2400 manners

totaldla · January 15, 2011, 07:58 PM

What is 2400 like? Does it get spikey all of a sudden? Does it act up if you use a mag primer? My application is 44mag and I'm trying to find a sweet spot with 2400 and 270gr WFN from my 4" 329pd.

0.5gr increase gave 25fps more and a tighter ES. Now I'm powdering increasing by another 0.5 grain.

17.5gr, 1115fps, 270gr WFN, 4" barrel.

Some powders I know and some I don't. I don't know 2400 very well.

a7mmnut · January 15, 2011, 08:07 PM

Be careful, and watch for pressure signs as you increase. In magnums, I'd prefer something with a slower burn rate to push heavy slugs. Win. 296 and IMR 4227 have always worked well for me. For lighter loads, old Blue Dot shotgun powder is hard to beat, but 2400 does flow better. I have used it a bit in the .22 Hornet handgun to prevent burning through the tapered case wall, as I have before with the 296

.

-7-

Wyosmith · January 15, 2011, 08:09 PM

As long as you use a good hot primer 2400 is like any other "magnum powder" in a 44.
However, if you are close to the tip load, I would only go up 2 tenths of a grain at a time. I'd do the same with 296, H110, Blue Dot or 4227.

A half grain is fine on in the lower range, but as you get hotter, decrease you steps.

Going as hot as you possibly can may not do you any good (or not enough good to matter) and it can get risky.

So be wise and stop when the gun and bullet do the job you need them to do.

Don't fall for the idea that an extra 20-60 FPS is going to make any difference at all on the intended target. You risk your gun and your safety to get that small increase in speed and it does nothing in the real world for you.

Stargazer · January 15, 2011, 08:31 PM

I like the H110/WW296 loads for my 45 Colt but the flash was a little too awesome for everyday use. I started using 2400 and found a nice sweet spot that gives me almost the speed of the 296/110 loads but with about half the flash, 18 grains behind an XTP mag 300 grain bullet. I have gone hotter with the 2400 powder but backed down as it just did not seem worth it to go full MAX or beyond even though the revolver can handle it.

Edward429451 · January 16, 2011, 06:02 PM

I've never noticed the need for Mag primers with 2400 but it does like longer barrels. I have used it for years in 44 Mag and it is my goto powder for 44 Mag and cast boolits because it delivers consistent performance with a variety of loads for me. No suprises with this powder except it it seems to be slightly temperature sensitive.

Doodlebugger45 · January 16, 2011, 07:46 PM

2400 is a lot more forgiving than H-110/W-296 is. More stable at lower loads and more predictable when you get to the upper end.

Your problem might be with your short barrel. At some point, you cannot gain any increase in velocity by adding more powder because the gas is still expanding when the bullet leaves the barrel. Perhaps a different powder will work better with the 4" barrel if you crave max velocity.

chiefr · January 16, 2011, 10:04 PM

I have been using 2400 for 40 years now. 40 years ago 2400 was the powder of choice for all the magnums and works extremely well with cast bullets. I get outstanding result with it and most dealers in my area have it. I have never used magnum primers with this powder.

That'll Do · January 16, 2011, 11:47 PM

2400 is a "classic" magnum powder, in my opinion. It is easy to meter, and is more forgiving than 296/H-110. And for the record, it does not need a magnum primer. Current Alliant data shows only standard primers for 2400 loads, and the same sentiment has been published in Handloader magazine, amongst others.

jimbob86 · January 17, 2011, 12:17 AM

In my .357 6" Colt Trooper, I had better velocities and a smaller SD with 2400 using a standard small pistol primer than a magnum small pistol primer.

Less flash and muzzle blast than with H110 for similar velocities.

2400 also metered better than the H110, which bound up the rotor on my powder measure ..... that stuff is like black sand.

m&p45acp10+1 · January 17, 2011, 05:24 AM

2400 does not need a magnum primer. I would recomend trying AA9 it is much cleaner than 2400. It also does not need a mag primer. Not to mention the AA9 has way less muzzle flash while keeping high velocity.

crowbeaner · January 18, 2011, 07:07 PM

The only powders I use a magnum primer for are WW296/H110. 2400 is just fine with standard primers as long as you have a good, firm, consistent crimp.

GeauxTide · January 18, 2011, 07:26 PM

You don't really need Mag primers with 2400 at that charge level. I shot some 44 Spl this weekend with some 240RemSP under 17.0gr of 2400 and standard primers. The 2400 I tried 30 years ago stunk and was really dirty. I've got a new bottle and didn't have one unburned kernel and not as dirty as Unique.

