I bought some acme "lipstick" SWC in .44/ 240, and.357/ 158. Due to store shelves being emptied, I only have alliant 2400 powder left. Would this combo work? What powder would you recommend when the stores are restocked. In my Blackhawk and carbine, XTPs and 2400 work great, but for long sessions can start getting pricey. Thanks, and stay safe!
2400 and acme
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Blue68f100
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2400 is an excellent powder for the 357 and 44 mag. It's listed in most all data books. It does not require a mag primer like the W296/H110 does.
sparkyv
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Agreed.
Obturation
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13.5 grains of 2400 with a 158 grain bullet us a fantastic load, I use a bit more powder but currently published data calls for 13.5 as max I think.
Can't help on the 44, but the data will be easy to find.
2400 is good stuff for magnums.
WrongHanded
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20.5gr of 2400 under a 240gr .44 works pretty well as I recall.
Crazy Horse
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I've used 2400 in my 357 loads (12.2gr). It works well, just make sure to have proper roll crimp. As far as magnum primers. I don't use them. Haven't had any issues yet. On the 44 mag side, I have seen load data for it and expect it to perform well, but haven't really had the need to load 44 magnum rounds. I wouldn't expect to need mag primers as I have read elsewhere in the forum and internet that the magnum primers have a stronger charge to ensure powder ignition, but not necessary. If you have them great, if not, I don't think i'd go out an purchase them and would use normal primers as they've worked well in my 357 loads using 2400 powder.
As far as bullets go, Love ACME and it's my goto for coated lead bullets. They work excellent in 9mm, 44, 38/357, 380, & 45acp.
Good luck.
CH
As far as bullets go, Love ACME and it's my goto for coated lead bullets. They work excellent in 9mm, 44, 38/357, 380, & 45acp.
Good luck.
CH
Frulk
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Out of a 4.5 Inch Blackhawk:
158 gr hard cast LSWCGC-12.1 grs 2400-WSPM primer-Starline Brass..
average 1161 FPS with powder at bullet.
average 1120 FPS with powder at primer.
Both 6 shot strings.
Comments at time of shooting: hard kicking rounds. All extracted ok.
158 gr hard cast LSWCGC-12.1 grs 2400-WSPM primer-Starline Brass..
average 1161 FPS with powder at bullet.
average 1120 FPS with powder at primer.
Both 6 shot strings.
Comments at time of shooting: hard kicking rounds. All extracted ok.
brewer12345
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The only thing I can see maybe being an issue is the lack of a gas check. Given the reputation of powder coating for toughness, I would guess you will be fine.
I don't shoot a ton of magnum pistol loads, but 13.5 grains of 2400 and a 158 grain bullet is real accurate. I use it in cast rifle loads as well and it works.
I don't shoot a ton of magnum pistol loads, but 13.5 grains of 2400 and a 158 grain bullet is real accurate. I use it in cast rifle loads as well and it works.
Charlie98
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As far as a general powder, besides 2400 and the like... Unique is a favorite. 
Having said that, there are a lot of other powders that could fill the mid-load need...
Having said that, there are a lot of other powders that could fill the mid-load need...
I use 2400 and an SNS coated 158 Gr SWC, shoots great. Other brand coated 158 Gr SWCs will work too, they all probably use the same magma molds. I have coated SNS, ACME, & MBC bullets and they all shoot just fine.
tightgroup tiger
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I bought Acme coated lipstick bullets for .327 Federal Magnum and my .357magnums.
After I bought them I emailed and asked them about how fast I could drive these bullets due to lead softness and the only reply I got back was about the coating they put on them would withstand any heat I could safely load for a handgun round.
That didn't answer my question. I don't think the guy knew what I was asking, he just worked there.
Lead hardness has an awful lot to do with how fast someone can fire a lead bullet and the best coating in the world is no good if the lead is soft enough that the bullet strips in the barrel at a higher to high velocities.
I was looking for a safe speed limit to shoot them at without leading, like the plated bullet companies put on their websites, but they never answered my question.
So I don't shoot them at high velocities.
I didn't experiment with them to see when leading started.
