45 Colt and 2400 powder.

I am looking for a good deer load using 2400 powder. The gun will be a Ruger Blackhawk Old Model. The bullet will be a 255 grain swc.I am looking for a load right at maximum, but safe.

2400 is good choice. I like AA9 with a 250 XTP. Very accurate!

I'm shooting 18 grains in mine. Very accurate and rough on deer.
Tom Black

I'm using 2400 in my 45 Colt & 454 for an upcoming elk hunt. I suggest you work up a load for accuracy & not worry about "near maximum" unless that's where the accuracy is.

You need to tell us what you perceive to be Maximum .

My speer Reloading manual dates from the 1970.s. It shows the max load for a 250 swc using 2400 as 17.7 grains for Ruger only loads. I have now observed people using loads like 18 to 19 grains of 2400. My 2400 powder dates to the 1990,s. I just got back into reloading. Has 2400 powder changed letting you use stiffer charges. My powder is fine. It was stored in a cool dry room in the house.

Hodgdon No 26 (1992) shows a max of 20.5 gr 2400 with a 260 gr bullet for 1248 f/s (7") and 29,400 cup.

John Linebaugh has the same charge with a 260 lead swc getting 1294 and 29,800 cup.

https://www.johnlinebaughcustomsixguns.com/writings

Hornady No 9 (2012) shows 20.8 gr 2400 with a 250 XTP for 1250 f/s (10" T/C).

Personally, 9 gr of Universal with a 260-270 SWC does everything I need in 45 Colt.

I was just looking at one of my reloading manuals. The Hornaday #9. I've had it about 5 years. Now I see they have issue #10 out now. My book isn't old, but I ordered the newest one, just to stay current. I also cross check loads across different books just to be safe.

I have no idea, but I imagine gun powder companies do make slight changes in recipes of powders. This just because new more efficient machines used to make gun powder, different sources of the raw materials, better, more efficient processes to lower production costs. Maybe I'm wrong, but I can't imagine gun powder companies NOT making changes over the years.

New manuals (I hope) would keep up with these changes.

Kevin is partially right. One thing not mentioned is the method of HOW they measure powder performance. That has changed a lot over the years. Some powders have not changed much since their introduction,, while others have undergone good changes. But the better methods of measuring pressure & the pressure curve have changed to MUCH better & more accurate methods.

As always,, start low & work up in YOUR gun!

You shoot a deer at 50 yards with a 255 gr bullet and it won't know the difference between max power and medium power.

I shoot 20 grs. when using 250 xtp. to ensure expansion. With lead, I back it down to 18.5.

recumbent said:

You shoot a deer at 50 yards with a 255 gr bullet and it won't know the difference between max power and medium power.

Click to expand...

Back in the Day I shot Doe at about 20yds. The 240 Hornady XTP
was recovered under the Skin opposite of entry. XTP was beautifully
mushroomed out.

I believe at that time this was the Reload;
240gr Hornady XTP
22.5 - 23grs Winchester 296
CCI LP Mag #350 primer
Cases: Win or R-P
Crimp: Medium, is what I think is Medium
FPS: chronographed 22.5grs 1300fps
with 23grs approaching 1400. Very stout

Now days I shoot Lead, and have no doubt
reloaded fast or slow, at that range, there will
two holes.

I believe you have a good powder there, its been around
for years. Just like some say, just work up to be safe.

The Best to you and your Endeavors.

Thanks guys I reloaded ten each 17.5, 18 and 18.5 with 2400 and a heavy crimp. I will start with 17.5 and work up looking for signs of pressure. Which every is the most accurate is the one I will use. I will also see how they perform in my mod 92 Rossi.

Fla Trooper 265 said:

My speer Reloading manual dates from the 1970.s. It shows the max load for a 250 swc using 2400 as 17.7 grains for Ruger only loads. I have now observed people using loads like 18 to 19 grains of 2400. My 2400 powder dates to the 1990,s. I just got back into reloading. Has 2400 powder changed letting you use stiffer charges. My powder is fine. It was stored in a cool dry room in the house.

Click to expand...

In the 1990's Hercules was bought by Alliant powder. The formula supposedly changed, but there is some pressure tested data (Brian Pearce's in Handloader) that says otherwise. Not finger pointing, or otherwise, just adding to the conversation and submitting a little information.

The speer data for those slugs, are they jacketed? That will up pressures and lower some powder charges. Check out John Linebaughs website, he has some pressure tested data on there too.

I am shooting 21 gr. 2400 behind a 275 gr. cast bullet in a 4.2" Redhawk with no problems at all....other than a slightly stinging palm after 20 shots or so. Average velocity is right at 1200 fps +/- 25 fps. And as to 2400; I have never found any powder that is better in magnum handguns larger than the .357.

Quote: "And as to 2400; I have never found any powder that is better in magnum handguns larger than the .357."

I would agree, and would include .357 in that assessment. A close second for me has bee AA-9. I could be happy with either one exclusively for the rest of my sixgunning days.

#2400 is my most used powder. I buy it in 8lb kegs.
Georgia Arms even used to use it in their "Deer Stopper" loads. (Proprietary brass, Federal SPM primer, 15.5gr #2400, 158gr JHP). I use it in .357mag, .41mag, .44mag, .45LC -Ruger only loads, cast bullet loads in cast-bullet rifle loads.

The changes seen in #2400 are mostly lot-to-lot variations that occur in all industrial products. For many years it was believed that HP38/Win231, Win760/H414 were different powders. Finally Hodgdon admitted they were same powders. Just different lot#'s tested differently.