now it is because the bullets are too light to be measured in ounces, Thanks for the video, I really appreciate your informative videos, as well as all the others too.
ha, him and his friends were "comparing loads"
Ian McCombs thats what she said
xDDDDD
Most massive loads you will ever see, judging by the heroic character of this man
Droppin loads!!!!
Was laughing at that too glad I’m not the only one
Great video hickok45. Looking into purchasing my first firearms and the more I research the more questions continue to have. The whole grains term had been confusing me for a while until now. Finding your channel has made me more confident and educated on all firearms. Thanks and keep up the good work!
Not really. Every manual and scale in the reloading world is based on grains. I'm afraid it's totally "ingrained" in anybody who reloads. Any other measurement system would be like traveling to another planet now. :-)
Great vid Hickok, this subject is close to my heart-been handloading for almost 40yrs. What I can't understand is how could one person dislike this let alone 12?
If they just used mg there wouldn't be any confusion. People think of grains as in grains of sand, what looks like grains of sand gunpowder. But i guess if they switched over it would confuse people even more lol
People who are _that_ confused don't really matter - they're unlikely to be loading their own ammo.
Thanks Hickok. I have been shooting for 26 years now, and while I knew some of this stuff, this video helped clear up a few questions.
that bird must have seen the hunger games movies... 14:48
I see what you did their
Birds have some of the sharpest eyesight.
Great video! I am a fairly new firearm owner and only shot before as a kid with my father. Being a new owner, your videos are quite helpful and this one is no different.I watch quite a bit before going to shop for anything. You've got yourself another subscriber here my friend....thank you for your videos!
I never understood why they don't use milligrams for mass.
+Krevin Grard Because blackpowder predates the Metric system, and the most successful firearms companies are from the UK and US, which still uses the imperial system (although the UK is transitioning to metric).
It is hard to change because most engineering processes and tools involving firearms and ammunition production are still in Imperial, and people from the area just grow used to using the imperial system and see no reason to change.
In the engineering world, the metric system most times only show real advantages when dealing with fluids, electricity and energy/power. In uses for solids measurement, velocity, force, torque and energy, it is just a matter of being used to the system, either metric or imperial.
The rest of the world does. The imperial system is hanging on in the firearms industry because of how influential the American market is. Things are so much simpler and easier to understand with a single unit of measurement for mass. Milligrams and grams 😍
Appreciate the detailed explanation. The powder details help to understand why a 357 is a more powerful bullet than 38 special despite having so many other similarities. Always enjoy your vids.
Just watched your video on the 10mm hog hunting....but it just hit me watching this video..just out of curiousity Hick..how many acres do you have and how did you clear all those trails ???
+Steve Mahalko All the trails you see in the "hog hunting" video were just part of an open field when I bought the place 30 years ago. For the most part, I just began keeping trails mowed and let the rest grow up into woods. It worked, but it took a few decades to grow trees there.
+hickok45 ...Is this facebook?...How do I like?
Thank you Hickock. I've been embarrassed to ask more knowledgable shooting friends about this. Life IS good, and God Bless You.
"we were comparing loads"......
Great to have this educational material available sir! I had the misconception of grains as referred to powder and got co fused all the time. Googling it didn't clarify enough. Thanks for the complete explanation.
Why not use grams?
you'd have a huge number full of .0000 something!
@@PhillRS miligrams could be used too
@@danielcruces4374 mg is to small, g is to large...Grains works perfectly, since metric doesnt have a unit that works well for explaining bullet weights, or powder
@@granddukeofmecklenburg I honestly know nothing about firearms, I just mentioned that as a possible option. Yeah, I guess that if grains have been used for centuries it's because it works well for bullets. Thanks for the reply
@@granddukeofmecklenburg there's centigramme and decigramme too with all this you're sure to find what you're looking for
To summarize the video: grains are a unit of measurement of weight. There are 7000 grains in a pound. Different powders produce different energy per grain. Bullets and powder are both measured in units of grains. When most shooters talk about grains, they are referring to the weight of the bullet (projectile).
goddamn i love hickok45
This is a great 'introduction' to reloading... (Thanks!) - It's part of a great series of videos...
For new Reloders : Please - always visually inspect any fired cases you are going to reload - to make sure there are no cracks in the case! (If in doubt - Throw it out!)
