Author Topic: Redhawk 44 Mag (Read 1560 times)

jro45 · « **on:** July 07, 2005, 09:20:12 AM »

I tried some W296 powder with 240gr heavy loads and found that this powder shot a hole with these 240gr bullets at 20 yds. With H110 they group good but don't make a hole. My gun has a 5.5" barrel the rounds were going alittle over 1400 fps. This is the first time I used W296. I always used H110. Any thoughts?

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 07, 2005, 09:37:20 AM »

I have always had very good accuracy with W296. I don't know why the H110 would shoot much different, they are almost the same powder.

Carwi · « **Reply #2 on:** July 07, 2005, 09:37:46 AM »

Sounds like you may have found a new "favorite" powder! W296 is a great powder. I did well with it also with my Redhawk.

jro45 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 09, 2005, 03:08:24 AM »

One thing I found is with W296 it takes a little more to get to the same velocity as H110 can push them, but thats no big deal.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 09, 2005, 04:44:23 AM »

I prefer the W296 to the H110. Why?? I don't know, but it has worked great for me.

oso45-70 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 09, 2005, 05:41:45 AM »

jro45

For some reason or another i seem to have better luck with H110 powder.
It seems to me that i can manage the loads better in the larger cal.s with the H110. I do know that it shouldent make that much difference as they both produce about the same results as far velocity goes, But it seems to me the accuracy is better with H110. Just an opinion, Mine, Stay safe..........Joe........

Graybeard · « **Reply #6 on:** July 09, 2005, 09:05:00 AM »

I love it when folks find a noticeable difference between H110 and W296. Guys it's the same powder made by the same folks. The only difference is the normal lot to lot variations. There will be just as much difference between your next lot of either of them as their is between them. :eek:

I use them totally interchangably and have for a great many years. I buy whichever I get the best buy on and buy in large lots. I use either 22.5 or 24.0 grains of either with 240s in the .44 Magnum. One is my normal and one my light load. I use the lower load only with lead bullets.

In perhaps 20+ years of doing it this way I've never needed to adjust the sights yet. Just keep on dropping them in the same place no matter which lot# or name is on the bottle.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 09, 2005, 11:39:40 AM »

Graybeard, that may be why I like W296 better. I always find it and I usually get a better price. Like you, I have not found a difference, but I just seem to find deals on the W296.

oso45-70 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 09, 2005, 06:15:38 PM »

Gray Beard,

Why is it that all the reloading books differ on their loading info. I realize they are pretty close to being the same But why would the book say for instance;; Hornady loads for 240gr bullet as follows.
this is for 1350 fps
H110 24.2
W296 23.9 I may be crazy but i have found that the W296 was hotter than H110 when ran across a screen. Help me out here please........Joe.....

Graybeard · « **Reply #9 on:** July 09, 2005, 06:26:53 PM »

I will say this again. H110 and W296 are EXACTLY the same powder. Made by the Winchester owned company Primex I think it's named. Formulation is the same. Both Winchester and Hodgdon have said this on more than one occasion.

The differences in them are ONLY the normal lot to lot variations any manufacturer has. Why are there different loads in the same company's manuals for them? Different lots of powder, different lots and maybe brands of primers, different lots of brass and perhaps days, weeks, or even months of difference in the timing of the testing.

You're kidding yourself if you think you're finding a real world difference. If you wish to believe different be my guest. Matters not to me.

oso45-70 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 09, 2005, 06:51:31 PM »

Thanks a lot Bill..I went to google and looked it up and you are right the H110 & W296 are one and the same. It must be that when i tested the two powders i got some of the difference in batches because there was a noticeable difference.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 10, 2005, 02:12:52 AM »

When I use W296 or H110 in my 44 MAG, 454 Casull or my 500 MAG, I use either one with the same load. Just as GB said, no difference, except you may find a price differance.

jro45 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 10, 2005, 06:39:10 AM »

Well I guess the lot of W296 I got 4# of is a little slower. When I shot those they were going 20 fps slower then the rounds I have fired with H110. So I looked it up in the load book and it said to load 24.5gr for 1400 fps and for H110 24gr. So anyway thats what I did load 24.5gr of W296. I've been reloading forover 30 years. I have found that the load books aren't very accurate with fps thats why I use my conagraph.

As far as the rounds going into one hole with W296 and not with H110. I may have been holding the revolver a little tighter cause I know H110 gives tight groups.

oso45-70 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 10, 2005, 07:10:46 AM »

jro45

Don't feel bad, It just happened to me and i started loading in 1950 and get cought in a situation like this every now and then. Its nice thing to have a place like this to turn to for new information or old information for that matter, Stay safe...............Joe..............

jro45 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 10, 2005, 10:50:45 AM »

I had a problem with H110 or W296 what ever loseing it power if not fired in a year. I was hopeing that W296 would be a remedy to this problem. From what I read I guess not.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 10, 2005, 11:44:49 AM »

Quote from: jro45

I had a problem with H110 or W296 what ever loseing it power if not fired in a year. I was hopeing that W296 would be a remedy to this problem. From what I read I guess not.

