Interesting 2400 Observation

[Jeff H]

As much as I would prefer to have 32# of 2400,...

During the previous shortage, I found some Alliant 300MP for slightly more than just before that shortage, but about a third of what everyone is selling powder for today. I've not found all it's uses yet, but in the 357 Mag Carbines, it shines for upper end velocities. If I need less (which is 99% of the time), I use Unique, Herco or HP38/W23. May be "better" powders out there, but these are what I have.

I've tended more toward "what I have" in recent years than what I perceive to be "what's ideal," because everyone else seems to know what's ideal too, or the powder companies aren't making those in deference to cooler-sounding powders to feed the impressionable masses.

All the same, I'm soaking this information up and taking notes. Won't kill me to settle for something I can get or can afford v. what I think is ideal.

 

[popper]

For the BO, I've used 2400, H110, 4227, Rl7, Red Dot, WSF, CFE pistol, 1680. 110-185 gr jacket and cast. IIRC all these have book loads except the fast pistol powders - don't expect much fps from them - use 40sw type loads. Seems the 4227 won the accuracy but not fps. 110/296 is tricky, it likes higher psi but easy to get psi way up there, i.e. be very careful of internet 'posted' loads. Case vol is close to 32/20 so I started there for odd powders.

 

[TXTad]

Issue with "burn charts" is what chambering do they test with.
A straight wall and bottleneck and / or large or small case are certainly to much of variables to really plop a number on a powder.

True, but they do give a coarse idea of the powders generally relate to each other, especially the ones that use a matrix format.

 

[TXTad]

For the BO, I've used 2400, H110, 4227, Rl7, Red Dot, WSF, CFE pistol, 1680. 110-185 gr jacket and cast. IIRC all these have book loads except the fast pistol powders - don't expect much fps from them - use 40sw type loads. Seems the 4227 won the accuracy but not fps. 110/296 is tricky, it likes higher psi but easy to get psi way up there, i.e. be very careful of internet 'posted' loads. Case vol is close to 32/20 so I started there for odd powders.

I don't even have to go to the Internet to risk my life, I still have my Speer #11 manual that says things like 5.0 gr of Bullseye for a 158 gr .38 Special and 17.8 gr of 296 for a .357 158gr JSP. That manual guided me to some of the LOUDEST .357 Mag loads I've ever made. They used a lot of Blue Dot and were completely abusive to me and everyone else at the range. They weren't even top loads.

 

[Ian]

Brad is correct, True Blue will leak out of anything that isn't water-tight. I don't do 9mm so can't comment there. I find the stuff similar to Longshot but more versatile.

Speer #11 does have some rather enthusiastic load data, but it also has data for some chamberings with powders you won't find many other places.

Missionary is also very much correct about relative burn rate charts, particularly with reduced rifle loads using pistol/shotgun powders. Like their titles suggest, relative burn rate charts are "relative", not only the powders to each other but relative to how they're being used.

 

[bruce381]

yeah the Speer 17.8 grs 296 got reduced to about 16.8 bye me years ago way to hot for me

 

[Glaciers]

I’m a fan of 2400 as everyone posting here. Started using H110 loads for top end mag loads and did stock up on both H110/296 because I thought I would be living close to the red line. My focus shifted back to 2400 as it’s just works well from mid point up, where H110/296 has to be pushed to be efficient. Sold/traded my 296 and kept the H110 as I’ve used it more and just didn’t need two powders on the shelf that would do the same job. One less powder on the shelf. My use and focus is 2400 as its handy, powerful and polite at the same time.
Jeff H mentioned 300MP which I picked up 3 pounds a few years ago for use in heavy weight bullet loads primarily in the 480 with 400 grain bullets. 2400 would be pushing pressure pretty high while H110 obtained the same velocity at about 10% lower pressure. 300MP obtained even higher velocities At matching pressure as H110. Anyway for me it was important at that particular space/time continuum as I wanted a double action handgun that would throw a 400 plus grain bullet at max velocity. It was a single use handgun and load for a particular use. The manufacturers load listings for 300MP was way up there making the 480 really shine into 475 Linebaugh department but in an affordable double action handgun. I cut the Ruger down from 7.5 inches to 5 inches to make the package handle better. The use was big bears for protection not hunting. I was escorting clients on the islands of Prince William Sound. I found the Ruger SRH in the 480 to be manageable in that big gun very similar to my 4” Smith with 310’s which I was pushing hard with H110.
But, back to the point I really wanted to make is that I still will be loading that 480 with 400’s and lighter bullets At more sedate velocity with the old standard 2400 as I no longer need to hang on the upper velocity edge. That 400 grains at 900 will do everything I can hope for in my neighborhood. Don’t need a 400 at 1300 fps anymore. And cast rifle loadings, just a useful powder.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I spied 300MP and readi g up was a bit excited to get some. It took me a few months but I finally was able to find some.
Target was 350 Legend and its been OK. Not much data on various calibers but I have extrapolated to load it into a number of calibers and its been good. Today there is data for what I wanted and I was pleased to find my own data almost 100% matches posted suggestions.

Its become my best load for the 135 FTX in the lil
BO. My load is heavier then current suggestion and my load is warm for my shorty ar but fine in my rifle and my bolt. In that bolt its a sub MOA @ 2050 fps. Its almost 2k in AR rifle and right @ 1".
Never found great 350 load.

FS11 is another I was interested in investigating.

 

[todd]

i USED Win296 in a 44 mag for years. it was a really hot load with 200gr and 240gr Hornady XTP's. i have about a pound of 296 left (for 20 something years). now it is Unique or 2400.

i use my 35/30-30 with 200gr RBCS FN GC with 2400/tuft of Dacron and my 444 with 300gr SAECO FN GC with 2400/tuft of Dacron. they both kill deer.

 

[fiver]

I was in the Cabelas in Wichita with Dad today, noticed once again a bottle of Ramshot Enforcer, which I have heard is a good substitute for 2400 (no 2400 in the store). Anybody use Enforcer in applications where 2400 is a good choice?

that would have been me you heard it from.

Enforcer and AA-4100 are the same powder, basically 2400 that's a tiny bit faster.
in something where you'd use 18grs. of 2400,,, 4100 will get you there with about 17.6-.7grs.
[it's slightly 'denser' AKA smaller little circles]

 

[fiver]

well they test burn rate by burning the powder in a pipe bomb with a pressure sensor involved.
it's really far away from a 38 special case.

 

[Walks]

I used to shoot a lot of silhouette, 296/110 came out just in time for that in the late 1970's, I think. W296 was the only powder that gave acceptable accuracy with jacketed Hornady or Sierra in the Freedom Arms .454casull. However I experienced leading with W296 with cast bullets. So I experimented with 2400 and it gave excellent results. I seemed to get equal accuracy with either bullet type with their "assigned" powders. The same seem to hold true for .357mag, .44Mag and .357Max with W296 & 2400 regarding jacketed & cast.

Since I rarely shoot jacketed these days, 2400 seems to work just fine for my needs.