I reload for accuracy - the powder that fills the case as fully as possible (with room to seat the bullet head) gives a more even burn and more consistent pressure when the round is fired. So it's worth using even if you do use 4 times as much.
- It also stops you from accidentally putting way too much propellant in by mistake!!!
- (As shown in the Video - Winchester is FOUR times more powerful that some of the other powders!!! - so you could actually fit 4 x Times the intended load in a case - an easy way to blow up your gun!!!)
Reloading makes for more accurate ammo - you can weigh every component - to make every bullet exactly the same!
My best Tip! - Every caliber I reload has it's own tool box - with powder, primers, bullets in - and I make sure everything is put away and my powder thrower is empty before I change my set up for the press.
Who came up with 1/7000th of a pound for a grain in the first place? 437.5 grains to an ounce. Wonder why it wasn't 1/1000th or 1/10,000th.
I looked it up, and evidently it began in biblical times. It was the weight of 1 grain of cereal grain. Maybe barley. The English standardized it . it's used in pharmacies for medicines too.
ChrisHallett83 I agree. The transition from one to another has been long, painful and still incomplete. As a tool and die maker, most of my life, it has been a nightmare. You remember, even the Hubble telescope was screwed up because of that.
The old system was established around commonly occurring things that made convenient measures. The metric system was established to make calculations easy. All the math is decimal. In the old system, all the math is in multiples of 2.
Excellent video, Hickok45. Very informative. I appreciate your no nonsense approach and I especially enjoy the fact that you stay pretty objective without being a zealot about this or that. Great job.
That's one annoying bird in the background
abu zaben That's funny. I wouldn't have noticed the bird had you not made the comment. But this one time while fly fishing, the spring black birds made me want to slaughter them all, kind of like red squirels. What's almost as annoying is how this guy assumes his audience cannot comprehend the difference between powder and bullet weight while using the same unit of measurement. Now I'm really annoyed. Actually a great video though. At the end a different bird chimes in...literally.
+abu zaben Great, now I can't NOT hear it.
You probably wouldn't enjoy the woods and outdoors very much.
~115 grains would solve that problem
I enjoy all nature sounds.
Recently became interested in shooting and delving deeper. Gotta say this was a really great video. Super concise and well explained. Thanks hickok45
So frustrated...couldnt watch this video because the birds in the background were making my bird scream
Headphones, you're welcome.
Or get a dog instead weirdo
Get a cat. That'll take care of all your bird problems.
Hickok45, Thanks for taking the long way around the barn. Many of us have learned so much from you. The more reloading videos the better.
Imperial = .45 acp cartridge with a 230 gr bullet and 5.7 gr of powder
Metric = 11.43mm acp cartridge with a 14.9 gram bullet and 0.369 grams of powder.
Metric just sounds silly
It depends on the origins or the cartridge. If a bullet was manufactured in Europe, it will likely have dimensions that look better in metric descriptors, and vice-versa with the US.
In places where they use metric they're not even allowed to have .45 acp. Now thats silly.
Man am I glad I found you. You are the man. I had seen you in other videos that only had your first name and initials. You’re an amazing shooter. The proof is in the puddin as they say. Much respect.
I love how you weigh a million grains and can bench two million.
Outstanding video, sir. I didn't know there were 7000 grains in a pound, so that gives some new perspective on bullet weights. I'm always happy when I wake up and there's a new video in my inbox. Thanks.
from 0:00 - 7:30, let me save you 7 mins... 'If someone says grains, they are talking about the bullet itself, not the powder.' there. done. carry on.
Jeff Newman I sat through 14min 25 seconds of the same thing to get 56 seconds of what I wanted to know about. Incredible. Very knowledgeable. I get it. I am a rookie. I get it, but please assume we have some brains.
Really cool to see the old Lyman reloading manual. Having a verified load is important when reloading -- you don't want your gun to explode in your face, or bullets to get stuck in barrels. The key point is to use the right number of grains (weight) of the specified powered with a specified bullet (weight, composition, and style).
What about grams why don't they use grams
I wish someone would tell us why they don't use grams? Great question???
In Europe, they do. Here, its for the same reason we use miles, feet, inches, etc. In the UK, it's even worse. You'll actually hear sentences like "I drove 100 kilometers at 60 miles per hour". You'll hear a guy quote his height in meters and his weight in stone.
good thing bullets not in stones :) although as an American I'd be more amenable to that than the metric system
been shooting for around a year now and now for the 1st time I understand. Thanks hickok45
Sir, what great state do you currently dwell in? Gun control seems non-existent in this holy land.
