H-110 versus 2400

[RicinYakima]

Yes, the "yellow particles" went away with sale of Hercules to Alliant in the 1980's. They were the particles without nitroglycerin used to keep the burning rate the same between lots. Now every one has the same chemical composition. Amazing the changes is 40 years.

 

[Joshua]

Also....I got 8 pounds of 800x at sportsman's Warehouse last year for $99, so I've learned to like it.

Sportsman’s Warehouse had some weird sales before this most recent buying scare. I believe they were discontinuing slow moving product from their inventory. They got rid of four and eight pounders that weren’t fast moving. I bought (3) four pounders of Herco at $12.50 per pound, and a single four pounder of WST at $15.00 a pound.
I guess I better learn to like Herco! I’ve got twelve pounds of it.

I use a lot of 2400 in my .357, 30-06 and 7.7x58mm loads. I’ve no experience with 296/110. Been reading a bunch about 300 blackout recently. 296/110 seems to be very popular with the blackout guys. Thinking real hard about buying a Ruger American Ranch Rifle. I’d rather not add another powder to the stable. And since it’s a bolt gun I might just buy an eight pound tote of 2400. Keep it simple.

Josh

 

[Ian]

If you didn't live 2,000 miles away I could sure hook you up with some 296 for real cheap, like get it out of my house and let me shake your hand cheap.

 

[fiver]

if I got 8 lbs of 800-x for 99 bucks I'd have danced all the way out to the truck.
it's a good powder in all sorts of applications.
I like it in the 44 mag and have even used it in some rifles at moderate speeds.
didn't even bother worrying about it dropping perfect weights, I just set the dump and went with what it gave.

 

[Will]

if I got 8 lbs of 800-x for 99 bucks I'd have danced all the way out to the truck.
it's a good powder in all sorts of applications.
I like it in the 44 mag and have even used it in some rifles at moderate speeds.
didn't even bother worrying about it dropping perfect weights, I just set the dump and went with what it gave.

I would of liked to ran across that deal myself. 800X is excellent for buckshot loads in 12 gauge. Also works great in the 357 sig.

 

[fiver]

makes good simple steel shot loads too.

 

[462]

I can't argue with the accuracy that H-110/W-296 gives the Rossi/EMF .357 Magnum and 158-grain jacketed bullets, over 2400. However, they've given me two incidents of cast bullets stuck in the barrel of the .357 Blackhawk, along with the resulting plugs of unburned/charred powder.
That said, the rifle's load leans toward the maximum while the revolver's is somewhere between the middle and minimum. 2400 works so well in the Blackhawk I've not felt the urge to pursue hotter loads using H-110/W-296.

 

[dale2242]

As for WC820, the lot I bought from Bartlett says to us AA9 data.
It is absolutely the finest ball powder I have ever seen.

 

[Rick]

Never used wc820 but I did burn up most of an 8 pounder of H-108 surplus powder. Worked well for long range accuracy in the 9 inch FA 357 but was down about 50-70 fps in comparison testing with H-110.

 

[Aya]

Thread drift!!
The yellow particles in Hercules 2400, mentioned in a couple of posts above, i have a couple of older cans Hercules Reloader 7. Last time using it, I saw some yellow/brown particles in the powder, that i can’t remember from last time. I thought, maybe the powder was going bad. Is those particles normal in Re-7 as well?

 

[Charles Graff]

I am a long time 2400 user but have deviated into H110 (296) from time to time, but have always gone back to 2400. H110 does not do well with less than full snort loads, but 2400 has more versatility in that area. H110 require more spark from the plug for good ignition and 2400 is more versatile in that areas also. I have never been a fan of pushing them as fast as you can anyway, unless there is some pressing need to so do. I have never had that pressing need. I will stick with 2400. Hercules powder is gone, but their legacy (Bullseye, Unique and 2400) still lives on in my reloading shop as the go to handgun powders and some rifle applications as well.

 

[JonB]

This is a great and timely thread.
I am low on 357 mag ammo, especially in the "factory load" load range...meaning near MAX. I had been using Blue Dot (I quit using that for revolvers loads) and/or H110, but I'd like to save what H110 that I have left, for 41 Mag "heavy for caliber" bullet loads. I do have a pretty big stash of 2400, some of it is Herc. Anyway, last weekend I cast a bunch of 160gr SWC using a misc alloy that hardens to 15 BHN in a few months...and want to load 'em to the "Factory load" load range.

This conversation makes me think 2400 will be a good choice for the 357 mag ammo I want to load.
Thanks all.

 

[fiver]

AYA.
that would be one Ian can most likely answer, he uses quite a bit of RL-7.

Jon, I really like 2400 in the 41 Mag.
one of my favorites is with the 210gr. XTP and @16grs of 2400, that is one of those spots where they got the bullet right and the powder speed and volume comes out correct.

 

[RicinYakima]

The yellow particles in Hercules 2400, mentioned in a couple of posts above, i have a couple of older cans Hercules Reloader 7. Last time using it, I saw some yellow/brown particles in the powder, that i can’t remember from last time. I thought, maybe the powder was going bad. Is those particles normal in Re-7 as well?

The particles are after the cartridge is fired and the residue has the unburned or incomplete burned particles. Doesn't happen with the new stuff. I have no idea about Reloader 7, as I have never used it.

 

[Creeker]

As for WC820, the lot I bought from Bartlett says to us AA9 data.
It is absolutely the finest ball powder I have ever seen.

My lot is the same & purchased from the same. This powder does an excellent job in my 357 with 158 jacketed or 160 cast.

 

[CZ93X62]

JonB--

FWIW--My shop carried the W-W Super-X 158 grain 357 Magnum loading from 1994-2015. I duplicated its performance in my guns using Lyman #358156 seated and crimped in its upper groove--atop 13.5 grains of Alliant 2400--lit by CCI 500 primers--in W-W nickeled brass or Starline unplated brass. From my 4" 686, these run 1225-1250 FPS.

 

[462]

My .357 Magnum Blackhawk and Vaquero love that load mated with Lee's 358-158 SWC and RNFN bullets.

 

[CZ93X62]

I suspect that the load falls within current SAAMI specs of 36K PSI MAPP, unlike some of the Doug Wesson-esque monsters that actually clocked 1500 FPS from 8-3/8" pre-27s. I load some of those, too--but limit them to Rugers. N-frames and L-frames could manage them just fine, but I exercise caution in depth.

 

[Sandspider500]

So, it's 296 for the win then.....

 

[DHD]

Good thread here. Strangely I've never used any 2400. I've always used H110 for the hot loads and have only had one issue with it (454 Casull, but my fault). It's used in single actions only for me. I prefer heavy or at least standard for caliber bullets and it just works well. The revolvers I shoot most right now are Freedom Arms 83's and since they'll take as much H110 as will fit in the case, more or less, I don't worry about downloading. When I don't want visible muzzle fash in daylight I'll use HS6.

Now H110 hasn't been an ideal powder for me in 327 Federal because I ran into pressure where I didn't think I should have. I've recently tried AA9 there and it shines! It seems AA9 will tolerate some downloading and still work fine unlike H110.

I've been aware of 2400's good traits, but just never went there with so many other powders in the cabinet. It's also been somewhat harder to find when I've made big powder orders.