2400 question?

[jpuke]

I've been using Alliant 2400 for my 45 Colt   (I like the powder because it doesn't get dangerous with smaller charges) with a 5 1/2 barrel and I get a lot of unburned/incompletely combusted powder.  There's a bunch of sand colored kernels left in the barrel and in the brass.  I have found that if I really bump up the powder charge the barrel stays clean but I really don't like the SUPER loads.  Would magnum primers help?  Is it my barrel length?  I don't think it's the crimp because my Lee crimp die puts on a pretty good one.  Anyone with insights on this powder would be a big help.

[KN]

I went through several powders trying to come up with a good 1000fps load for my 45 colt. Although 2400 wasn't one of them. Most powders were giving me inconsistent ignition and extream velocity spreads according to how the powder was positioned in the case when firing. Finally settled on 10.5grs of W-231 with a 230 hardball and 11.5grs with a 185jhp. Not picky about powder position and recoil is mild. Accuracy is very good also.  KN

[ricciardelli]

2400 is not the preferred powder for .45 Colt.  It is useable, but so are 40 other powders.

What bullet are you using?

[Steve P]

Are you using CCI primers?  I use WLP primers.  I dont have that problem in my vacquero with my 2400 loads.  My whimpy/plinking/shotemuplots load use unique.  More rounds per pound.  more bang for the buck.

Have fun.

Steve   :grin:

[Dand]

Seems to me Ken Waters of Pet Loads fame mentioned that both 2400 and 4227 often leave powder residue.  I think his comment was that if accuracy and velocity was good he didn't mind the residue.  That's my attitude too.  But if you have a closely fitted gun like a Freedom Arms you might want to try another powder.  There was an Anchorage newpaper reporter who got slapped around by a bear after his FA jammed on dirty loads - that's the only concern I'd have.  For my Rugers and Smiths (41 mag) 2400 works fine and I shot it a lot.

[Lloyd Smale]

try 11-12 grains of hs6

[Joe Kool]

I use 2400 in a 10" Contender. The cast bullet is Lyman #454424. I use a CCI 300 primer. I easily got the velocity up to 1450 fps.. When I had an Aimpoint on the barrel, I could shoot 2" groups at 100 yds. But with the plain base bullet, the  barrel would lead some and the accuracy would fall off a little, after about 30 rounds. I just run a brush through the barrel after 25 rounds and I'm good for another 25 rounds. I tried CCI 350 primers, it seems to burn cleaner and left less unburnt grains. The accuracy seemed a bit better, but I had taken the Aimpoint off before I tried the CCI 350 primers, so I couldn't make a good comparison to the load that used the CCI 300 primer.  

[IronKnees]

Those granule particles you have are just a normal characteristic of 2400 and you will find them with nearly everything you shoot with it... I use 2400 in several handgun loads and also 45-70. It is very accurate especially in the big bore, but does leave the residue... It's a non-issue really. I've seen this discussed numerous times before, and everyone I have ever talked to says they have the same thing... just a characteristic of 2400... Also, whether I use magnum or normal primers seems to make little difference.

[jpuke]

Thanks for the info guys.  I shoot a Ruger Blackhawk with a Lee 300 gr bullet and also a 340 gr. paper patched bullet and the accuracy is fine, 4-5" groups at 50 yards.  I was just wondering if the granules left over were normal and everyone seems to say that they are.

[Trails650]

:grin: I'm loading 18.5 gr of 2400  with a 275gr keith in my 4 5/8 Blackhawk and all seems fine. Have not noticed any unburned powder and accuracy looks real good so far. I use wlp and a heavy crimp.
The recoil is not that bad. I'm looking for that one round I want to shoot all the time.Hope this helps.