2400 vs h110-44mag

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ohihunter2014

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loading 44mag for rifle and torn between h110 and 2400 using hornady jacketed bullets.

would like a good hard shooting load but want to be safe too.
 
Originally Posted By: SlickerThanSnotdo you have reloading books with suggested loads? if you have the books it probably would be the best way to go.

I have several books and can use both powders. upon researching h110 it shows that 99% the time its a compressed load or close to it and that you really cant work it up because low charges will cause detonation. I see some saying 2400 is close to it but gives I higher field to work with.
 
I prefer 2400....I've use both but the 2400 has always been more accurate in my rifles. I also like Lil' Gun, it produces more velocity than 2400 or 110 but the .410 loads tend to eat it all up before I get too many .44 mags loaded.
 
I shoot H110 in my 44 and 454. I've never had any trouble with it and it seems to be quite accurate in both. In my 44 it's launching a 310 cast bullet a little under 1400. It's been plenty for elk and deer.
 
Not a light load by any stretch, but within the book. I have owned over a hundred firearms chambered for 44magnum, and have worked on at least that many or more, I've never had a revolver, rifle, or carbine which didn't shoot the following load very well...

Hornady 240grn XTP
H110/W296 23.5grn
Any 44mag length brass at 1.275"+
Any LPM Primer
Seat to the cannelure

Shoot and be merry...

2400, H110/W296, and 4227 are great powders for 44mag with Jacketed pills. Compatible with lead if you mind your work up. Lil Gun will run it well too, for the lighter bullets.

For Ruger Revolvers, I worked up a Ruger Only load which falls just a touch under Pearce's top end stuff. I run Super Blackhawk cylinder length for COAL, 300grn Hornady XTP's over an over book charge of H110/W296. Doing so can me up over 1400fps out of a REVOLVER, but is actually still - supposedly - under SAAMI Max Pressure (meaning less pressure than the published data for the same bullet). No cratering, no flattening even, great case life, no sticky extraction... But a he11 of a lot of fire out of the business end... These are too long to feed reliably in my 1894's, however. Seated to the second cannelure.
 
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Both are good powders for the 44. I prefer H110. I did load some light loads for my boy when he was 8. 180gr XTP 21gr of 2400. Barely kicked and was really accurate out to 100yds in a handi rifle.

28grs of H110 with a 200gr XTP out of a Bergarra T/C barrel shot amazing. 3-4" groups at 200yds. 10" of drop from a 100yd zero to 200yds.
 
Originally Posted By: ohihunter2014loading 44mag for rifle and torn between h110 and 2400 using hornady jacketed bullets.

would like a good hard shooting load but want to be safe too.

If you want to go after larger game the 300 XTP works much better than the 240gr. H110 is the way to go with that bullet.
When using H110 it is best to load it up. You do NOT want to load it down, as it will spike in Pressures. Usually it is best to load it with a magnum Primer.
The Hornady 300 XTP is a great bullet and the Swift is too. Swift is very expensive. I would like to encourage you to open up your world of Hunting by trying some cast bullets.
You did not say which rifle you are using. So this makes a little difference. I suggest staying within safe parameters at all times.
Montana Bullet Works has some really good Bullets. Let me suggest the following loads for excellent results.
250 gr LNFPGC with 10 grains of Unique This is a load that will take anything yet it is mild enough to be shot all day long, and I refer to it as a walk around load. You can try the LNFPGC or even a Keith Style SWC. Both should be accurate for you.
The 240215 which can drop from 215 grains to 230 something. can be and should be used with 2400 21 grains and I know some guys that have used 23 grains,, and this gives high velocity depending upon barrel length. This same bullet can be used with 8.5 grains of Unique. Or even drop down to 7.5 and use a 44 SPL case. This is a very accurate bullet and has even taken ELk. Loaded w/8.5 grs of Unique, in 44 SPL.
This smaller bullet is Thor's Hammer on coyotes. Loaded in the spl case and shot out of a 44 SPL or Magnum gun gives excellent results.
310gr Lee or a LBT Mould in 300 to 310 use 21.5 grains of H110 This load is one of the most accurate Heavy Loads out there. This recipe calls for the magnum primer.
The 2400 is usually better served with a mag primer, especially in cold weather. DO NOT use the mag primer with Unique.
Worry about Leading? When ordering from Montana ask or order the HT ( heat treated) Bullets. Leading is not acceptable in my Book.
If you do not want to venture out and would rather buy, instead of rolling your own, in the lead bullet department. Go for Garrett Cartridges of Texas. These are Loaded at Standard Pressures !!! I am against shooting at +P when it is not necessary. They are also some of the most accurate cartridges I have ever shot. Look on the website and see what guns you need to be using. If you do not have a gun that will handle these cartridges then move on.
I have been loading for the 44 mag since the mid 70's and I enjoy the cartridge and I do not feel that I have to go out and get the latest, BIG BORE. Nor do I feel that I have to load up with the Max Loads all the time.
Whatever Bullet you choose, cast or jacketed get a good one. Yes the 240 XTP's are very accurate, but do not perform well on deer or Hogs. The 300's do work well. Nosler used to make some good bullets for the 44 but quit. Shame shame,,,
Most important next is to practice practice. The real test for a bullet is to move to 50 yds and then to 100 yds. If you do this you will handle the field shots easily. Placement is the Key.
One last thing and that is that Hard Cast Bullets and especially ones with a gas Check usually do not lead a bore. Too fast or not fast enough can cause some leading, and a rough bore does not help. There are ways to improve or correct all of this. If you get leading and the usual cleaning product does not clean it out, then Get a "Chore Boy" from the store. Grocery or Mart. But get that brand in Copper. They have Stainless and brass BUT get copper NEVER USE the Stainless. It will scratch. But use the copper and cut off a few strands with some scissors and wrap it around a brush. A few swabs will usually knock it all out. Copper doesn't hurt, if it did the jacketed bullets would be a problem.
Good luck and Good Shooting ...

