Picked up some 2400, now need some receipes

[Huskerguy]

I have loaded several 357 before but never with 2400. Found some at my LGS today and I have read that several people recommend it for 357 mag loads. I shoot a lot of 38's but would like to load some 357 in a manageable load. I am not one to load to the hot side.

I see on the Alliant site that 14.8 is the max for a GDHP bullet. I have 158's in lead (lots of lead both purchased and my own roll), Berry's and some Remington Hollow points.

These will go through several pistols including a Ruger Security Six and S&W 66-2 both with 4" barrels, a Dan Wesson 15-V2 and a Colt Trooper both with 6" barrels.

Thank you in advance.

 

[JT-AR-MG42]

I load 14.5 grs. with any jacketed or GC lead 158ish bullet.

You will get a bit of flash from the 4 inchers, but I've always been pleased with performance.

Maybe share a gratuitous photo of the can of powder. Some of us are starting to forget just what we are looking for!

JT

 

[billybob44]

2400 Powder..

You got a GREAT powder to work with in the .357 Mag.

For your 158gr. Lead bullets, I would back off of the 14.8gr. listed for the Gold Dot 10%, or 1.5gr. (rounded off), and start out at around 13.3gr.

You will probably find your "Happy Spot" @ around 14.4 to 14.6gr. of 2400...Bill.

 

[Steve C]

2400 is an easily lit powder so its best to use standard pistol primers rather than magnum which Speer says may result in high pressure. I have experienced this when using mag primers with pierced and cratered primers showing up at with charges less than maximum listed in the data.

2400 is a slower burning powder and I prefer to use it with 140gr or heavier bullets in the .357 mag. It can be used with lighter 110 and 125 grain bullets but the amount increases with no real velocity advantage over a somewhat faster powder in handguns. There would be an advantage with light bullets in a carbine length barrel.

A load of 14.0gr of 2400 behind a Remington JSP 158gr bullet lit by a CCI500 primer using Remington cases produced 1,243 fps from a 4" S&W 66 that pretty much matches the factory ballistics published by the major manufacturers.

A 13.0gr load provides similar velocity results with a 158gr hard cast LSWC. Add 100 fps for a 6" barrel.

 

[JO JO]

i like 13.0 2400 with lswc 158gr but that works well for me

 

[ArchAngelCD]

A charge of 12.2gr to 13.5gr 2400 under a 158gr LSWC is the current load data although in the past load data has gone higher. Since you said you're not one to load hot that data will serve you well. (usually to just over 1200 fps) Start at 12.5 and work up to the max or stop when you find an accurate load in your handguns...

NOTE: Never trust load data you get on an Internet forum. Mistakes can and will happen when writing numbers!

 

[Huskerguy]

NOTE: Never trust load data you get on an Internet forum. Mistakes can and will happen when writing numbers!

I understand the Internet data, I confirm everything, nothing taken for granted here. I have looked in my Lymans manual and I also have an older Hornady book. It seems no matter how many manuals one has, there are always gaps and since this powder is new to me, I am do some comparisons with what others say has worked for them.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I load my Xtreme and Berry's plated .357 bullets with 12.5 gr of 2400. They seem to take it well enough. I would caution against going any higher with plated as they could lead your barrel if driven to fast.
Try to stick with the speed limit of the plated bullets your using and adjust your powder charge to reflect this.

If your lead bullets are of the right hardness you shouldn't have a leading problem if they are sized right. I've never been this lucky and I've tried a lot of the different brands out there.

 

[ch84]

13 grains 2400 ,158 gr mbc action swc from a ruger black hawk 6 1/2 barrel

 

[au_prospector]

Can be used to load .410 shotshells too!

 

[bluetopper]

Seems a lot people don't know, but 2400 has been the standard in 357 Magnum and 44 Magnum ever since the cartridges came in to existence.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Seems a lot people don't know, but 2400 has been the standard in 357 Magnum and 44 Magnum ever since the cartridges came in to existence.

That is true especially since 2400 was the only game in town for a magnum type powder back then... lol

Now days we have 2400, 300-MP, AA#9, A-4100, Enforcer, W296/H110, Lil'Gun, IMR-4227, 800-X and probably a few others I don't remember right now. There are also some good Vihtavuori powders available but I don't know much about them.

And that's only the full power magnum powders not counting Herco, Blue Dot, Power Pistol, AA#7, SR-4756, Longshot, HS-6 and a few others too.

 

[RealGun]

I am not one to load to the hot side.

Welcome to the dark side, using ammo that matches what is stamped on the barrel.

 

[41 Mag]

I have two GP-100's and both of them love the 13gr range with 2400.

I do pour my own though and I like to keep things fairly consistent. Thing is one likes one bullet poured from one mold the other likes another from another mold so I usually keep some of each around.

That said and the other post above mentioning the other powders, well I can use other powders to keep the same bullets shooting well in both revolvers, but trying to always have something loaded with one or the other powder, is harder than just loading the same load with different bullets.

Work up slow in like 2/10 gr increments looking for accuracy, and don't sweat the velocity. If your hitting what your aiming at, it won't matter. Also don't even bother with magnum primers, you won't need them with 2400.

Good luck.

 

[slickracer]

13.5 works well with a 158 LWSC and 17.5 with a 125 XTP make some nice eyebrow burners.

 

[ultratec1]

I am loading 12.5 gr of 2400 with a 125gr XTP. I have been told that this is lite but they shoot amazingly well out of my 6" GP100.

 

[handloader357]

I worked up to 12.5 of 2400 with 180 grain XTPs seated out at the 1st cannelure. They shoot very well in my 686 and Blackhawk, but wouldn't use that load in a smaller gun. In fact, they're too long for some chambers. OAL is 1.688 if memory serves.

 

[handloader357]

Ohh yeah, where did you find 2400? Haven't seen that or H110 on a shelf in years!

 

[Stormin.40]

I can't believe you found 2400, I don't think you will find any loads you will like so you should probably send the lb you have to me for proper disposal.

Actually you will love 2400, with 158gr lead bullets I like 14.0gr.

It seems about 14gr works well with 158 jacketed bullets as well though I haven't loaded any hotter than 14.3gr. My 4" S&W 586 likes 14.3gr A2400 w/ 158gr XTP and a friends 4" Ruger Security Six likes 13.9gr A2400 w/ 158gr XTP.

 

[Sunray]

Should be lots of loads using 2400 in your manual.
You can't drive a cast bullet as fast as a jacketed. 14.8 is the max load given on Alliant's site, for a 158 grain jacketed bullet. No cast loads using 2400 there, but my old Lyman book shows 11.0 to 15.0 for a 158 gas checked, cast bullet.

 

[Huskerguy]

OK, here are pics to prove it

I really wasn't specifically looking for the 2400. I just happened into one of my LGS and glanced a the powder selection which seemed pretty slight and commented about how little he had and then did a double take. I had been reading about 2400 for a while and thought sometime I would pick up a can to try. After what I have been reading I didn't think I would find any of this around.

I have been pretty blessed to find this powder over the last few months. The Varget I have had for a little while, the HP 38 is maybe a year and the TG has been collected for a while. I also missed another TG and a W748 in my storage. To be totally fair and honest, the small jug of W 231 is nearly empty - I try to be honest in my journalistic endeavors.

I have two or three places around that I venture into now and then. The same with primers, I was finding them for 26/1000 when they evidently were scarce around. I am well stocked. Now I just need more brains and more time. Now if I could just happen on to one of those deals on a great M19 or a M27 I would really be set.

 

[ultratec1]

There is a shop in Muscatine Iowa that has 8 lbs of 2400. I ended up getting 2lbs of it.