.357 Mag (H110) Muzzle Flash

[tn_junk]

Loaded some 158 Grain Hornady JHP for my 4" GP100 using Hodgdons recommended starting load of H110.
Got beau-coup muzzle flash. First I have used H110 in a 4" barrel. Accuracy was good and no sign of excess pressure.
Is this a H110 thing or a 4" Barrel thing?
All of my other .357's have been 6" or longer.

thanks

alan

[Clam]

It is due to both the H 110 and the short barrel. I believe it is a characteristic of ball powder. I used to get the same from shooting H 110 and WW 296 in a .357 Ruger Blackhawk 4 5/8 bbl. It was especially fun just at dusk. Boom! You could cook marshmallows over it! I have also got a fireball from using ball powder in a 7x57 rife. I think it was Ball C2.
As I recall, once another guy at the range actually came over and asked if I was OK after witnessing one of these fireballs.
Both H 110 and WW296 produced quite accurate loads with 125 gr Remington bullets.

[Bullseye]

That is one reason that I do not use those powders in 357, 41 and 44 even though it gives better accuracy than what I do use.