I enjoyed the Bullseye and Unique threads and agreed with all of the comments. Now, how about 2400?

I bought a 410 shotgun for the boys when they were young and saved all of the hulls. I found a reloader on E-Bay a few years ago and bought it to be ready in case I ever wanted to reload them for the Grandkids...LOL.

All of my books show 2400 as the only powder and that's why i never bought any.

So, what else is it good for? I load 38, 41, 45, 9mm, 3006, 308 and a few more. Any good ideas?

Or......as an option, what else will work in 410?

2400 is a good 44 mag and 357mag powder, its is good for shotgun shells but i cant tell you alot about that

__________________
WILL WORK FOR AMMO!

[QUOTE=GypsmJim;1282515]I enjoyed the Bullseye and Unique threads and agreed with all of the comments. Now, how about 2400?

I bought a 410 shotgun for the boys when they were young and saved all of the hulls. I found a reloader on E-Bay a few years ago and bought it to be ready in case I ever wanted to reload them for the Grandkids...LOL.

All of my books show 2400 as the only powder and that's why i never bought any.

So, what else is it good for? I load 38, 41, 45, 9mm, 3006, 308 and a few more. Any good ideas?


Seeing as you asked the same question about Unique and Bullseye, I would suggest you invest in a couple of reloading manuals.

I use or have used 2400 in 44, 460, 300 Whisper, 45AR, .38Sp, .357, and more I don't remember. Started using 2400 in about 62 if I remember right.

__________________
the world is round everywhere

I use 2400 for anything that I used to use H110 in. It works great in the .357 mag, 44 mag and any other revolver round you want a mid to hot load in.

Like Joed49 said, it is good for full power loads in 44 magnum. If you are punching paper, Unique will fill the bill better as less powder has to be used.

__________________
jj

Agreed, 2400 is an excellent all around powder for any of the larger rounds from .357 on up, (and even in some .38 special loads), with 3/4 to full power loads.

It won't quite match H-110 for top speeds, but it isn't too far behind, and it's a lot more flexable with less than top end loads.

As far as what else works in the .410, look at Winchester 296.

[QUOTE=GLV;1282555]I wasn't the one that asked the question about Unique and Bullseye. I merely commented that I found the answers to be right on.

What I did say was that 2400 was the only powder listed in my manuals for .410. Actually, I must have at least a half dozen store bought manuals going back to the 1960's, plus just about every manual printed and given out by the powder manufacturers.

I guess I should have phrased my question better. I load 12, 16 and 20 ga. using Unique exclusively. I shoot so little .410 that I hate to buy a dedicate` powder for it. What I would really like is load data to use Ulique in .410.

I see from the manuals that 2400 is a good fit for magnum loads. I rarely load my magnums to full throttle, sj I have no use for the 2400 there either.

i use it for my 41mag. works for me, the doe i shoot this year thought so...

__________________
George Jamison

Just an FYI- Hodgdon Lil'Gun was designed specifically for use in the 410.

2400 does not have to be run all the way to the top like I said above. It can be used in decent 3/4 level loads with complete satisfaction.

I got great results using 2400 in my heavy .44 mag loads. I use 2400 and AA#9 exclusively for that caliber.

BTW, I started the "Unique. What is it good for" thread, and I have a bazillion reloading resources. I wanted to know what you folks used it for!


WG840

__________________
Freedom above all else.

I use 296 for 2-1/2" .410 skeet loads.

__________________
"I also cook."

2400 is good for a lot of cartridges! All the way from .38 Special and .45 ACP to rifles with cast bullets. It tends to use more weight density to do the job, so many times there are other powders that are more efficient.

I think I've seen a powder, .410 by name, maybe from Alliant or Hodgdon. I haven't used it, so I can't comment on it.

I have successfully used Blue Dot for some .410 loads, mostly heavier shot than normally encountered and it was in brass hulls.

You can find some pretty good cast bullet 2400 loads for rifles here.

It amazes me that no one has come on this thread and said that 2400 does not throw well, or that 2400 is dirty.....That seems to happen with every powder that has been discussed recently. Thank goodness, maybe that is over and done with.

Why would anyone say that anyway? 2400 is just about like a ball powder, so it does meter good.

It also burns clean, if one doesn't try to use it for weenie loads.

2400 is the finest magnum handgun powder ever made. 30 years ago, I wore out a Model 29 w/ it (no kidding), it's great in the .357 and .41 Magnums, and the 10mm as well. Easy to burn, don't need killer crimps or magnum primers.

I get higher velocity with 2400 than I do with comparable loadings with H-110 in my 4" barrel 686. 2400 is a tad faster, so maybe it is better in the shorter barrel.

I find myself starting more and more sentences with this phrase lately, except I say "35 or 40 years ago , , , ,"

__________________
Georgia On My Mind

Lil'Gun is tough on hulls -- tends to burn the plastic after a few loadings. H110/WW296 are better choices, IMHO.