2400 is normally associated with higher velocities but the good news is that it down loads well compared to H110.
I need to buy a brinell tester in the near future, If I had one I could give you a better answer.
I can tell you this, they are not soft. I can't mark the lead core with my fingernail at all and scrapping off the coating I can't even make a shiney spot on the bullets so I would have to say they are at least 18 brinnell or harder and that's right in 2400 territory so like others said, I think your good to go.
After I bought them I emailed and asked them about how fast I could drive these bullets due to lead softness and the only reply I got back was about the coating they put on them would withstand any heat I could safely load for a handgun round.
That didn't answer my question. I don't think the guy knew what I was asking, he just worked there.
Lead hardness has an awful lot to do with how fast someone can fire a lead bullet and the best coating in the world is no good if the lead is soft enough that the bullet strips in the barrel at a higher to high velocities.
I was looking for a safe speed limit to shoot them at without leading, like the plated bullet companies put on their websites, but they never answered my question.
So I don't shoot them at high velocities.
I didn't experiment with them to see when leading started.
2400 is normally associated with higher velocities but the good news is that it down loads well compared to H110.
I need to buy a brinell tester in the near future, If I had one I could give you a better answer.
I can tell you this, they are not soft. I can't mark the lead core with my fingernail at all and scrapping off the coating I can't even make a shiney spot on the bullets so I would have to say they are at least 18 brinnell or harder and that's right in 2400 territory so like others said, I think your good to go.
16 is fine, and I think it a better choice than 18 for most things. They worked well at 1300 + for me, and even if you use something like H-110 i don't think you can hurt them unless they are a bad fit for your gun, or your throats are smaller than the groove diameter.
bummer7
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Shoots good out of a S&W model 28 and Python too. I do like H110 for the 44 mag and the 240gr LSWC bullets.
tightgroup tiger
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That's good to know because I still have some of these and I'm planning on buying more.
right winger
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I also have used 13.5 grs of 2400 with a 158 gr bullet(coated, lead 18bhn, or jacketed) for over 15 yrs and it’s a winner. 2400 is my favorite 357 magnum powder.
bullseye308
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When the shelves get more powder look at BE-86 as a cheaper alternative. You won’t get the speed, but it uses a lot less powder per round. It just depends on what you need the round to do and how fast you need it moving.
Charlie98
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Many people overvalue bullet hardness and ignore bullet to bore fit. Of the two, bore tolerance is probably more important (unless you are just shooting soft lead at 1500fps, or something silly like that.) Hardness is important, but even a relatively hard bullet will lead at moderate velocity, and very likely exhibit poor accuracy, if undersized for the bore.
I regularly drive commercial cast... non-coated... pistol bullets over 1500fps in my Marlin 1894, without problems, and cast rifle bullets over 2000fps in other rifles. But I have slugged my bores and I know the bullet is correct.
Typetwelve
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I love 2400 and 240g projectiles in a 44 magnum. I've goof'd with loads from 19-22.4g and all work well. Sadly, both of the projectiles I used (Summers non coated and Missouri Hi-Tek) both were leading in my Super Redhawk, but it produced some serious whompers while doing it. 21g produced an average of 1432 fps from my 7.5" barrel and was PLENTY of power for a non gas-checked lead projectile. 22.4g produced a whopping 1614 fps with Missouri Hi-tek Elmer-K projectiles...I strongly advise against loading those, I won't make them again. All were using non mag primers from either CCI or Federal, BTW.
Archie
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When the powder returns, I suggest 2400 for heavy loads and Unique (or something in that burn range) for the medium loads. Data abounds.
Typetwelve
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With 44, I tend to stick to 2400, H110, and Unique. Depending on what I want the round to do, those 3 will just about cover anything I want. I love Unique for the lower power rounds where H110 isn't an option and 2400 won't often burn correctly.
Totally on/off topic, my s.redhawk likes hot loads with 2400, my Henry (also in 44), prefers H110 hot loads. Lower power Unique loads are great out of my s.redhawk, the Henry doesn't like them so much.
On other thing, I was recently messing with Accurate No 7...I have had great accuracy with SWC jacketed rounds with No 7 in my Henry.
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