FA 97 45 colt and 2400

[HGunner]

I opened a new bottle of 2400 last weekend and loaded up some 250 XTPs for my FA 97 45 colt using WLP primers.  This is only my second bottle of this powder but it seems quite a bit hotter than the other.  I'm getting a little over 1200 fps with 18.5 grains which is about 100 fps more than before.  I readjusted the chronograph but got the same thing and the ES was only 12 fps which corresponded to impressive accuracy.  I found this to be quite shootable -- amazing power in such a handy package.  Have you noticed this sort of lot to lot variation in powders?

[Graybeard]

I haven't noticed such but that velocity strikes me as a bit high for 18.5 grains with that bullet. I used to use it a lot in .44 magnum at 17.5 grains with cast 240 GC bullets and I seem to recall closer to 1000-1050 fps with that load and that was in my S&W 29 with 10-5/8" barrel.

I know it is to some extent an apples and oranges comparison but with the larger .45 Colt case and jacketed bullets I would expect no more velocity from yours than I got from my load.

I've always used 2400 heavily and never saw a noticeable change from lot to lot variation with it.

[HGunner]

It's more velocity than I expected too.  I'll check my scale and try it again.  It seems like it would make a great whitetail load.

[Ken ONeill]

The only change in 2400 I'm aware of occured about 25-30 years ago, with the newer powder being "hotter". I haven't noticed the kind of variation you describe from lot to lot, but then again, I don't chronograph loads from lot to lot, and only very very rarely after initial load development.

18.5 gr. is a little heavier than I like to use in my 97, although I use 19-19.5 in my large frame Rugers, a load out of the Hornady manuals. I usually use 17.5 in my 97 for a bit over 1100 fps, so your 1200 fps sounds about right to me. Did you change from another primer to the WLP?

[HGunner]

The only thing I changed was the lot of powder. I pretty much use WLPs for all loads.  With the old lot I tried your load including cci 350 primers and got a little over 1000 fps.  I'll try it again with the new lot of 2400.  I checked my digital scale with a balance scale and the numbers were identical. Of course I have no idea if my chrono is right....

[HGunner]

Well I rechecked everything and loaded the 250 XTP again using WLP primers and my new lot of 2400.  I got a little over 1000 fps with the 17.5 and right at 1100 fps with the 18.5.  This is very similar to my last lot of powder.  I'm not sure why I got the 1200 fps last time -- it was very sunny and this can sometimes affect my chrono.  Of course it's possible that I loaded 19.5 instead of 18.5 but I am awfully careful when loading...  Regardless,  I find the 18.5 grain load to be quite shootable in the FA 97 and it shot a little more accurately than the 17.5 grain load.  Seems like it would be a solid deer load.  Anybody use this bullet for hunting at these velocities?  I would love to hear your experience with hunting performance.

[HGunner]

I've just about settled on 18 grains of 2400 with the 250 XTP and WLP primers.  This runs about 1070 fps and is accurate and shootable.  Has anyone used this bullet for deer hunting in this velocity range?