Anyone use H110 with the 110 grain XTP? I followed the Hodgon starting load of 22 gr and the charge fills up most of the case? Anyone touch one of these off yet? I also loaded some with 2400 and it did the same. I have to know, am I in for a surprise when I drop the hammer?

ETA .357 magnum.

Caliber would help

.357 magnum, sorry.

110 GR. HDY XTP Winchester 296 .357" 1.590" 22.0 1992 32,400 CUP 23.0 2078 37,200 CUP
110 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon H110 .357" 1.590" 22.0 1992 32,400 CUP 23.0 2078 37,200 CUP


Hornady loading data are online:
http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

You better hope that a 296/H110 load is at least 90% filled; it is dangerous otherwise.

I haven't used any of the 110 gr bullets in the 357 mag but I have used a great many 125 gr bullets with it over the years.Many on the forum don't like light bullets and some will condemn the use of slow burning powders with them.That said,I've used H110 & W296 (same powder) with the 125 gr bullet and have had excellent results.Velocity,consistancy and accuracy have all been good.My standard load with it is 22 gr of W296 behind the 125 gr Speer jhp.Your load sounds fine.

About the comment about loading H110 below 90% being "dangerous",the only danger is the risk of having a squib load which can be a disaster if a bullet gets stuck in the barrel and another round is fired behind it.Reductions with this powder should be very slight...period.

I am one of those that isn't too crazy about that light of bullet in the 357Mag. Two reasons, I cast my own bullets for the most part and I've read some reports about FBI findings that they wouldn't penetrate windshield glass.

Now I'm not planning on shooting at cars with mine but maybe a perp or two and wanted them to go just a tad deeper than the leather jacket they might be wearing! To each their own, that's mine.

H110/W296 is as good a magnum powder as your gonna get. There are others as good, none really better.

These must be your first reloads. I can remember mine. Just 38spl and 3.5gr of Bullseye under a 158gr LSWC. I was still nervous about lighting them up! Just newbie jitters.

There was a lot of good advice already given. The load sounds good. Give the bullets a firm crimp and let-um rip.

I've been out of it for awhile. I use to load the .41 mag and the .45 acp.

H110 and W296 need a heavy bullet to work properly lighter bullets use a faster powder. H110 and W296 get funky with smaller charges and light bullets

Seems 22gr is listed as max, it is also the fastest (fps) load shown for .357 and a 110gr bullet (Hodgdon web data). I've not played with light loads of H110, so I can't comment on whether it gets "funky" or not, BUT, it sure seems like the best performing powder made by Hodgdon for this application.

And then theres the advantage of lower pressures coupled with the highest velocity, hmmmm.....

Hodgdon shows 23 grains as max behind the 110.They show 22 grains behind the 125.

Years ago,I used data from the Speer#11 and worked up to 21.6 behind their 125 gr jhp.Great performance.I decided to lower slightly to 21.0 and used that as a standard for a long time.

At a later time.I saw the Hodgdon data (among others)which went a bit above the Speer#11 and then tested it with 22 grains.Great performance.

The Sierra 125 gr jhc seats slightly deeper in the case and therefore will raise pressures (as well as velocity).Even their data shows 21.1 in spite of this.I normally reduce the charge just a bit when using the Sierra to compensate.I've had excellent results with the Sierra 125 and 21 grains.

Obviously,the 110,being even lighter will handle a bit more.

H110/W296 cannot be used like a standard powder as far as loading down. If you load it too light it will not cause a squib load, it will detonate. Hodgdon recommends reducing no more than 3% with this powder. Therefore you should just use the minimum charge from their reloading center as your starting charge and work up if you wish within the 1 gr window or so you have to play with. A full charge of H110/W296 will come up to the base of it's respective XTP bullet. This is not an issue as long as you don't deviate from the published load data.

I have found the 125gr XTP to be the best choice for H110/W296 in my 357 mag. Manageable recoil with a huge flash and boom, which is what you should want if you are choosing this powder. If you don't want a full house load you must go to a different powder.

Always use magnum primers with H110/W296 and apply a firm crimp, which will help the powder burn and keep pressure up during firing.

My bad, the point of the statement was only to show it was not a "light" load.

shovelwrench,

I wasn't trying to be a smart alek.Without even making reference to you,I was merely trying to keep things straight for the record.No offense was intended.

The H110 at 22 grains was just about right. I don't think there is any reason to try anymore. It was accurate for me. Two inches at 75 feet with irons is all I expect. I also tried 19.5 grains of 2400. It was about six inches at 75 feet. It did make quit a light show and a small crowd formed behind me as I touched off the H110.

I have been loading up with H110 and have noticed that maximum loading without compression in starline cases with 125gr XTP bullets is about 21.5gr. Ball powders have a theoretical compression rate maximum of about 50%. I havent really reached where I think I could go with this load but, while I like having the case loaded to or close to capacity, I just dont like compressing loads.

Anyone have any real data on what kind of compression rates this powder can undergoe before running into ignition problems?

I have already loaded to .22gr (the manuals max load) and had no real signs of excessive pressure at all. My groups have been tightening at a good rate as the pressure goes up with this round. I usually like to go until I see some widening. I dont think I am even close.

I realize manuals error (as should everyone) on the side of caution. I have loaded in a progression from the middle to the top and checked every load for signs of pressure. Even with a magnifying glass and a micrometer, the brass shows no difference between 19.8 and 22.0 grains. Primers show only slight flattening.

Has anyone gone higher than 22? Was it worth it?

Glaxicus,

Your load of 22 grains of H110 behind the Hornady 125 XTP sounds fine but it's considered max.I wouldn't go over it.From reading your post,I'm thinking you may be fairly new at reloading and I get the sense that you're putting far too much emphasis on compression vs non compression.Your load sounds good.

You can get good loads from a 110 gr bullet if you remember that the bullet is short,the XTP is longer than others,so expand and flare the case mouth if possible with a .355 expander from a 9mm this will give a tighter grip at the case mouth this was a problem years ago working up loads with then win and rem 110 gr didn't grip the bullet enough for good ignition of H110