BlackJack 1199 he is right outside Nashville Tenn.
Thank you. Now I finally have my dream state to live in.
Come to Texas. It's better.
BlackJack 1199 move to Texas. Lots better
Missouri is good, for now anyways ;(
That was very educational. Thank you for taking the time to post this. Life is really good with hickok45 videos.
Thank you for the clarification, however the world would be a lot simpler if americans converted to the metric system. A lot simpler..
What's that in grains, I wonder.
Jeremy Lindemann 1,750 grains
so why is it that a 10mm socket has a 1/4 inch drive, or a 3/8 inch drive??? just wondering
your comment made me hungry >:O
American=no metric system
Very well explained video! For anyone who's interested: 15.4324 grains = 1 gram.
please people use grams and millimeters, it is so much simpler..
Thanks for these teaching videos. It helps me to be safer by knowing what i'm doing. It also keeps me from filling like a fool when i'm talking about guns.
You americans could always adopt metric :P
Censor Duck we are stubborn. doubt it will happen until China absorbs us, lol
Decimal math is too easy. We Americans like our fractions.
isn't going to happen
Very informative hickok.. Grains is the best Unit for shooters.. All Shooter manuals and reloading notes use grains.. But i believe the SI system is more efficiant.. And its becoming a standard worldwide as more countries join the meter convention.. Using grams and miligrams as weight units.
When I first started shooting this topic was very confusing. I remember having a discussion with a fellow new shooter about grains,and if it meant bullet weight or powder charge. This video would have helped immensely
I learned more in the past 15 minutes than I have all day! I hope we will see another video that delves into some of the differences between powder, like what "dirty" powder is, or fast burning, etc. I've also heard some powders are what make some ammo "corrosive". I'd love to hear more.
Hickok 45 has taught me more useful information in 15 minuites, than my math teacher has all year!
I agree. I also handload and videos like this just take my mind off of things for a while and slow life down. Reminds you that the simple pleasures are what life is all about. Thanks Hickok
I don't suppose he ever reads this, but Hickock really does produce some of the highest quality videos not just on shooting but generally, that are on UA-cam. They're always informative, always entertaining and frequently very funny.
In a very significant way this is a Safety video for newer re-loaders... Good stuff here Hickok
Simply put, grain is just another unit for "mass". For those familiar with oz/lb units, 1 oz = 437.5 grains... and given that it only takes a small amount of powder to propel the bullet (typical range : 5 to 10 grains), it is much easier to talk about powder mass in terms of "grains" as opposed to other mass units.
ive been going out shootin all my life and never understood what all that stuff meant grains and what not. this helped me out alot thanks for the info
Actually today i know people refers grain to bullet not to powde weight.... Thanks hickok45 u always lead us on right path...
Thank you. I'm new to shooting and didn't know this, I thought gains on ammo pckg meant powder, this was great info. I'm tying to learn and this was a great lesson. Thx hickok45
Thank You! I'm One Of Those Who Was A Bit Cloudy. Much Clearer Now. Bullet's Are Easy.Power Takes Some Study.That's What I Learned Today.
OK. This is the third time I say this on three different videos of yours, but please, PLEASE make a video with the Luger P08. There are multiple reasons why i want you to do it. 1: It's one of the first automatic pistols. 2: It's operating action is one of a kind. 3: It was the first firearm to use the 9x19 mm cartridge. 4: It looks pretty good. It's fine with me if you don't want to, but i really recommend it. Im sure one of your local firearm store got one, or one of your friends.
yep - always thought the grains on the box were the number of grains of powder in the cartridge (i guessed a grain of powder physically was really small, and yeah I then wondered how you count 147 grains of powder out when you hand load) I assumed that the bullet caliber determined the bullet size and weight so that any 9mm, .40, .45 etc that you got would always be the same size and weight. Always appreciate a good bit of knowledge :)
I agree. "Pet Loads" is a good resource. It will give a shooter & reloader some very good advice about where to start, but the only way to know which of those loads work in your rifle, and which ones work best in your rifles, is to shoot them & find out. If you want to find the best load for your rifle or handgun it still comes down to trial & error in the end. "Pet Loads" just reduces the amount of error, usually. (Some of the newer cartridges aren't covered in Ken Water's excellent book!)