If you need help shooting up that W296, let me know. :-D :-D.

Graybeard · « **Reply #16 on:** July 10, 2005, 05:44:25 PM »

You've got some other problem me thinks. I've kept W296 for several years with no problems and for sure I have ammo that has been loaded several years that is still as good as new. The powder isn't the problem. Must be your storage methods.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 11, 2005, 01:07:54 AM »

Quote from: Graybeard

You've got some other problem me thinks. I've kept W296 for several years with no problems and for sure I have ammo that has been loaded several years that is still as good as new. The powder isn't the problem. Must be your storage methods.

Graybeard may have something there. I keep all my powder stored in a room in my house in a filing cabinet.

jro45 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 11, 2005, 09:41:07 AM »

I don't have any problem with my rifle powders and most of my revolver and pistol powders it is just a few. H110 is one. I could load some 44 mag loads or 357 mag using H110 and it would be fine for a year but beyond that those rounds would lose their power. I have excepted that with H110.

Unique is another one but the power company corrected that.

I will try ths W296 even if it is the same as H110 for a year or so and see what happens. I've heard good things about W296.

Catfish · « **Reply #19 on:** July 11, 2005, 01:49:19 PM »

Win 296 is the only powder I load in my hot handgun loads. The reason is because I can buy it cheaper than H-110. I have used both and did find them interchangable and very accurate. I also have some boxes of ammo got set back and not shot for years, but have never had a problem with H-110 or Win.-296 and have shot some that was loaded more than 15 yrs. pryer to fireing.

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #20 on:** August 01, 2005, 04:27:49 PM »

Hey there 44 shooters,

Reading all the posts under this heading, I get the feeling some of you just may be missing a very good, and unlisted in these posts, powder.

I also shoot a 5.5" Redhawk, my normal load being 19 gr of AA#9 behind a 310gr LBT.

A number of years ago, I did some tests with a scoped SB Hunter with 296, 110 and AA#9. I think I also used some 2400, but the point is that the AA product out did the other powders tested.

I have not repeated the test with my RH, but I have never seen any reason to change from the #9, even as good as the others are.

Keep em coming! :wink:

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #21 on:** August 01, 2005, 09:14:23 PM »

If you are getting better velocities with AA9 than with H110 or W296 then your results are 180 degrees out of phase from my results. I've found H110/W296 to produce higher velocities and better accuracy. This has held for my Colt 6" Anaconda 44 mag and my FA 454 Casull.

jro45 · « **Reply #22 on:** August 02, 2005, 03:33:45 AM »

I was using No.9 powder when I shot in silhouette with my 10" barrel 44 contender. at 100 yds. That powder was pretty good but it would not shoot tight groups for me.

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #23 on:** August 02, 2005, 03:33:48 PM »

Hello again shooters,

As I indicated earlier, I have not tried all the powders listed in my 5.5" RH, however as my gun shoots AA9 very well and shows over 1300fps over the screens with the 310gr slug, it seems I don't have much to complain about.

Guess I'll just keep using it until the rest of my 8lb. jug is shot up and then see about the possibility (?) of trying the other powders again.

Sure is nice we are blessed with enough good powders to allow for a discussion like this!

Keep em coming! :wink:

Lablover · « **Reply #24 on:** January 07, 2006, 04:54:23 PM »

Hornady 240 grain XTP. What do ya'll think of this reload? I am shooting it in a Redhawk 5 1/2 barrel. I was looking for a reduced load but have found that a some people seem to think this is hotter than factory 240 grain loads. The Hornady manual goes 25 grains as Max.

I am new to this forum and it looks like a winner.

Lablover

jro45 · « **Reply #25 on:** January 08, 2006, 03:32:37 AM »

I see in the Hornady manual that it lists vectan sp2 with 25.3 grs and the H110 with 24.8 grs for the 240 gr bullets. Those loads seem a little HOT to me. The most I have ever loaded with H110 is 24 grs and the 240 gr bullet did 1430 fps with my Redhawk 5 1/2 " barrel

Lablover · « **Reply #26 on:** January 08, 2006, 05:09:36 AM »

OUCH!!! I was looking for a milder load!!! My Hornady Manual lists the 240 gr. with H110 at max. out at 25 grains. My Manual is older so your shows Hornady backing off from previous loads. I assume your Manual is newer. Mine is the 1982 printing. Well, I will be firing these before I let my Daughter try them. She enjoys shooting the Redhawk with factory loads but these seem Redhot.

Thanks,

Lablover

1911crazy · « **Reply #27 on:** January 09, 2006, 05:53:22 PM »

I have always used either 2400 or 296 in my 44mag and 357mag. I used the 296 with the hotter loads.