Author Topic: 357 maximum fun (Read 1299 times)

Reloader · « **on:** May 30, 2003, 01:20:52 PM »

:-D Loaded up some 357 maximum loads today using H110 with Speer 180 grain flat point bullets. 1st three shots went 2.25 inches at 50 yards out of clean barrel. There is definately a different bark using this powder rather than IMR 4227.

Bullseye · « **Reply #1 on:** May 30, 2003, 02:02:59 PM »

I hate that bark from the H110 or Win 296. I have switched my 357 Mag and 44 Mag back to IMR 4227. Will work on a load for my 41 Mag next. Accuracy and velocity are great with the powders, I just do not like the muzzle blast, flash and noise.

PaulS · « **Reply #2 on:** May 30, 2003, 02:29:39 PM »

Reloader,
If you are using the Speer rifle bullets you should be able to get much better groups than that, how much H110 are you using?

Paul

daddywpb · « **Reply #3 on:** May 31, 2003, 02:22:59 AM »

I've got a 357 Max barrel for my Contender with an old Leopold handgun scope on it. I use the 180 grain .358 Speer rifle bullets, and always get good groups. I've never really liked 296, but I've had good results with H110. I've never used it for deer, but I probably should give it a try.

Gregory · « **Reply #4 on:** May 31, 2003, 04:14:26 PM »

Quote from: daddywpb

I've got a 357 Max barrel for my Contender with an old Leopold handgun scope on it. I use the 180 grain .358 Speer rifle bullets, and always get good groups. I've never really liked 296, but I've had good results with H110. I've never used it for deer, but I probably should give it a try.

296 and H110 are the same powder

daddywpb · « **Reply #5 on:** May 31, 2003, 06:01:57 PM »

Then two different companies both wasted a lot of time and money packaging it in two different containers, with two different sets of load data............[/quote]

PaulS · « **Reply #6 on:** June 01, 2003, 08:37:56 AM »

daddywpb,
This debate has been going on for so long that it gets to be real old. I finally wrote Hodgdon and asked if they were the same powder and if the data was interchangable and got a reply from Phil Hodgdon assuring me that they WERE the same powder and that the data WAS interchangable. The differences in data is due to different critiera, practices and lot to lot variation. If you get tired enough of hearing the two sides you should contact them at the hodgdon website and ask for yourself.

PaulS

kciH · « **Reply #7 on:** June 01, 2003, 07:35:00 PM »

Try some AA1680 or H4227 in that .357 Max, both those powders perform better than H110/WW296 (which are the same powder) in the Contender. The Hornady 180gr SSP typically shoots MOA out of a TC barrel if you have a good scope on it to extract the accuracy.

Javelina · « **Reply #8 on:** June 02, 2003, 06:59:21 AM »

PaulS,

You're right about the H110 and W296 being the same powder. Several years back I contacted Phil Hodgdon myself and asked him because of all the rumors. He told me exactly what you said and he told me in writing.

H110 and W296 are the same powder. H110 and W296 are the same powder. H110 and W296 are the same powder. . .ad nauseum. . .

Maybe Hodgdon and Winchester should post something on their web sites to tell everyone H110 and W296 are the same powder. Probably a bad marketing move, but these powders are still two identical forms of the same thing.

I'm sure this will continue to come up, but H110 and W296 will still be the same powder when it does! The good news? You can pick the one that's cheapest in your area! :-D

Javelina

Gregory · « **Reply #9 on:** June 02, 2003, 12:08:44 PM »

Quote from: kciH

Try some AA1680 or H4227 in that .357 Max, both those powders perform better than H110/WW296 (which are the same powder) in the Contender. The Hornady 180gr SSP typically shoots MOA out of a TC barrel if you have a good scope on it to extract the accuracy.

I agree that IMR4227 will produce excellent accuracy, but the muzzle velocity won't come close to what you can get from 296. I consider the "best" powder to combine excellent accuracy at a high MV, at least for hunting applications. My 296 load will go 1 3/8" for five shots at 100 meters with the hornady 180 XTP at 65 fps higher MV than my best IMR4227 load, and that's plenty good enough for deer hunting.

kciH · « **Reply #10 on:** June 02, 2003, 01:06:02 PM »

Gregory,
What barrel length are you using? You should give the 180gr SSP bullet a try, it's designed for handgun hunting and will open up nicely. I've used it in the .357 max and my XP-100 in .35 Remington. It's a pointed bullet with a better BC, it's never failed to open up and hold together on game out to 150yds with the Max. AA1680 with this bullet in my 14" TC will go 2000fps. H110 won't do that in my pistol. I like the H4227 better than H110/WW296 because the pressure seems to build in a more uniform manner. Have you tried Lil'Gun yet? I bought a big container of it a few weeks ago and am currently working up some loads for the 180SSP and my SAECO #356 (200gr FNGC). The burn rate of this powder is basically the same as H110/WW296, but is reputed to produce the same velocities with lower pressure. It won't match H110/WW296 in the 41 Mag with the data I have though.