Tell me about H110/W296

[rkrcpa]

I recall reading somewhere about 110/296 not recoiling as badly as other powders, 2400 for example. Is that the case?

The reason I ask is I have a box of .41 cal 255gr WFNGC LBT bullets that I need to work up loads for. I tried some loads using 18 grains of 2400 and the recoil was, shall we say, noticeable. Now, to be fair, I was using a rest and probably wasn't holding as firmly as I usually do. But still, it was more than I anticipated. I'm not recoil shy, a typical day at the range will see me shoot at least 100 of my normal 220gr at 1400fps.

Will the powder make that big a difference? I've been reloading for close to 30 years and can say I've never used more than four or five powders. Maybe it's time to expand my choices?

 

[Dale53]

H110/296 (and the surplus WC-820) have been my magnum revolver powders for many, many years. I definitely prefer them over 2400. However, 2400 is in the same performance category as H110/296 (takes a few less grains of 2400 to give the same essential performance as H110/296). If you drive a 210 gr bullet at 1300 fps with both, I challenge anyone to see an actual difference in the recoil.

FWIW
Dale53

 

[c.r.]

I don't believe there will be any difference in recoil.

It seems to me that H-110/296 has a smaller "operating window" than 2400. What i mean is that published loads for h-110/296 put you at the top end of recoil....... there really isn't such a thing as a light load using h-110/296.

2400 seems to have a quite larger range of loads. Some in the "light/medium" category, and up to and including the warmer category.

for magnum loads..........i prefer h-110........ if for no other reason than it meters incredibly well for me.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

According to the manufacturer you are not supposed to reduce H-110 / 296 more than 3% from Max. Other Magnum powders can be reduced a little more but for much less recoil powders such as Universal or HP-38 or Unique should be your choice.

If you are shooting say 5% below Max the faster powders will give you more POP and sharp recoil while the slower powers will give you more BOOM and a bigger push.

http://www.hodgdon.com/ has a burn rate chart as well as their loading data.

http://www.hodgdon.com/burn-rate.html

...Jimbo

 

[slippingaway]

Wow, great info Jimbo. I hadn't seen the burn rate info on their site before. Thanks for that.

 

[Rick Courtright]

I recall reading somewhere about 110/296 not recoiling as badly as other powders, 2400 for example. Is that the case?

Hi,

It depends on how you're thinking of recoil...

Mr. Newton gives us some formulae that tell us what the absolute recoil is. So, when we scribble the numbers on the board, a 240 gr bullet at 1250 fps (just picking numbers here) will have a given amount of recoil, regardless of the powder.

But what shooters generally think of when discussing recoil is what's often called "felt" recoil. That describes what Jimbo's talking about w/ the "pop vs push" situation. I've seen it called "impulse" which could describe how fast the pressure curve develops. Most people find the "push" more comfortable, and, w/ heavier loads, a slower powder's usually gonna provide more of that. A faster powder, though providing more "pop," is gonna be a better choice for lighter loads because your burn will usually be more consistent.

Now, none of this (other than Newton!) is carved in stone: what one person thinks is a "comfortable" load is "painful" to another. So you have to do some 'sperimentin' w/ your gun to find what feels best to you.

For myself, I find Win 296 is more comfortable in my RH than my buddy's favorite 2400 loads (similar enough ballistics to call them the "same" for discussion.) He, though, finds MY loads to be uncomfortable in his 629 and downright painful when he shoots my RH!

So ya just don't know w/o some testing...

Rick C

 

[Bucks Owin]

You want to squeeze all the velocity possible with lowest pressures, it's the only choice IMO. I shot some W296/CCI350 (25.5 grs) under a 250 XTP the other day in my .45 BH and got good accuracy at 50 yds and 1346 fps av vel 3' from the muzzle. A stout load to be sure but not overly so IMO... FWIW, Dennis :wink: (BTW, I like HS-6 and SR4759 for "less than full tilt" loads in the big cases FWIW) From John Linebaugh's site: VELOCITY AND PRESSURE COMPARISONS SHOWING THE SUPERIORITY OF H-110 AND W 296 OVER OTHER COMMONLY USED POWDERS IN THE .45 COLT.7" TEST BBL.

BULLET POWDER GRAINS VELOCITY CUP
260 GR. LEAD SWC H-110 27 1459 FPS 30,600
260 GR. LEAD SWC H-4227 26 1377 FPS 30,600
260 GR. LEAD SWC # 2400 20.5 1294 FPS 29,800
260 GR. LEAD SWC HS-6 16 1259 FPS 30,800
260 GR. LEAD SWC UNIQUE 12 1199 FPS 30,000
310 GR LEAD SWC H-l10 23 1330 FPS 30,000
310 GR LEAD SWC H-4227 23 1176 FPS 29,400
310 GR LEAD SWC # 2400 19 1172 FPS 29,400
310 GR LEAD SWC HS-6 14 1119 FPS 30,400
310 GR LEAD SWC UNIQUE 11 998 FPS 29,200

 

[63November]

One of the factors in perceived recoil is how much "voice" the load has. H110/W296 has lots of voice so one might actually believe it to recoil more. They're good powders. I like them enough to buy in the 8# jugs. Recoil is there but they do their job well.