I just got through reloading 150 rounds of 357 with 2400. Used H&G's#51GC bullet; a 156 gr swc fitted with a gas check. I'll be shooting some of them at 100 yds when the weather is good enough to get out.

2400 is a good powder and has been around for a "gazillion" years. It was the powder of choice for the Old Timers and magnum loads. It even was a favorite for some of the "special" cartridges before the "magnums" were even thought of!

I have used it successfully in the 44Mag and 45AR cartridges. One thing though, while you can download it some without dangers of squibs, it tends to leave unburnt powder in the barrel if you do. Not dirty but ........................

Like all powders it has it's favorite pressures to work at. It works best when it is near the top end.

That may be a little bit of a stretch Skip, since there was only 4 or 5 years from the introduction of 2400 to the introduction of the .357 Magnum. However, I'd almost be willing to say the magnum came into existence because of "new" powders like 2400.

The original .357 factory offering is reputed to have been loaded with non-canister 2400. Elmer extolling its virtues in heavy loaded .44 Specials probably had something to do with the introduction of the .44 Magnum.

I stand corrected. Chalk it up to literary license!

I didn't say it wasn't true, because I don't know one way or the other. It's just supposition on my part.

Paul; I was being facetious (remember the Unique thread...dirty...hard to throw, etc). I have used 2400 for 50 years in the 44 Mag, and it is an exemplary powder for that purpose and many others.

As mentioned earlier it is a powder used for rifle loads as well. I use cast in my 30-30 and 45-70 99% of the time and have several loads for them using 2400 as the propellant. Some have selected it as their favorite powder for cast bullet loads in these calibers. I myself haven't found it to be my favorite for these yet. One characteristic of it I like is the physical size of the powder grains. H110 is a great magnum level powder except the grains are so small that some powder measures do not operate very well with it. The powder gets into the drum area and makes the movement gritty and rough. Some measures even leak it out on the bench. Not true on all powder measures but some. I have found that with 2400 that this problem doesn't happen for me. They both meter consistent for me.
Cary

I use it for the 30 cal carbine, 357 and 44 mag. You can reduce the loads by a little bit more than H110.

I think I saw some recipes for use in other rifles 30-06? with lead bullets but can't remember where.

__________________
Still Running Against the Wind

OCD1, I posted a site yesterday that's similar to what you're looking for.

2400 is good magnum revolver fuel, good in 410 shotgun , good in .22 Hornet , excellent reduced load/cast bullet fuel in larger centerfire rifle and will give near full performance in the 7.62x39.

And, for the original poster......Unique isn't suitable for .410.

Just shot a bunch of my 44mag with 20g or so of 2400 with a home cast 215g gas checked bullet. Shoots nice, throws one heck of a flame out a 4" barrel almost like a camera flash indoors

Paul,

Thanks! Some good stuff there.

__________________
Still Running Against the Wind

Makes a good reduced load in .458 Win. Mag.

J.B.

I'll be the stick in the mud on this one. I've tried 2400 with various bullets in 460 S&W Mag along with H-110. I shoot the H-110 loads more accurately that the 2400 loads. It's to the point that I have no use for 2400 in my 460 loads. I'm talking about shooting these out to 100 yds.

Having two pounds of 2400 on the shelf, I'm trying 2400 vs H-110 in my 686, 357 mag loads. So far, I shoot the H-110, 158 gr JHP loads more acurately than the same bullet with 2400. I still have to compare the lighter bullet weights with the two powders. I'm shootin my 686 out to 75 yds, but this will change. A scope is on its way.

I still use 2400 in 45 colt rounds with 250 gr XTp's. It works ok at indoor range distances such as 25-30 ft.

I'm not a big fan of 2400, yet.

I began my handgun reloading career with Alcan 8, then became enamored with light and fast, which meant switching to another powder. It was close to 40 years down the road before I even tried 2400, sometime around 2004. Since then, I've gone through about 8 pounds of the Alliant variety.

I really don't have any use for H110/W296, even though I have some on the shelf. One reason is because of the flexibility of 2400, while producing comparable results on the high end of loads. Part of that flexibility is reflected in the ability to use 2400 in reduced rifle loads, a practice that certainly isn't a possibility with H110/W296.

Using 2400 is relatively new to me as well. In fact, and I know some folks will call this heresy, I didn't even try Unique until sometime this century!

I think that the place that 24000 shines is with heavy lead bullets. Not that it has no place anywhere else, it just shines there. The whole Elmer/Skeeter thing.

As for H110/W296 I do have a use for it. Didn't used to be that way, but it is true now. Full power magnum loads for the 44Mag rifle loads I use from time to time.

I have to get serious though about using another powder for my heavy rifle loads now. The ones that I just took to Oklahoma were loaded with WC820, a MILSURP powder that works like a dream with jacketed bullets.

At any rate, it really comes down to the individual and their firearms.

I really should qualify that statement by saying I don't have any use for it in handgun loads. It seems to be usable in carbines chambered in pistol calibers, but not that much different to justify keeping it in stock.

