460 Magnum powder recommendations

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sparkyv

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I use H110 in 44 Mag and it works great. BUT, it leaves a mess as it leaks out of my measures. H110 is likely ideal in the 460 Mag as well, but would like to hear if others have a different experience with other powders
 
I only use H110 for my heavy hitters. My Lee Auto Drum metered the stuff great but leaked with every pull of the handle. Since my heavy hitters are not a high volume loading operation, maybe 100-200 rounds a loading session, I picked up a RCBS Chargemaster Lite, no more leaking powder. I have also heard that the RCBS Uniflow handles the fine powder without leaking.
 
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H110/Win296 are probably gonna be your biggest recommendations, but if you don't like working with them, you don't like working with them. I can dig it.

I'd try 2400 or IMR4227 next. 2400 might give a little more velocity, but I've never shot anything that gave better accuracy (and a funkier smell) than IMR4227 in straightwall magnum pistols.
 
Your issue is not the powder, but your measure. I'd opt for a better measure than opt for a lesser powder. My legitimate .460 loads all use either H110/W296 or IMR4227. Both meter very well thru my uniflow powder measure.
 
Your issue is not the powder, but your measure. I'd opt for a better measure than opt for a lesser powder. My legitimate .460 loads all use either H110/W296 or IMR4227. Both meter very well thru my uniflow powder measure.

I indicated that H110 is likely ideal in the 460 Mag, but I haven't loaded up 460s yet so I don'tknow for sure. I can make H110 behave in my Lee Auto Drum, but it takes more effort than it should, so I'm asking about those who have experience with powder alternatives. Thanks for sharing your legitimate .460 loads, and I will likely try CFE BLK like CarJunkieLS1 suggested and IMR4227 as you indicated, and maybe 2400, too.

Side note, I just purchased 3 more lbs of H110, so I have no intention of using inferior powders.



I saw this on the Hodgdon site earlier...intriguing.
There is load data for CFE BLK and the 460 S&W. It's what I use and I have no issues
 
An additional comment. My drum style powder measures such as the RCBS Uniflow and Redding 10-X do not leak W296/H110 powder when dispensing it.

My MEC 600jr shot shell loader with a slide style powder measure leaks W296 when I'm loading .410 shells. A few grains of powder escape the measure and by the end of the loading session, I have a noticeable amount of powder on the reloading table. Except for the housekeeping issue, it is not enough to really worry about, just I hate to waste.
 
The OP won’t tell us what bullet weight he wants to use, that matters since for example Hodgdon lists data for bullets from 200 to 395 grains. Does he want maximum velocity, best accuracy, for hunting or target use, etc.?
 
Buy a different powder measure. My Auto Drum leaks 300-MP terribly, so I use an RCBS Uniflow for that powder.
 
H110 is all I use in my 460. But, based on my load workups in 44mag, I would suggest trying N-110. It gives less flash and noise than H-110, and will not leak from the powder measure.
 
I indicated that H110 is likely ideal in the 460 Mag, but I haven't loaded up 460s yet so I don'tknow for sure. I can make H110 behave in my Lee Auto Drum, but it takes more effort than it should, so I'm asking about those who have experience with powder alternatives. Thanks for sharing your legitimate .460 loads, and I will likely try CFE BLK like CarJunkieLS1 suggested and IMR4227 as you indicated, and maybe 2400, too.

Side note, I just purchased 3 more lbs of H110, so I have no intention of using inferior powders.

My mention was of "lesser" powders....not inferior. I have been loading for my .460 for almost 15 years. In that time I have learned what works for me. Sounds like to me, you have found what works for you in .44 mag......
I use H110 in 44 Mag and it works great.
....even tho your powder measure makes a mess of it. You seem to tolerate the mess for .44 mag, yet don't want to bother with it for .460. Odds are, you will be loading a lot fewer .460 shells as you will .44 mag(just surmising, since I too load for both). Again, seems to me, the issue is the powder measure, not the powder. With the projectiles I use, CFE BLK will perform well in the .460, but because of it's bulk, will only give upper moderate velocities, due to case capacity. I tolerate the reduce velocities from IMR4227 because of it's accuracy in my .460 and the fact that the difference in velocity from H110/W296 is very slight. Finding what works for you is part of being a handloader, but, finding what tools work best is also part of it. Spherical slow burning ball powders are generally what work best for top magnum loads in not only .460, but .44 and .357. These are also the types that tend to leak from Lee powder measures. So does one change powders or change powder measures when they want the most of the potential from their magnum handguns? Or do they just clean up the mess afterwards and not worry about it?
 
My mention was of "lesser" powders....not inferior. I have been loading for my .460 for almost 15 years. In that time I have learned what works for me. Sounds like to me, you have found what works for you in .44 mag..........even tho your powder measure makes a mess of it. You seem to tolerate the mess for .44 mag, yet don't want to bother with it for .460. Odds are, you will be loading a lot fewer .460 shells as you will .44 mag(just surmising, since I too load for both). Again, seems to me, the issue is the powder measure, not the powder. With the projectiles I use, CFE BLK will perform well in the .460, but because of it's bulk, will only give upper moderate velocities, due to case capacity. I tolerate the reduce velocities from IMR4227 because of it's accuracy in my .460 and the fact that the difference in velocity from H110/W296 is very slight. Finding what works for you is part of being a handloader, but, finding what tools work best is also part of it. Spherical slow burning ball powders are generally what work best for top magnum loads in not only .460, but .44 and .357. These are also the types that tend to leak from Lee powder measures. So does one change powders or change powder measures when they want the most of the potential from their magnum handguns? Or do they just clean up the mess afterwards and not worry about it?

I appreciate your comments buck460XVR. I mentioned that I can make H110 behave in my Lee Auto Drum, but it takes more effort than it should, especially when changing out drums. So my solution is to dedicate this measure for H110. I will do this if other powders don't perform for me.

The OP won’t tell us what bullet weight he wants to use, that matters since for example Hodgdon lists data for bullets from 200 to 395 grains. Does he want maximum velocity, best accuracy, for hunting or target use, etc.?
Indeed, I will tell...I'm in the planning stage, 25-20 WCF, so I haven't determined what works best for me just yet. 200, 230, 250, and 300gr pills are inbound, so I'll know soon. My goal is accuracy first and foremost. I plan to shoot paper, but have a long-term goal to hog hunt with it.
 
Tagging in just to follow this thread. I only have worked up loads for my 460 for 296 but am always interested in alternatives, just in case! I only have loaded XTPs, the magnum variety I might add.
I don’t load a lot of 460 so when I do it’s on a single stage and I use my chargemaster to throw the powder.
 
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