H380--->Major Disappointment

DocCoyote

DocCoyote

New member
Just for giggles I thought I would try H380; the data looked good, especially for the 60gr Vmax's that my 22-250 likes. I also decided to try it because it's a spherical powder and thought it might throw better. What a mistake! The velocities were alright, but the best groups I got were just under a foot a 120 yards. Those 60gr pills just weren't stabilizing with this powder. It's also the messiest powder I've ever used, it got everywhere /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif. It's also difficult to precisely measure a load /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/angry-smiley-055.gif. Maybe I've given it an unfair chance, but I'm not lookin' forward to using it in the future. I think I'll stick with Varget, or another extruded powder.
 
I have been using H-380 in my 22/250 for 32 years shooting first the 53 gr. Hornady hp and now the 55 grain V-max. Load is 38.2 grains in winchester cases. H-380 burns dirty as it is a ball powder but no problems in metering it in a powder dropper.

I love H-380....the groundhogs HATE it.
 
I have had the same result of extremely poor acuracy with H380 accept for a receipe loaded to 2850 fps along with Seirra 90g FMJ. Loaded in my 243 I'm getting clovers at 100 yards. Ive worked that power up and down in both my 243 and 30-06 with balistic tips and my average groups with this power ranged from 3" to over a foot at a 100 yards. This is one powder that I wouldnt miss if they discontinued it.
 
H380 was developed to shoot a 55 grain bullet out of a 22-250. I use 38.5 grains myself, with a 55 grain v-max, and it is ridiculously accurate. To blame it on the powder as a reason for your problems, only lets the rest of the world know what level you function at in this hobby. Just so ya know... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
My buddy shoot 38.0gr of H380 in his rem700vs 22-250 with 50gr vmax. That load stacks them on top of each other if the shooter can do his part. Mind you that friggin gun shoots everything it eats scary accurate. Not a remington fan but if that gun ever came up for sale...

ruger300
 
I've never had good luck with H-380 in a 22-250 either.
But, in my new 257 Roberts, with 75 gr Hornady bullets, it is awesome. So, H-380 will get the nod for that rifle.

Martyn
 
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Guess I'll have to save it for when I purchase a 22-250 then but it was recommended in noslers book for my other applications above and failed where other powders didnt. Imr4381 shined for me in the 243, every gun is different. I purchased this powder about 6-7 years ago when I first got into reloading. Too bad, its easy to work with. Nosler recommended it to me by the way so I figured it would be a good powder choice, apparently not a good choice for a slower moving projectile.
 
For the 22-250 today, Benchmark and Varget are good as repoterd by most shooters. My 22-250 shoots best with 32.6 gr of Benchmark with 55 gr Sierra HPBT's. I get three shots into a 1/4" group at 100 yards. Very close behind that is 36 gr of Varget using the same bullet, with a 3/8" group, same distance.

Martyn
 
Wow....totally different experience than I had for the last 25 years.
Some 22-250s with a slow twist won't stablize 60 gr. bullets regardless of powder. As far as H-380 being "messy"....can't recall ever getting any anywhere but inside a cartridge case. Meters right on thru my powder measure. Prairie dogs just hate it out past 400 yds.
 
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To blame it on the powder as a reason for your problems, only lets the rest of the world know what level you function at in this hobby. Just so ya know... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif



HUH? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif Everything was the same (even velocity), except I changed the powder, and groups opened WAY UP. Sounds like a pretty good reason to blame the powder to me. Perhaps your alluding to something I'm not aware of, please enlighten me.
 
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To blame it on the powder as a reason for your problems, only lets the rest of the world know what level you function at in this hobby. Just so ya know... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

I have been at my hobby for 20 + years this is the first time I have ran into a professional handloader /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
What a coincidence!! I've been trying for the last month to find a load that my new Bushmaster Varmint Special likes. I've tried 45 gr. Win. white box and several different powders behind 52 gr. A-Max., but nothing shot better than 1.5 in. groups. Everyone says their AR's shoot much better than this.
My Hodgdon manual lists a .223 load for H380 behind a 55gr. bullet, so I loaded 27.0 gr. behind a Nosler 55 BT. Shot these yesterday and had five 5 shot groups that averaged 0.7". This was with 15-20 mph gusty wind conditions. I'll take that anyday. Didn't chrono that load yet, but will next time.
I don't recall anyone recommending H380 as a .223 powder, but it seemed to work for me. By the way 27 gr. was almost a case full, and the 28.5 gr. max load listed in the Hodgdon manual might actually be a compressed load.
Of course, it may also be that my AR just liked the heavier 55 gr. bullet. Its 1:9 twist rate may be too fast for optimum accuracy with lighter bullets.
 