Just got back from the range. In my 44 mag handguns, I was shooting, 240's, 300's, 325's and 405's all sitting on top of 2400...I like 296/110, but, I think I like 2400 better.

I have found that 2400 shoots reduced power cast bullets closest to the sights in the .30-06, compared to all the other powders I have tried. They all shoot low, but 2400 shoots the least low. I am trying to find a powder that will shoot the 150 gr. cast Lee bullet to the sights at 50 yards (the rifle is sighted for full power jacketed bullets) and am to date unsuccessful. Maybe it can't be done, but 2400 does it best.

I have also found that 2400 will not scorch my revolver brass, like 296 does with top end loads in the .45 Colt Redhawk. The only time I think 296 is really necessary is with the really heavy bullets like 335 grs. and heavier.

Dave Sinko

I love 2400!

It doesn't provide the velocities that H-110/296 does in big rounds like the .475/500 Linebaugh and the 460/500 S&W, but it will get the job done in most other rounds in fine fashion.

I never tried 2400 until about two months ago and I was working up a load in 44 Magnum using a 300 FP lead bullet. I loaded three different weights of three different powders and the 2400 came out last. I know this means nothing except to me. I will try it again, but the powder that was the most accurate was AA#5 using 10.4 grs., the starting load. Velocity was 1063 fps, the most accurate. Next was Unique. The recoil and flash from 2400 was much more than the other two. Granted I was not looking for the most powerful load I could make, just the most accurate. So maybe I should not have expected 2400 to work at the lower end of the scale, but I will keep trying to find a load my 629 with 8 3/8 barrel likes. I'm going to try AA#7 and #9 next too. The only other information I had for 2400 was Lyman and it was not very hot for the 300 gr. lead. So I was not loading it to it's best at only 15.7 grs., their max, at 1001 fps. I couldn't find a hotter load for the 300gr. lead F.P. using 2400.

I have an old inheirited .44 HE #2 that Dad had. He was using 2400 in it reloading, so kept it that way. I use a 240 gr. cast SWC for practice and 240 gr. SJHP for hunting and home defense. The cast bullets shoot like a .38 or .357 and the semi-jacket bullets let you know it's ALL 44 and NOTHING SPECIAL about "hitting the near-center" of the target. At 30 yards I can group a spot just bigger than a saucer in off-hand, timed fire during military qualifications with 50 rounds. The last 6 rounds (sometimes) get fired from the hip, which makes the Range Officer 'upset'. BUT, he can't figure which holes they were. With a bit of practice, you can make a group the size of a water glass in the kneeling/rested (defensive) position. All positions are timed.

We could not get my nephews Desert Eagle to quit stove piping.

I loaded up some top loads with 2400, the Desert Eagle loved them.

My nephew gave me 4 pounds of 2400 as a thank you for finding a load that worked in his gun!!

The 2400 just sits, I like Unique in my 629s'.

Maybe some day I will "step up" what I shoot in my guns.

2400 is tops for .44 mag , .41 mag and .357 mag!

I shoot a lot of magnum handguns and 2400 is my workhorse powder.

I like Unique & 296, used to use 2400. CB

Well,
I've been rollin my own now on toward the north end of forty-sumthin' years...

I've got my working powders down to two or three for handgun cartridges.

Unique, 2400 & jest a dab of Bullseye for the ol 38 wad-cutters.

Unique in the 45 ACPs, mid range 44 and 45s

2400 fur everyday loads from the .22 Jet to the .45 Long Colt.

Let jest say I enjoy it by the keg....


Su Amigo,
Dave

__________________
"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Shotgunworld.com • View forum - Shotgun Reloading

Shotgun World...Reloading section. Ask your .410 powder question there. Probably THE best shotgun site on the web.

Only because this thread responds to my current quest do I bring it up from its old age: So based upon all of these expert opinions, would any of you say a guy loading 38 special (158 cast Lee TL), 44 magnum (240 cast Lee TL) and MagTech brass 410 (four pellets totaling 280 grains), and the fact that I do not need boomer loads and I'm not trying to squeak out every last ounce of performance out of each load, would 2400 be a good powder to look at servicing all three loads? Smithy.

__________________
Jesus Christ Saves!

In response to the above, I'd have to say yes.

Now that this thread is back, I'm reminded of something I read in one of the gun magazines a while back. I'm not sure which magazine and I'm not sure who wrote it. It was about a load called "You Make Any Gun Go Bang" or something similar. The powder used was 2400, and there was a charge weight that would work with the vast majority of rifle cartridges with reduced loads and most revolver cartridges. I don't remember the charge weight, but I think it was less than 10 grs. It was the ultimate in versatility. Does anybody remember this?

Dave Sinko

With the medium heavy and heavy bullets 2400 doesn't give up much at all to 110/296. I've loaded my .357 to the point where it's starting to hurt and still have a little headroom for more powder. I don't hunt, so.....