I genuinely enjoy learning new facts.
I have been using 2400 for magnum loads in my S&W .357 and .44 Magnum handguns for a very long time. It is efficient and effective in those applications.
Today I was reading the latest issue of the American Rifleman and discovered something I didn't know, so I thought I would pass it along to you fellows (and gals). Perhaps some of you already knew it, but I didn't.
It seems that 2400 was invented by Hercules specifically for the .22 Hornet cartridge, when that round was first becoming popular in the early 1930s after Winchester introduced it for varmint use (Savage was the first to chamber a production rifle for it). The powder got its name from the velocity it could produce from the Hornet when shot from standard rifle-length barrels chambered for the Hornet cartridge and using (I think) 45 grain bullets.

__________________
Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I use it 22 Rem Jet loads also behind Keith type bullets in 41 and 44 mag, a very good powder. Jeff

It's Better then 296/H110 for magnum loads.
They burn too hot I think.

__________________
Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

My limited chronograph testing seems to indicate that I can obtain higher velocities with lower perceived pressures in the .41 Magnum and .44 Magnum with H110 but 2400 is the best choice for performance .357 Magnum loads.

One cannot go wrong with either 2400 or H110 in the three straight-walled Magnum cartridges.

I recently found a can of it and bought it to use in .357 an d .44 mag.
I also got a can of H110 for the same uses.
I figured, between the two, I couldn't go wrong.

__________________
What would Jim Cirillo do?

I've been shooting 2400 since 1968 in .44 Mag and .357 Mag. For most of my revolver shooting, I can get by with Bullseye, Unique and 2400. I know there are a lot of new powders that may be better for some applications, but I'm comfortable with those three and they do everything I want to do in those two calibers.

__________________
Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

That's interesting. Thanks for that. I knew it was an old powder (presumed it, like Red Dot, predated WWII) but did not know it was named for the velocity one could expect in a .22 Hornet.

Jack,

The story sounds familiar and is likely factual. Phil Sharpe in his discussion of development of the .357 Magnum refers to experimental loads being developed by Winchester were using specifically the new 2400 powder. Since the gun was released in 1935 that would have been probably 1933-1934 for cartridge development.

** Per Phillip B. Sharpe, "Complete Guide to Reloading", p178, part 1, 1953 edition. "Hercules 2400. Introduced 1932." Released to the canister trade (personal reloaders) in 1933. "It was designed particularly for such cartridges as the .22 Hornet, .25/20, etc......"

__________________
Gunsmithing since 1961

Didn't know this. Thanks for the info. I been a 2400 user forever seems like and a 357 nut case. Got no better sense I reckon. At 75 I still use a healthy dose of 2400 in my 357s' and have never dropped a 38 cartridge in one of then. To me that would be a sin. Why the h-- folks get a 357 to shoot 38s' from then has never made any sense to me. Sorry! Popper

2400 is a nice, flexible powder. From mid-range to hot. H110/W296 on the other hand is not as flexible, need be run at or near wide open throttle.

To answer Popper's question. Shorter cases are preferred by action revolver shooters. The shorter cases offers easier and faster reloading via speedloaders or moonclips than the longer .357 cases.

And in the N frame guns feel like a 22lr.

__________________
2 Timothy 1:7

I was using the 296 & 2400 and I realized I got more velocity out of 2400 with less powder. So we get more mileage from the 2400.

I use 2400 in the magnum cases with the jacketed bullets and unique in the special cases with the lead cast bullets.

I get a higher velocity in the special cases using the same unique powder charge over the longer magnum cases with the lead cast bullets.

It seems obvious to me. No one buys a 357 specifically to shoot 38's, but 38's provide the 357 revolver owner some useful flexibility. When shooting at paper targets or tin cans, 38's kill them just as dead as a 357, but with less noise and muzzle blast.

The name 2400 came from the speed of the .22 Hornet....45gr at 2400fps.

I believe that the 38 colt fits in the 357/38 revolver. I'm figuring to move the misses up slowly when she is ready. I need to get her out more with the Taurus 94 in 22lr. She's just starting out. I figured I let her shoot the 38 colt before going to the 38 special. I'm going to do the same thing with the 44 Russian, the 44 special too. My goal is for her to ccw carry a 38 special and 44 special.

Now I don't care for reloading my leadcast bullets in the longer magnum cases when I get better ballastics from the shorter special brass using the same powder charges and lead bullets. I save the longer magnum brass for magnum charges and jacketed bullets. At the range I start off shooting the special ammo with the lead bullets. At the end of the shoot now that I'm in the groove again and settled down I may run 50rounds if magnum bullets just to keep the recoil of the revolver in my mind. It doesn't take much to remember how the revolver shoots with the higher magnum charges.

If you don't shoot that often I mix up the fired cases with the loaded rounds to control the flinching or the knowing it's a loaded round every time. You get rid of the premature gitters.

I read the same article and was just as surprised. I switched from H110 and 296 to 2400 years ago, less flame cutting.