Picking powder for an older Dillon measure.

wogpotter · March 13, 2012, 05:06 PM

H110 is doing well as my current powder, but I'm thinking a coarser grained one might not bind up the powder measure of my Dillon press quite so much?

So after all sorts of research I've narrowed the "perfect" *ahem* load down to a few choices & I'd appreciate you honest input from anyone having used them in a Dillon measure. It is the older version without the Teflon surfaces. These will all be fired in a .357 S&W magnum DW 15-2 with the 6" VRHB barrel. I'm going for 1350 FPS too BTW.

I'm going with Starline brass, Winchester WSPM primers, & Hornady 125 Gr XTP bullets. These components are already picked so I'd like to match the powder to them, not to change them for a "better" powder.
My choices seem to be:

W 296, 19.1Gr

N-110, 15.3 Gr

Herc. 2400, 16.4 Gr.

Which would be your preferred pick in a Dillon measure & why?
TIA for the suggestions.

243winxb · March 13, 2012, 08:41 PM

H110 & W296 are the same. The powder bar spacer has given me a problem when not installed with the correct side up. It looks to be the same, but it works better the one way. All 3 powder will work in the RL 450. What "old" Dillon do you have? http://photobucket.com/rl450schematic

wogpotter · March 14, 2012, 08:00 AM

Its an RL 450 with the "B" upgrade.

BigJimP · March 14, 2012, 02:22 PM

I'm using the new Dillon powder measures...so honestly, I'd suggest you call Dillon and discuss why your measures are binding up using H-110. I don't know how the old measure differed...or if they have a fix for you ...but I'm confident they'll be helpful to you.

I'm also assuming that you're talking about loading a .357 mag load....with that 125gr bullet .../ in your Dan Wesson revolver ....but I'm a little puzzled by your 1350 fps remark ....because with a 125gr bullet in .357 mag ....most loads are pushing it up around 1500 - 1900 fps...?? but 1350 fps seems too fast for a .38 spl load ...so I'm wondering what you're doing ??

so I guess we need to know - are you looking at .38 spl or .357 mag cases... ??

but whether your loading .38 spl or .357 mag ....I'd really suggest you consider a powder like Hodgdon Universal .... I've been using a lot of Hodgdon Universal ...in handgun calibers from 9mm - up thru .357 mag and .44 mag...for the last year or so. In my area, its easy to find...and reasonably priced.

The ignition properties on H110 ...make me a little nervous on handgun loads...where the Hodgdon book says never reduce their recommended loads more than 3% from the max ..../ so the only thing I use H-110 for is in .410 shotshells ----- so I think moving away from H110 makes sense to me.

19grains of Win 296 seem to me ...to be a .357 mag load..../ or maybe I'm really confused ...

wogpotter · March 14, 2012, 04:06 PM

Sorry, I didn't get really specific, let me clarify.

Yes I'm making .357 S&W magnum loads in .357 brass. I have no idea how or even why this relates to the question though?

I know I can get more velocity from the load but this is a good middle of the road .357 load that I like & it's plenty fast enough to punch a hole in paper.

Quote:

I don't know how the old measure differed

As far as I can tell the version I have did not have the Teflon coated slider, just a metal-to-metal sliding fit. It was also pushed & pulled manually to dump the charge.

BigJimP · March 14, 2012, 04:47 PM

You're right - it doesn't matter....as long as you realize you're well below the published minimum charge for Win 296 as an example ( where min is 21.0grains ) ....but its your gun ...your hands and eyes... / but there might be new reloaders out there reading these threads...and I would never suggest going below published minimum loads...especially when you brought up a powder like H-110...where Hodgdon specifically says do not go more than 3% below the Max ...on H-110 ....

I was just curious in understanding where you were going .../ and if I'm getting into your business I apologize..../ but I still wouldn't go below a minimum charge ...I'd change powders, since you're chainging anyway ...to get where I wanted to go with a published load.

