.41 Magnum load with Winchester 296

frank 501 · January 27, 2010, 06:29 PM

The title pretty much says it all. I have 16 lbs. of Winchester 296 powder and I just picked up a very nice older 8" S&W M57. I would like to find a good target load using a LSWC. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

James R. Burke · January 27, 2010, 06:46 PM

I use Win - 296 for a cousins pistol, but a differnt bullet. It works great. We nicknamed it the big boom powder.

sourdough44 · January 27, 2010, 08:01 PM

If you want gentile 'target loads' for your 41 mag win 296 may not be the powder you want. There are a bunch of faster powders that would work well. I load mild loads with H Universal & 200 grn bullets for my 44 mag. I load win 296 for full power 250 grn hardcast loads. Those light loads are also easier on the gun.

AlaskaMike · January 27, 2010, 08:39 PM

If you're just looking for 700 - 900 fps, I'd absolutely agree that 296 is not the powder to use. I love 231 (or HP38) for that range. For stuff more in the 1000 - 1200 fps range I really like Power Pistol.

For those velocities I'm assuming a 200 - 210 grain SWC.

Mike

mrawesome22 · January 27, 2010, 08:42 PM

WW296 and H110 are the same powder. "H110 is the powder that screams no wimps please." And you can't download this powder much because inconsistent ignition will occur according to Hodgdon. But hell, if you 16lbs of it, start load 'em up and blasting away.

frank 501 · January 27, 2010, 09:01 PM

Everyone, thanks for the input. I guess I'll have to find a recipe using some other powder in my .41 reloads. I have a few buddies who are .410 bore skeet shooter, so the W296 won't go to waste.

Doodlebugger45 · January 27, 2010, 09:58 PM

I really like the W296 for all-out full performance loads in my magnums. But like everyone else says, it cannot be loaded down to plinking levels. It's like owning a Ferrari race car, it won't be very satisfactory cruising down suburban streets. Same thing with LilGun and to some extent H4227/

Shooting near-max loads with 296 isn't all that bad mind you, but you won't want to shoot nearly as many rounds in a given range session.

If you want a nice powder with a wide variety of potential then you should get yourself some HP-38 (aka W231), or Universal, or my absolute favorite all-purpose powder, TiteGroup.

January 27, 2010, 06:29 PM	#1
frank 501 Junior Member Join Date: February 21, 2007 Posts: 10	.41 Magnum load with Winchester 296 The title pretty much says it all. I have 16 lbs. of Winchester 296 powder and I just picked up a very nice older 8" S&W M57. I would like to find a good target load using a LSWC. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

January 27, 2010, 06:46 PM	#2
James R. Burke Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2009 Location: U.P. of Mich/Quinnesec Posts: 1,897	I use Win - 296 for a cousins pistol, but a differnt bullet. It works great. We nicknamed it the big boom powder.

January 27, 2010, 08:01 PM	#3
sourdough44 Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2007 Location: WI Posts: 621	If you want gentile 'target loads' for your 41 mag win 296 may not be the powder you want. There are a bunch of faster powders that would work well. I load mild loads with H Universal & 200 grn bullets for my 44 mag. I load win 296 for full power 250 grn hardcast loads. Those light loads are also easier on the gun.

January 27, 2010, 08:39 PM	#4
AlaskaMike Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Posts: 943	If you're just looking for 700 - 900 fps, I'd absolutely agree that 296 is not the powder to use. I love 231 (or HP38) for that range. For stuff more in the 1000 - 1200 fps range I really like Power Pistol. For those velocities I'm assuming a 200 - 210 grain SWC. Mike

January 27, 2010, 08:42 PM	#5
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	WW296 and H110 are the same powder. "H110 is the powder that screams no wimps please." And you can't download this powder much because inconsistent ignition will occur according to Hodgdon. But hell, if you 16lbs of it, start load 'em up and blasting away.

January 27, 2010, 09:01 PM	#6
frank 501 Junior Member Join Date: February 21, 2007 Posts: 10	Everyone, thanks for the input. I guess I'll have to find a recipe using some other powder in my .41 reloads. I have a few buddies who are .410 bore skeet shooter, so the W296 won't go to waste.

January 27, 2010, 09:58 PM	#7
Doodlebugger45 Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2009 Location: Wyoming Posts: 1,717	I really like the W296 for all-out full performance loads in my magnums. But like everyone else says, it cannot be loaded down to plinking levels. It's like owning a Ferrari race car, it won't be very satisfactory cruising down suburban streets. Same thing with LilGun and to some extent H4227/ Shooting near-max loads with 296 isn't all that bad mind you, but you won't want to shoot nearly as many rounds in a given range session. If you want a nice powder with a wide variety of potential then you should get yourself some HP-38 (aka W231), or Universal, or my absolute favorite all-purpose powder, TiteGroup.