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2400 or unique

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MikeS.

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I have about .5 lb of 2400 left. I tried some loads with it last year.

My problem is that no one local has 2400 in stock. They do have Unique though.

I want to load some stout .357 and .44 magnum, mostly with Hornady XTP.

So the ? is, wait on more 2400 or switch to Unique?

I do have a decent supply of W-296 if I have to. It doesn't have as much a weight spread as the other two.
 
Depends on how hard you want to push your .357. Unique works fine, but will give up velocity.
 
You'll get much stouter safe loads with 2400. Unique is a great powder for middle of the road loads. I use both, to cover both bases.
 
In both those cartridges, 2400 is may favorite for full loads. No doubt.
 
If you want stout loads then shoot the W296 and buy some 2400 when it comes in.

W296, H110 and 2400 is about as stout as it gets.

Like the others have said Unique is for the middle loads.

Jimmy K
 
I want to load some stout .357 and .44 magnum, mostly with Hornady XTP.
Click to expand...


Use your W296. My most accurate loads outta both my .357s and .44s are with Hornady bullets and H110/W296 powders. The parameters of H110/W296 are narrow compared to Unique and 2400, but within those confines, it does it better than any thing else I've tried in .357 and .44 magnum. Unique works well at lower to mid range velocities in both calibers.
 
Not to hijack a thread, but along the same point, how many use magnum primers with Win 296.? A lot of published data for Win 296 shows magnum primers, are they really needed?
 
W296 is a ball powder and therefore a little more difficult to touch off than 2400 and other flake or extruded powders. The magnum primer will give a hotter flash to ignite ball powder evenly. I have also found 296 to be a much cleaner powder when used in my 44 Mags.
 
Not to hijack a thread, but along the same point, how many use magnum primers with Win 296.? A lot of published data for Win 296 shows magnum primers, are they really needed?
Click to expand...

Yes.

Both W296 and H110 are volume and load density sensitive. Ball powder is harder to ignite than the other types and a mag primers helps. Read the warnings regarding loading too light with these powders. Don't go below published minimum start loads or -3% rather than the typical 10% reduction. Use a heavy crimp as recommended.

I've talked to more than one person who through ignorance and failure to read the directions tell me they had squibs with these powders when they loaded it too light.
 
Been looking into H110 and Win 296 for +P loadings in .45 Colt Ruger loadings and have plenty of both powders on hand along with the 2400, but have been seing unburnt powder when shooting the 2400.

So thanks for y'alls heads up and I'll wait 'till I get my hands on some magnum primers to use for the H110 and Win 296!
 
Unique is not good for stout Magnum loads. Pressures spike dramatically with even the
smallest changes in powder charge. They sound different when you fire them as well.
More of a Crack, than a Boom. Also,forcing cone Erosion will occur faster with Unique.
 
Winchester Primers With 296

The caveats about ball powder ignition notwithstanding, I have been using 296 almost exclusively for magnum loads for 30+ years, and since I started using Winchester WLP primers, which state they are for standard or magnum loads, I have never had a problem with any squibs or any other firing malfunctions/problems. I have several thousand magnum primers, large & small, rifle & pistol, and I use them liberally and without qualms. I just never have found a need to use them with 296 & Winchester primers in my 44 mags & 357s (& 30 carbine). If I run out of Winchester standards, I will use the magnums, and if I ever encounter a problems with the standards, I will use them also. Flexibility is the key to airpower; indecision is the key to flexibility... :rolleyes:
 
I've had failure to ignite (15-20%) using 296 and Winchester small pistol (WSP) in .357 magnum. Bullet was 125 gr. jacketed hollowpoint (probably IMI). The primer always ignited but would leave the bullet in the barrel or bridging the cylinder gap. WSPM primers always lit the fire. 2400 and Unique always lit with WSP with the same bullet.

Winchester large pistol are 100% in my .44 Magnum with 296.

Next adventure is to try WLR with 296 and Lil Gun in my .500 S&W.
 
I'd hold out for the 2400. Unique is nice for the medium loads, but I've just about resigned to the idea that 2400 is the only powder I like for serious 44mag loads.

-MW
 
For many years I used H110 for heavy loads and swore by it. And then I discovered 2400, life was good, and I will never buy H110 again. 2400 is much more forgiving then H110 and flows like water through a powder measure.

I have .5 lb left myself and am holding out.
 
I have used 2400 behind a 125g JHP thru my GP100 with a 6" barrel and it is very snappy. The problem I have with 2400 is the muzzle flash. I have started using Power Pistol and like it a lot. Power Pistol seems to perform as well if not better then the 2400 without the muzzle flash. I still load 2400 for my Marlin 1894 357 lever gun the longer barrel allows the powder to burn completely.
 
I have used 2400 behind a 125g JHP thru my GP100 with a 6" barrel and it is very snappy. The problem I have with 2400 is the muzzle flash. I have started using Power Pistol and like it a lot. Power Pistol seems to perform as well if not better then the 2400 without the muzzle flash. I still load 2400 for my Marlin 1894 357 lever gun the longer barrel allows the powder to burn completely.
Click to expand...

That is some surpising results, really. I have found that in .45acp Power pistol is a virtual flame thrower of a powder. I have a thread on here about it with pictures.

I do love my 2400 though. After trying a few similar powders 2400 has become my favorite for .45 colt loads in my blackhawk and 357 loads in my wifes 686.
 
That is some surpising results, really. I have found that in .45acp Power pistol is a virtual flame thrower of a powder. I have a thread on here about it with pictures.

I do love my 2400 though. After trying a few similar powders 2400 has become my favorite for .45 colt loads in my blackhawk and 357 loads in my wifes 686.
Click to expand...

I have tried various loads of 2400 from 16.2 up to 17.0 and get the same result. I use 9.4 of Power Pistol and it works perfectly. The guys at the range miss the muzzle flash though. :D
 
For top-end velocities...find some 2400. 2400 and Unique are my go-to powderrs for revolver loads, and have been for decades. I couldn't imagine life without either of them.
You can load some pretty hairy stuff with Unique, but as Beelzy noted...once you get into the near top-end pressures...a small increase in powder can bring on dangerous spikes.

296 and H110 are good powders, but unless loaded to near top pressures, can result in erratic velocities. Either will outrun 2400 for average velocities, but not by a lot, and it's easier to get consistent shot-to-shot speeds with 2400.

On the magnum primer question...sometimes and sometimes not. Being a little hard to ignite, a compressed charge generally requires a magnum primer...especially in cold weather conditions. Smaller charges, like those used in .357 Magnum rounds, and fired in moderate weather...the standard primers will do, and many times will result in more consistent velocities.

As a rule, 296 and H110 work better with jacketed bullets. A little less so with gas-checked cast bullets. Unique and 2400 are near-perfect matches for cast bullet loads in which the nth degree of velocity isn't required.
 
For top-end velocities...find some 2400. 2400 and Unique are my go-to powderrs for revolver loads, and have been for decades. I couldn't imagine life without either of them.
Click to expand...
I like those powders too, but there's lots of other good one inbetween that don't get enough attention (like Herco.) Herco was my goto powder for .357 Magnum with 158 grain cast bullet until I got a great deal on a bunch of AA#7.

Neither loads as powerful as 2400, but they are close, and a lot cheaper to shoot.
 
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