If I were you ...and wanted a load in that velocity ....I'd look at Win 231 powder... but there are other options from the Hodgdon online reloading manual ...that is making Winchester powders now...and here is an excerpt using the bullet you designated....if for some reason you don't have it.

125 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon H4227 .357" 1.590" 18.0 1692 34,400 CUP 20.0 1839 42,000 CUP

125 GR. HDY XTP Winchester 296 .357" 1.590" 21.0 1881 38,400 CUP 22.0 1966 41,400 CUP

125 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon H110 .357" 1.590" 21.0 1881 38,400 CUP 22.0 1966 41,400 CUP

125 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon Longshot .357" 1.590" 8.7 1529 33,000 CUP 9.7 1647 42,000 CUP

125 GR. HDY XTP IMR SR 4756 .357" 1.590" 6.0 1169 18,600 PSI 7.8 1427 30,600 PSI

125 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon HS-6 .357" 1.590" 9.8 1493 34,400 CUP 10.9 1629 42,100 CUP

125 GR. HDY XTP Winchester AutoComp .357" 1.590" 7.5 1352 26,900 PSI 8.2 1455 31,700 PSI

125 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon Universal .357" 1.590" 7.1 1394 34,900 CUP 7.6 1453 39,600 CUP

125 GR. HDY XTP Winchester 231 .357" 1.590" 7.3 1335 33,800 CUP 8.5 1514 42,700 CUP

125 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon HP-38 .357" 1.590" 7.3 1335 33,800 CUP 8.5 1514 42,700 CUP

125 GR. HDY XTP IMR SR 7625 .357" 1.590" 5.8 1178 19,900 PSI 7.5 1401 33,800 PSI

125 GR. HDY XTP IMR PB .357" 1.590" 4.5 1053 19,600 PSI 5.9 1263 32,900 PSI

125 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon Titegroup .357" 1.590" 6.8 1425 36,500 CUP 7.5 1497 41,200 CUP

125 GR. HDY XTP IMR 700-X .357" 1.590" 4.5 1093 18,300 PSI 6.4 1399 30,400 PSI
------------------
I don't think the Dillon powder measure charge bars are coated in teflon even these days ...but maybe they are. Dillon can certainly tell you. Stay safe !

March 13, 2012, 05:06 PM	#1
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	Picking powder for an older Dillon measure. H110 is doing well as my current powder, but I'm thinking a coarser grained one might not bind up the powder measure of my Dillon press quite so much? So after all sorts of research I've narrowed the "perfect" ahem load down to a few choices & I'd appreciate you honest input from anyone having used them in a Dillon measure. It is the older version without the Teflon surfaces. These will all be fired in a .357 S&W magnum DW 15-2 with the 6" VRHB barrel. I'm going for 1350 FPS too BTW. I'm going with Starline brass, Winchester WSPM primers, & Hornady 125 Gr XTP bullets. These components are already picked so I'd like to match the powder to them, not to change them for a "better" powder. My choices seem to be: W 296, 19.1Gr N-110, 15.3 Gr Herc. 2400, 16.4 Gr. Which would be your preferred pick in a Dillon measure & why? TIA for the suggestions. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.” Last edited by wogpotter; March 14, 2012 at 04:09 PM.

March 13, 2012, 08:41 PM	#2
243winxb Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 1,730	H110 & W296 are the same. The powder bar spacer has given me a problem when not installed with the correct side up. It looks to be the same, but it works better the one way. All 3 powder will work in the RL 450. What "old" Dillon do you have? http://photobucket.com/rl450schematic Last edited by 243winxb; March 13, 2012 at 08:48 PM.

