chrony and load data for 357 reloaders

[bubbapug1]

I have done a lot of tests with 357 to find loads that cycle my Desert Eagle nicely. During those tests I noted that some powders (like H110) had a lot more muzzle blast, report, and recoil than others.

I decided to load up three powders to 99% of the published maximum load and take them to the range and chrony them. All loads shot through a SW 686+ with a 6" barrel today at Burro.

All rounds were loaded with 158 grain copper plated xtreme bullets.

H110 (16.66 grains) - By far the loudest, most recoil, almost hand slamming recoil actually.

FPS - 5 shots = 1115 - 1110 - 1160 - 1201 - 1194


Accurate #9 (13.8 grains) - 5 shots, mild recoil, mild report

FPS - 1264 - 1197 - 1274 - 1266 - 1198


Alliant 2400 13.93 grains 5 shots Milder recoil than H110, but more than Accurate #9. Ditto for the report.

FPS 1170 - 1214 - 1159 - 1082 - 1122


I have also chronied H110 and Accurate #9 in 44 mag with similar results, only more pronounced due to the larger charges involved. Accurate #9 produces a faster velocity with 1/2 to 1/4 of the percieved report and recoil of the H110.

The H110 however does cycle the DE's quickly due to larger gas production, but for a revolver thats not a plus, its a minus in my opinion. Accuracy suffers with excessive muzzle blast and recoil, at least for me..

[cycle61]

Got two pounds of Accurate #9 sitting here for my first 44 mag reloads, and was kind of wishing I had purchased 110 instead. Glad I didn't, if your information about higher muzzle speeds and less report/blast/recoil is correct.

[Bill Steele]

Another advantage to #9 over H110/W296 is you can download it. I load it down below 1000fps in my 240gr LSWC 44RM target loads. It is my preferred 10mm powder as well, just about can't KB a G20/G29 with #9, yet it yields top performance. Meters best of all powders out of my Dillon as well, not much to dislike.

Funny, I got the same results with 2400 in my 10mm loads. Didn't quite get the velocity with 180gr HAPs as #9 or Blue Dot, but got the best accuracy of any powder I tried in this caliber with 180gr HAPs/XTPs using my G20SF and G29SF.

[stevec223]

info

thanks for the info and range testing !!! im going to be reloading 38/357 and 44spec/44mag this winter....ive got h110,hs6 and 2400 powder already but # 9 on my list now too....cheers...

[bubbapug1]

One good thing about H110 is it sure comes in handy clearing out rif raf in the lane next to you at an indoor range. Whenever I get some wanna be's with bad safety habits (newbies mostly) next to me I just load up the deagle with max 44 mag H110 loads, step back a wee bit more than usual, and let it rip, the noise and shock concussion usually have the desired effect quickly.

[cycle61]

Everything I've read on the #9 says not to load it light?

[chknlyps2]

I have been using and like 2400 for .357 and .44 mag, just got some h110 this weekend, glad I only got a pound.

[Bill Steele]

Everything I've read on the #9 says not to load it light?

I load it light (relatively speaking) all the time, with no ill effects. I am always open to different ideas, do you have a link?

[bubbapug1]

I am not saying H110 is bad, its a very popular powder and one of the legends for performance. I like the boom and flash too, the heat from the muzzle blast, but if I am trying to be accurate and shoot maybe 100 rounds in a day at a match, I think I will use Accurate #9.

For a heavy gun like a Desert Eagle 357, the H110 is a minor issue as the gun has very little recoil due to its weight.

Some folks say you should use magnum pistol primers for H110, and I have read that more than one place. I may load up some rounds with it and use different primers to see if it changes the velocities, but what I chornied matches what the books say I may expect. I have shot some loads with the magnum primers and the felt recoil is a bit more intense. Different standard primers have different characteristics and I have not had ignition issues using CCI standard primers

also, there is a lot of warnings about soft loading H110, but the variances even from Hodgdon's manuals are all over the map. While I used 16.7 as a maximum set point, many manuals have 15.5 as the maximum. I also loaded up 15.5 loads a few months ago, and the recoil and report were similar.

All three powders will work, it just is a matter of what effect you want.

[Bill Steele]

I am not saying H110 is bad, its a very popular powder and one of the legends for performance. I like the boom and flash too, the heat from the muzzle blast, but if I am trying to be accurate and shoot maybe 100 rounds in a day at a match, I think I will use Accurate #9.

For a heavy gun like a Desert Eagle 357, the H110 is a minor issue as the gun has very little recoil due to its weight.

Some folks say you should use magnum pistol primers for H110, and I have read that more than one place. I may load up some rounds with it and use different primers to see if it changes the velocities, but what I chornied matches what the books say I may expect. I have shot some loads with the magnum primers and the felt recoil is a bit more intense. Different standard primers have different characteristics and I have not had ignition issues using CCI standard primers

also, there is a lot of warnings about soft loading H110, but the variances even from Hodgdon's manuals are all over the map. While I used 16.7 as a maximum set point, many manuals have 15.5 as the maximum. I also loaded up 15.5 loads a few months ago, and the recoil and report were similar.

All three powders will work, it just is a matter of what effect you want.

I have loaded a fair amount of H110/W296. It is a little harder to ignite and needs pressure to burn completely. Magnum primers will definitely help your results.

Also, the admonishments about reducing load densities with H110 make sense. When you get below certain load densities the combustion becomes erratic and you can get a lot of unburned powder from round to round. You read a lot of people say you can get kabooms from downloading H110/W296, but of course, that is nonsense (other than maybe from a stuck bullet from incomplete burn). The real issue with H110 is it needs pressure to burn well and the margin for when the burn starts becoming unreliable is a lot closer to max load with H110 than a powder like #9 or 2400.

An experienced hand over on the GT forums tells stories of shooting H110 out of his 4" 41 Magnum and lighting his targets on fire when they were a little too close. For magnum loads you will usually be hard pressured to get more velocity out of a given handgun than H110/W296.

[bubbapug1]

Bill, for those who like booms and flash H110 is definitly the way to go. I do think for some its an invitation to flinch and bad shooting habits.

I am going to order up some mag pistol primers and run teh chrony tests again just to make sure I give H110 a chance to shine in the sun. Velocity is the name of the game when it comes to running up FT/LBs of force.

[Bill Steele]

Bill, for those who like booms and flash H110 is definitly the way to go. I do think for some its an invitation to flinch and bad shooting habits.

I am going to order up some mag pistol primers and run teh chrony tests again just to make sure I give H110 a chance to shine in the sun. Velocity is the name of the game when it comes to running up FT/LBs of force.

Your ES and SD's will likely improve with the mag primers, velocities will likely jump as well. Some fun.

[cali-man]

Rings of fire with the Deagle 50AE rounds. I use H110 for both my 44 mag and 50AE loads in the Deagle. It does clear the rif raf around me when they start getting a little too close at the range.

[rsrocket1]

cali-man
Great picture!

[Whiterabbit]

I bet those H110 rounds would show significant velocity gains in a rifle as compared to a short barrel.