January 15, 2011, 07:58 PM	#1
totaldla Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2009 Location: SW Idaho Posts: 1,294	2400 manners What is 2400 like? Does it get spikey all of a sudden? Does it act up if you use a mag primer? My application is 44mag and I'm trying to find a sweet spot with 2400 and 270gr WFN from my 4" 329pd. 0.5gr increase gave 25fps more and a tighter ES. Now I'm powdering increasing by another 0.5 grain. 17.5gr, 1115fps, 270gr WFN, 4" barrel. Some powders I know and some I don't. I don't know 2400 very well. __________________ Lee Auto Bench Prime Castor Oil Case Lube

January 15, 2011, 08:07 PM	#2
a7mmnut Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2009 Location: NC Foothills Posts: 1,150	Be careful, and watch for pressure signs as you increase. In magnums, I'd prefer something with a slower burn rate to push heavy slugs. Win. 296 and IMR 4227 have always worked well for me. For lighter loads, old Blue Dot shotgun powder is hard to beat, but 2400 does flow better. I have used it a bit in the .22 Hornet handgun to prevent burning through the tapered case wall, as I have before with the 296. -7-

January 15, 2011, 08:09 PM	#3
Wyosmith Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2010 Location: Shoshoni Wyoming Posts: 2,713	loading with 2400 As long as you use a good hot primer 2400 is like any other "magnum powder" in a 44. However, if you are close to the tip load, I would only go up 2 tenths of a grain at a time. I'd do the same with 296, H110, Blue Dot or 4227. A half grain is fine on in the lower range, but as you get hotter, decrease you steps. Going as hot as you possibly can may not do you any good (or not enough good to matter) and it can get risky. So be wise and stop when the gun and bullet do the job you need them to do. Don't fall for the idea that an extra 20-60 FPS is going to make any difference at all on the intended target. You risk your gun and your safety to get that small increase in speed and it does nothing in the real world for you.

January 15, 2011, 08:31 PM	#4
Stargazer Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 506	I like the H110/WW296 loads for my 45 Colt but the flash was a little too awesome for everyday use. I started using 2400 and found a nice sweet spot that gives me almost the speed of the 296/110 loads but with about half the flash, 18 grains behind an XTP mag 300 grain bullet. I have gone hotter with the 2400 powder but backed down as it just did not seem worth it to go full MAX or beyond even though the revolver can handle it. __________________ 5.56mm, reach out and touch something. .458 SOCOM,reach out and knock something down. M70 Web Page

January 17, 2011, 12:17 AM	#9
jimbob86 Junior member Join Date: October 4, 2007 Location: All the way to NEBRASKA Posts: 8,722	Not your application, but..... In my .357 6" Colt Trooper, I had better velocities and a smaller SD with 2400 using a standard small pistol primer than a magnum small pistol primer. Less flash and muzzle blast than with H110 for similar velocities. 2400 also metered better than the H110, which bound up the rotor on my powder measure ..... that stuff is like black sand.

January 16, 2011, 06:02 PM	#5
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	I've never noticed the need for Mag primers with 2400 but it does like longer barrels. I have used it for years in 44 Mag and it is my goto powder for 44 Mag and cast boolits because it delivers consistent performance with a variety of loads for me. No suprises with this powder except it it seems to be slightly temperature sensitive.

January 16, 2011, 07:46 PM	#6
Doodlebugger45 Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2009 Location: Wyoming Posts: 1,717	2400 is a lot more forgiving than H-110/W-296 is. More stable at lower loads and more predictable when you get to the upper end. Your problem might be with your short barrel. At some point, you cannot gain any increase in velocity by adding more powder because the gas is still expanding when the bullet leaves the barrel. Perhaps a different powder will work better with the 4" barrel if you crave max velocity.

January 16, 2011, 10:04 PM	#7
chiefr Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: AR Posts: 1,401	I have been using 2400 for 40 years now. 40 years ago 2400 was the powder of choice for all the magnums and works extremely well with cast bullets. I get outstanding result with it and most dealers in my area have it. I have never used magnum primers with this powder.

January 16, 2011, 11:47 PM	#8
That'll Do Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 546	2400 is a "classic" magnum powder, in my opinion. It is easy to meter, and is more forgiving than 296/H-110. And for the record, it does not need a magnum primer. Current Alliant data shows only standard primers for 2400 loads, and the same sentiment has been published in Handloader magazine, amongst others.

January 17, 2011, 05:24 AM	#10
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	2400 does not need a magnum primer. I would recomend trying AA9 it is much cleaner than 2400. It also does not need a mag primer. Not to mention the AA9 has way less muzzle flash while keeping high velocity. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

January 18, 2011, 07:07 PM	#11
crowbeaner Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 1,943	The only powders I use a magnum primer for are WW296/H110. 2400 is just fine with standard primers as long as you have a good, firm, consistent crimp. __________________ If you want your children to follow in your footsteps, be careful where you walk. Beware the man that only owns one gun; he probably knows how to use it. I just hope my ship comes in before my dock rots.

January 18, 2011, 07:26 PM	#12
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,424	You don't really need Mag primers with 2400 at that charge level. I shot some 44 Spl this weekend with some 240RemSP under 17.0gr of 2400 and standard primers. The 2400 I tried 30 years ago stunk and was really dirty. I've got a new bottle and didn't have one unburned kernel and not as dirty as Unique.