March 14, 2012, 08:00 AM	#3
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	Its an RL 450 with the "B" upgrade. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

March 14, 2012, 02:22 PM	#4
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I'm using the new Dillon powder measures...so honestly, I'd suggest you call Dillon and discuss why your measures are binding up using H-110. I don't know how the old measure differed...or if they have a fix for you ...but I'm confident they'll be helpful to you. I'm also assuming that you're talking about loading a .357 mag load....with that 125gr bullet .../ in your Dan Wesson revolver ....but I'm a little puzzled by your 1350 fps remark ....because with a 125gr bullet in .357 mag ....most loads are pushing it up around 1500 - 1900 fps...?? but 1350 fps seems too fast for a .38 spl load ...so I'm wondering what you're doing ?? so I guess we need to know - are you looking at .38 spl or .357 mag cases... ?? but whether your loading .38 spl or .357 mag ....I'd really suggest you consider a powder like Hodgdon Universal .... I've been using a lot of Hodgdon Universal ...in handgun calibers from 9mm - up thru .357 mag and .44 mag...for the last year or so. In my area, its easy to find...and reasonably priced. The ignition properties on H110 ...make me a little nervous on handgun loads...where the Hodgdon book says never reduce their recommended loads more than 3% from the max ..../ so the only thing I use H-110 for is in .410 shotshells ----- so I think moving away from H110 makes sense to me. 19grains of Win 296 seem to me ...to be a .357 mag load..../ or maybe I'm really confused ...

March 14, 2012, 04:47 PM	#6
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	You're right - it doesn't matter....as long as you realize you're well below the published minimum charge for Win 296 as an example ( where min is 21.0grains ) ....but its your gun ...your hands and eyes... / but there might be new reloaders out there reading these threads...and I would never suggest going below published minimum loads...especially when you brought up a powder like H-110...where Hodgdon specifically says do not go more than 3% below the Max ...on H-110 .... I was just curious in understanding where you were going .../ and if I'm getting into your business I apologize..../ but I still wouldn't go below a minimum charge ...I'd change powders, since you're chainging anyway ...to get where I wanted to go with a published load. If I were you ...and wanted a load in that velocity ....I'd look at Win 231 powder... but there are other options from the Hodgdon online reloading manual ...that is making Winchester powders now...and here is an excerpt using the bullet you designated....if for some reason you don't have it. 125 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon H4227 .357" 1.590" 18.0 1692 34,400 CUP 20.0 1839 42,000 CUP 125 GR. HDY XTP Winchester 296 .357" 1.590" 21.0 1881 38,400 CUP 22.0 1966 41,400 CUP 125 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon H110 .357" 1.590" 21.0 1881 38,400 CUP 22.0 1966 41,400 CUP 125 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon Longshot .357" 1.590" 8.7 1529 33,000 CUP 9.7 1647 42,000 CUP 125 GR. HDY XTP IMR SR 4756 .357" 1.590" 6.0 1169 18,600 PSI 7.8 1427 30,600 PSI 125 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon HS-6 .357" 1.590" 9.8 1493 34,400 CUP 10.9 1629 42,100 CUP 125 GR. HDY XTP Winchester AutoComp .357" 1.590" 7.5 1352 26,900 PSI 8.2 1455 31,700 PSI 125 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon Universal .357" 1.590" 7.1 1394 34,900 CUP 7.6 1453 39,600 CUP 125 GR. HDY XTP Winchester 231 .357" 1.590" 7.3 1335 33,800 CUP 8.5 1514 42,700 CUP 125 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon HP-38 .357" 1.590" 7.3 1335 33,800 CUP 8.5 1514 42,700 CUP 125 GR. HDY XTP IMR SR 7625 .357" 1.590" 5.8 1178 19,900 PSI 7.5 1401 33,800 PSI 125 GR. HDY XTP IMR PB .357" 1.590" 4.5 1053 19,600 PSI 5.9 1263 32,900 PSI 125 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon Titegroup .357" 1.590" 6.8 1425 36,500 CUP 7.5 1497 41,200 CUP 125 GR. HDY XTP IMR 700-X .357" 1.590" 4.5 1093 18,300 PSI 6.4 1399 30,400 PSI ------------------ I don't think the Dillon powder measure charge bars are coated in teflon even these days ...but maybe they are. Dillon can certainly tell you. Stay safe !