H110

[jakes10mm]

Curious if anyone has had problems with less than "full loads" using H110.  The factory manual warns against downloading this powder and I have been guilty of doing this without ill effect.  

I have used H110 in various charges to propel 250gr, 255gr, and 300gr 45 Colt bullets.  All seem to ignite uniformly and provide appropriate levels of recoil based on charge weight.  Accuracy has been very good overall, with the heavier charges having a slight advantage.

Would like to hear from others using H110 and their preferred loads.

[Mikey]

jakes10mm:  I have used H110 and WW296 alternatively under 240, 295 and 300 gn 44 mag slugs, and have varied my powder charges, without ill effect.  For the heavier slugs I will load between 19.5 and 21.5 of H110 and just as long as you have a good crimp on the bullet you shouldn't suffer any ill effect.

I don't know where the heck that cautionary note came from, but I know Winchester states flat-out - don't use reduced loads with WW296 - I think they may have been afraid of target or squib loads and a light crimp that maight give poor results but, H110 and WW296 are the same powder and interchanging loads for either powder hasn't hurt either of my M29s at all.  And, the accuracy is great.  HTH.  Mikey.

[Duffy]

Where both of you are using heavier bullets that helps also, 240's and up. I down loaded some 180's in the 44 and they can get pretty nasty as in very large ball of fire and large amounts of unburnt powder that would litterly pour out of the bbl. Not good. I also had a load with AA9 that actually didn't even light. The primer pushed the bullet into the forcing cone and just packed the powder in behind it. It would have been very bad if it had slowly lit. Was bad enough just cleaning all the crap out of my gun. If your having good luck with your loads go for it. They just may get a bit dirty when cold, say less than 35 degrees.

[KN]

H-110 and 296 are made for magnum loads. Those warnings are there for a reason. Less than full loads can give you very erratic performance. If you want to load down your reloads use a better suited powder. It will probably be cheaper any way.   KN

[Catfish]

I have loaded Win-296 for year because I can buy it cheaper than H-110. These are both excellant powders for hot hunting loads and when I load them I load them to the max. and seem to get great accuracy with all loads and cal`s. I put them in. BUT!!! It`s like KN said, if you want lighter loads use something else. For plinking I load Bullseye powder. It`s very dirty, but you use very little of it and it`s very accurate.

[MickinColo]

H110 has never been my favorite powder for the 44 magnum. 2400 has always worked will for me. I’ve found that H110 works best with a hard crimp though. Holding the bullet back a little helps it out.

[Redhawk1]

H110 and W296 are what I use in my 500 MAG. I like it in my 454 Casull also. I load my 500 MAG and 454 Casull almost to the max. Thats why I bought these gun, not to down load.  :-D  Other than that I use 2400 in my 44 MAG.  

[ought6]

What KN said!!!  
The erratic results can be dangerously over pressured rounds from reduced loads.  I know it sounds nuts, but I once read an engineer who explained it in laymans terms and it made perfect sense.  It has something to do with igniting all, or most, of the powder at once instead of it being a progressive burn, and it becomes more like an explosive.   :eek:

Better safe than, well, you know the rest.    

[vinconco]

Hard roll crimp followed by a taper crimp will give consistent ballistic results and will assure that the rounds will chamber easily every time.