Finally scored some 2400 powder… love it!

[vanfunk]

Hi all:

I had scaled up handload production significantly this year with the advent of my Lee Six Pack Pro press. Although I’ve been happy with the performance of Power Pistol, Titegroup, W244, W296, etc., I’ve always wanted to get my hands on some 2400 for .357 and .44. I finally scored some online and, if a man can fall in love with gunpowder, I’m the guy! So far I’ve loaded 125 gr JHPs and 158 JHPs and LSWCs, as well as 240 gr LSWC and JSP bullets for the .44 magnum. With doses between 16.5 and 13.5 grains in .357 and 18 to 19 grains in the .44, the results are spectacular. Not only is accuracy better than any of my previous loads with other powders, but it runs darn clean, too. I was expecting some powder “skeletons” as have been reported, and perhaps loose powder under the extractor star - nothing. After 200 rounds of .357 and .44 through my Python and Anaconda, respectively, neither had any appreciable fouling except on the cylinder face. AND the stuff runs on standard primers. I’ll still work with other powders but I know I’ve found my loads now to stack deep over the winter, as long as the internet can keep me supplied with bullets! Anyway, had to share!

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Congrats! It has been surprisingly elusive. But worth the chase.
If you are interested, I have seen Blue Dot show up and it’s another good magnum-ish powder to try.

 

[Bearded Phil]

I've got a 8lb jug I bought a little while ago (earlier this year I believe?) at Brunos for something like $240 plus tax that I haven't broken into yet.

Looking at load data for 158/180gr .357 mag I figure I can get at least 4k rounds out of that jug but when it's gone who knows when I'll be able to see 2400 again.

Y'all ever fear developing a good load with a powder that's hard to come by? Haha. That's kind of how I feel.

 

[vanfunk]

Thanks! Blue Dot’s another one I want to try but I haven’t seen it locally yet. I hate to buy online due to the hazmat fees but I just HAD to have the keg of 2400. 13.5 grains of 2400 behind a 158 grain Hi-Tek coated SWC leaves my 6” Python at 1250 fps and is an absolute laser. I want to make 5000 of these! Same for 19 grains motivating a 240 grain coated Bayou bullet. I get 1150 - 1175 fps out of the Anaconda. It’s all I need a .44 to do.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

A while back I was working on a deal to sell an M96 Swede. We were close to a deal, but the guy didn't have quite enough cash to finish it.

He went home and came back with 6 pounds of 2400 to throw in the pot.

That was plenty to tip the scales. I think I actually came out to the good in that deal, for once.

 

[vanfunk]

Haha! Love it!

 

[lightman]

I bought 8# from Powder Valley last week. For a while Alliant powders were out of stock everyplace.

 

[N555]

You may also like alliant 410.

 

[.38 Special]

I've often said that I could cover nearly all my reloading needs with 2400 and Unique.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I didn't realize it was in short supply. I usually see it at Powder Valley while looking for another Aliant powder

 

[Bearded Phil]

Oh it's around, its just that it comes with a price now.

Bruno's has 38ea 8lbs according to their website. But now they're asking $330 for them.

Last year they went as low as $200/8lb once. But Bruno's does swing pricing based on their stock and replacement cost so it's not always the best litmus test.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Powder Valley was $340 today, don't know if they are still offering Free HazMat

 

[roval]

Thanks! Blue Dot’s another one I want to try but I haven’t seen it locally yet. I hate to buy online due to the hazmat fees but I just HAD to have the keg of 2400. 13.5 grains of 2400 behind a 158 grain Hi-Tek coated SWC leaves my 6” Python at 1250 fps and is an absolute laser. I want to make 5000 of these! Same for 19 grains motivating a 240 grain coated Bayou bullet. I get 1150 - 1175 fps out of the Anaconda. It’s all I need a .44 to do.

which hardness was the 158 gr swc hitek that you used.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I like 2400 for mid level rifle loads. My local shop has it. But it's 45.00 a lb.