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It's also difficult to precisely measure a load /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/angry-smiley-055.gif. .



what???? H380 is the absolute easiest powder I use period. in fact when I switch over to the big stick powders like 4831 or RL22 it takes a noticeably longer time to load up a tray. I just use a set of lee dippers poured into an RCBS scale and trickled to the exact right amount. I use 40.8 grns of h380 and a 50 grn vmax, for awesome accuracy and speed. It is dirty and burns dirty too, but its easy to work with and accurate, only problem is its temp sensitive, so I try to use it when the weather is below 45 degrees, which it is already during almost all of my yote hunting
 
My dad loaded H380 in all of his 22 caliber centerfires for years. I always avoided it because there were powders that gave me more velocity. Since my dad has stopped reloading, there is a lot of this powder around, so i thought I'd give it a try. OK, I'm getting about 100 fps less velocity, but accuracy has improved considerably. H380 is one of the easist loading powders I have ever worked with, and haven't really noticed it burning dirty. The jackrabbits and coyote haven't seemed to notice the 100 fps slower bullet, but they sure notice the improved accuracy.
As far as your gun not liking H380, it is possible. I did try some 60 gr Noslers at one point, even though I am shooting a 1:14 twist. I was able to get good accuracy with 32 gr IMR 3031, but no other powder would shoot less than 2" at a hundred yards. It could just be that your particular rifle doesn't like the H380.
 
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so i thought I'd give it a try. OK, I'm getting about 100 fps less velocity, but accuracy has improved considerably. H380 is one of the easist loading powders I have ever worked with, and haven't really noticed it burning dirty. The jackrabbits and coyote haven't seemed to notice the 100 fps slower bullet, but they sure notice the improved accuracy.


Great point Grumpy!! It doesent matter how fast it is going as long as it hits where you want it to every time!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
I have always been very happy with H-380 in my 22-250's
This powder tends to group tight right near a max load so the velocity is good and the groups are tight.
My current rifle likes 39.3 grains and Sierra Gameking 55 gr SPBT lit with a CCI 250 primer.
This is a hot load and you should work up to it.
My cheap chrony shows 3720 from a Remington 26 inch 1 in 14 twist factory barrel. Shoots under .5 with regularity.
My other rifle likes it but it favors more powder and a 53grain match bullet.
Some manuels show you need a magnum primer with ball powder I have had good luck using them with H-380.
Shoots dirty but I really like it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Ok, first I don't think it may be your H380 powder with the 60gr V-Max bullet. I would think it would be more in line that most 1 in 14 twist rifles won't shoot 60gr bullets. Another point would be that H380 does not produce enough vel to get the 60's fast enough to stablize. Therefore, another powder or bullet is needed. Ball powders tend to be very dirty and that is why I never use them. However, they meter very well from a powder measure.

On the .223 loads, would think that switching to the 55 gr bullet would be your answer more than the poweder as 1 in 9 twist barrels generally only like 52 to 55gr bullets. A-Max generally does not shoot well in this twist but the std bullet is pretty good. This is why I like 1 in 8 twist barrels for AR's. They generally shoot them all pretty well, 40gr to 80's.
 
When it comes to rifles and gunpowders .......... "One rifle's poison is another's medicine"!

That's why there are so many available .....

The fact that H380 is available is not a scourge .... it's one of many blessings we handloaders are able to enjoy.

Three 44s
 
DocCoyote; Sorry to hear about the trouble you had with 380, as you can see many of us have found it to be an outstanding powder to use. As for myself I have a pet load with it, I don't belive details are nessesary. It occurs to me the trouble you had is from the way what measure your using has with spherical powder or your rifles twist in bullet selection. Perhaps if you have better luck with extruded powder then that's your ticket. For a fair price Im sure you can find someone to take the rest off your hands.
 


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