 
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I forgot to add that since you are using loads in a rifle you will have to watch the COAL. The Lee 310 bullet had 2 crimp grooves. You will have to seat the bullet deep enough so that the gun will chamber the round. I am assuming that you are using a Lever GUN.. I really feel that the cast Bullet the 240215 is going to serve you the very best. This can be loaded up and give a a much longer range rifle. In my 44 the lighter bullets worked better.
 
2400 is unreal dirty burning, like shooting corn flakes for powder.

On the other hand, 110/296 is relatively clean burning.

I shot 22.5g-23.5g with a 240g Sierra, 26g with a 180g Sierra, Win brass, win mag primer, good roll crimp.
 
I use both in 44mag and 41mag. Once I burn my existing H110, I will not buy more.

I find the performance in both cartridges to be equivalent. In other words, there is no noteworthy difference in what I can do with them. But H110 is extremely picky. You must run it at the max or you will have issues. I had some 41mag loads which were right near max, with mag primers, yet when trying to shoot them in 30F weather I had one squib each in 2 cylinders. Pounding bullets out of the barrel is not fun and I am sure the ones that fired were not consistent.

No such problems with 2400. So why mess with the risk with H110? I have a Ruger carbine in 44mag and while I worked up loads originally with H110, I was able to easily replicate velocity and accuracy with 2400 to avoid re-setting the iron sights.
 
^^ Why would you want to run it at a lesser level. Magnum calibers should be loaded as such. If I want cheap or efficient, I switch over to the specials and make some light target and snake loads. That way you never pick up the wrong ammo. Picking up a box of 50 magnums feels completely different fro 50 practice loads.
 
Originally Posted By: sandy hicks^^ Why would you want to run it at a lesser level. Magnum calibers should be loaded as such. If I want cheap or efficient, I switch over to the specials and make some light target and snake loads. That way you never pick up the wrong ammo. Picking up a box of 50 magnums feels completely different fro 50 practice loads.

Why would you put specials in a magnum handgun? It is a magnum and should only be loaded as such.

The above statement makes about as much sense as what you posted. There is room in this world for people to have different preferences and objectives. I have no need to run my guns at 100% all the time and put wear on them and my wrist.

I have no use for trying to separate and sort out Special brass when I can do the same thing with Unique in mag brass. And I avoid a dangerous carbon ring in my cylinders to boot.

Besides, if you actually read what I wrote, the squib experiences I had with H110 were at max loads. It does NOTHING 2400 won't do, but 2400 is more forgiving, so I have no use carrying inventory on a duplicate capability powder with inferior properties.
 
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I see your point but I do use seperate guns. Colts for light work Ruger for heavy work. This is the first time that I have ever heard of a squib with a max load. 30 degrees just does not seem cold enough in my mind.

I had a pound of unique 1 time. I used most of it to start a fire. Way too dirty for my tastes. But that is the beauty of handloading. We all get to roll it up the way we like to do it. No right or wrong combos as long as they are safe in your gun.
 
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