 

[JDeere]

Powder Valley was $340 today, don't know if they are still offering Free HazMat

Prices have increased. The last jug of 2400 I got from them about a year ago was in the $270 range. Oh well I really like the 2400 in my .357 loads and I shoot a lot so if it's available I'll buy it at the new price. That being said I just got a jug of AA9 for my 10mm loads and will load a batch of .357 and see what happens...

 

[AJC1]

I've got a 8lb jug I bought a little while ago (earlier this year I believe?) at Brunos for something like $240 plus tax that I haven't broken into yet.

Looking at load data for 158/180gr .357 mag I figure I can get at least 4k rounds out of that jug but when it's gone who knows when I'll be able to see 2400 again.

Y'all ever fear developing a good load with a powder that's hard to come by? Haha. That's kind of how I feel.

13.8 grains for a cast 156 was my favorite. In the 13.5 range will be your happy spot so that should reduce your testing significantly. I'm a little above average because my boolit is on the light side of the 158 class.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

You may also like alliant 410.

I have never even seen Alliant 410 powder, much less used it.
I am going to research that powder.

 

[Starter52]

Congrats.
24 grains of 2400 has been my "mild" .45/70 load for decades.

 

[N555]

There's no offical alliant pistol load data for AL410 but it's a hair faster than 2400 and appears to be cleaner burning.
It's close enough to 2400 where you use 2400 load data tables, minus 1gr for 357 and minus 1 to 2gr for 44mag.
Cast boulit guys like it.

 

[Bearded Phil]

13.8 grains for a cast 156 was my favorite. In the 13.5 range will be your happy spot so that should reduce your testing significantly. I'm a little above average because my boolit is on the light side of the 158 class.

It'll be interesting to see where I end up then. With my NOE 360-158-WFN-T4 the deep hollow points end up being 148gr.

So far with N110 the best load with those is 12.6gr, putting them right around 1600-1620fps out of the Henry 20". I'm going to get some better chrono readings on those when my Garmin comes in.

 

[DMW1116]

It’s my only powder for magnum level 357 loads. 158 grain XTP or cast SWC shoot great with 13.1-13.5 grains. The cast ones are a little zippier than I remember from load testing but that’s what it’s for isn’t it. I haven’t had much luck with it in cast rifle loads though. I’ll keep looking for more. I’ll run out of 2400 before bullets or primers.

 

[vanfunk]

Hello sir! IIRC the BHN is 15 for the 158 grainers. Edited to add: I’ve also shot a bunch of Missouri Bullet .430 240 grain Hi-Tek coated “Keith” bullets over 17-20 grains of 2400 with excellent results. 2020 Colt Anaconda 6”.

which hardness was the 158 gr swc hitek that you used.

 

[Alliant Reloading]

There's no offical alliant pistol load data for AL410 but it's a hair faster than 2400 and appears to be cleaner burning.
It's close enough to 2400 where you use 2400 load data tables, minus 1gr for 357 and minus 1 to 2gr for 44mag.
Cast boulit guys like it.

We do not recommend 410 powder for centerfire pistol because it was specifically designed to shoot in .410 bore at 12,000 psi, not pistols at 35,000 psi.
Please stick with 2400, it goes with 357 Mag like peas and carrots.
Be safe,
Paul

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

We do not recommend 410 powder for centerfire pistol because it was specifically designed to shoot in .410 bore at 12,000 psi, not pistols at 35,000 psi.
Please stick with 2400, it goes with 357 Mag like peas and carrots.
Be safe,
Paul

Bad analogy.

I can not imagine why someone would want to pollute a bowl of sweet steamed carrots with little mushy green snotballs.

 

[Blue68f100]

We do not recommend 410 powder for centerfire pistol because it was specifically designed to shoot in .410 bore at 12,000 psi, not pistols at 35,000 psi.
Please stick with 2400, it goes with 357 Mag like peas and carrots.
Be safe,
Paul

There are a lot of shotgun powders that are used for handgun powders. Just because a mfg develops a powder for a particular use, does not mean it can not be used for others. Most all of my favorite hand guns powders were shotgun powders, dual purpose.