What to use when you can't find 2400?

Does anybody still use Herco? It has been a good standby for me for a long time if I can't find 2400.

Herco is a good powder for many uses, but for some reason, it's not popular today. Not much current data is available but lots of data is in the older manuals.

Herco's burn rate is similar to Unique. Herco is much, much faster burning than #2400.
 
Cause it's an accurate load for me and I use the faster powders for other purposes. I've loaded .357 magnum loads from W231 and Unique and for me, I found the 2400 better.


Well you don't have any, so I offered up some suggestions.


Get some H110 then and blast away.


Look at the chart I posted/load data and you decide.
 
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I load 2400 for .357 magnum and am now o-u-t. It's my fault for not being aware of inventory in my shop, but now I need to load for the .357 magnum, target loads, 158gr LSWC. Any suggestions for a replacement powder? My "shootin' all the time" load was 13.5gr 2400. I don't have a chronograph, and I only shoot 158gr LSWC, and I want that nice .357 magnum thump. Thanks in advance.

IMR 4227 would be my first choice. Access Denied

Edit - no idea why it says Access Denied since the link works.
 
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I wouldn't sleep on AA#7, especially if you're shooting from a short barrel like a 3" revolver. You can download this powder and still get good accuracy. It is position sensitive. If you're loading on a progressive press with a volumetric powder drop, AA#7 meters really well, and will give very consistent drops.
 
I don't know why Blue Dot has lost interest in the 357 Magnum but it has. I have never used it so I can't comment on the combination.
 
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For full-power loads, Accurate #9 is nice; and you don't need a magnum primer. I like 2400 for the same reason but, as others, can't find any.
 
How about some HS-6?
Just 7gr will get you over 1100fps with a LSWC.
I know it works really well for 38special +P loads so I'd think it would work equally well in magnums as an alternative to 2400.
 
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As a 2400 replacement, i also second Accurate 9, i used it as Shootersworld "Heavy Pistol" (Lovex D037.2). It gave good speed consistency from 12 grains upward, i went up to 12.7 grains which gave about 1300 fps with the lead SWC (19%Linotype). It was shot out of a 6 inch Colt Python.
Accurate 7 works well, too (D037.1), it is a bit higher on the pressure, it somehow had a velocity spread, but it works well.

What i now settled on for competition use are 8 grains of Ramshot True Blue. This gives less of a magnum thump, but a dead on accuracy. Also Shootersworld Auto Pisto (D036) did a great job at like 8 to 8.4 grains.

All of the above powders meter like water, particularly True Blue.

What gave me no luck at all was Enforcer. I even had a squib load for ignition failure with a .158 FMJ, i had to poke it out with quite some chiseling. So, it is difficult to ignite and even more difficult to bring to a consistent burn, maybe only at max charges. I now rinse it in .44 Magnum, gladly i got me a 29 to burn it up, it was just sitting around. Not a good powder fo .357 in my gun at least. Even for the .44 at 21 grain, the velocity spread was like 60 fps with 227 grain bullets. It thumps well, but thats about it. I will try it with plated bullets next in .44, still upping the charge.

But for your intentions, Heavy Pistol #9 might be closest. The powder crummies are also perfectly spherical, it is a blast to work with, very pleasant. Happy loading!
 
How about some HS-6?
Just 7gr will get you over 1100fps with a LSWC.
I know it works really well for 38special +P loads so I'd think it would work equally well in magnums as an alternative to 2400.

Based solely on my own experience as I finish off an 8 lb. keg of HS-6... I've found this to be quite the "niche" powder. I've developed a very few accurate loads with this powder in a variety of handgun cartridges. Most loads, however, provided mediocre accuracy.

It has been stated elsewhere many times that HS-6 works better with a magnum primer. It has also been stated it works best with loads that are at near maximum levels. I've done side-by-side benchrested 25 yard accuracy comparisons using standard primers and magnum primers with no measureable differences. Also, I've seen no definitive accuracy advantage between moderate and heavy loads. Sometimes a heavy load was a good one, while other times a moderate load showed an advantage.

Regardless, I'd occasionally stumble across a truly accurate load. My testing was confined to cast bullet use in the 9mm, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .44 Special, and .45 ACP.

A comparison/ substituion of HS-6 and #2400 isn't a valid one as the powders are not close in burn rates. For heavier, higher velocity loads in appropriate cartridges, #2400 is a far better more useful powder.

Just my observations based on a lot of load development and shooting using HS-6. Again, I did find some good loads, just not very many.
 
I too had trouble finding accurate loads in many handguns with HS-6/Win 540. Mainly with lead bullets. all loads tightened up considerably with regular jacketed bullets esp 9mm and 357. To be honest I had poor luck with high intensity loads with HS-6 almost across the board. HS-7 was much better. 9mm with me is a seldom loaded round anyway. Most of my more accurate handgun loads are with the Hercules/Alliant powders...but yes...I load them more often than others except 231. I even have the original Win 230 and it is a bit more accurate than it's later sibling...maybe. I'm not a bullseye handgun shooter. Wish I could learn how to consistently S Q U E E Z E a trigger
 
I use 2400 for .357 Magnum and .30 Carbine. Have about 2 1/2 pounds of 2400 on the shelf. Do not shoot either on a regular basis. So when and if I see a pound or so somewhere I will pick it up and add it to the stash.
 
I too had trouble finding accurate loads in many handguns with HS-6/Win 540. Mainly with lead bullets. all loads tightened up considerably with regular jacketed bullets esp 9mm and 357. To be honest I had poor luck with high intensity loads with HS-6 almost across the board. HS-7 was much better. 9mm with me is a seldom loaded round anyway. Most of my more accurate handgun loads are with the Hercules/Alliant powders...but yes...I load them more often than others except 231. I even have the original Win 230 and it is a bit more accurate than it's later sibling...maybe. I'm not a bullseye handgun shooter. Wish I could learn how to consistently S Q U E E Z E a trigger

Yes, you can do much better than HS-6 in a .357 and many others with cast bullets, but if you do enough load development, you'll occasionally stumble across a good load.
 
I don't know why Blue Dot has lost interest in the 357 Magnum but it has. I have never used it so I can't comment on the combination.

It is a great powder for full 38 & 357 loads but was moved to the back burner
when "the Scare" of a "Winter load" caused some bad vibes and
the company rep's had to down size the amount of powder in the 357 case
to lower fps and make everyone feel safe again.

By the way;
Herco powder was the "Factory Duplication " powder in the old days
in many of the loading manuals.
Another good powder that went to the back burner.
 
I load 2400 for .357 magnum and am now o-u-t. It's my fault for not being aware of inventory in my shop, but now I need to load for the .357 magnum, target loads, 158gr LSWC. Any suggestions for a replacement powder? My "shootin' all the time" load was 13.5gr 2400. I don't have a chronograph, and I only shoot 158gr LSWC, and I want that nice .357 magnum thump. Thanks in advance.

Again, if you're looking for # 2400 and want an 8 lb. keg, Powder Valley has them (or did a few days ago). I bought one. I've used it since 1965. To me, # 2400 still works better in the .357 Magnum than all the other substitutes mentioned in these posts; maybe the exception being one of the 4227s.
 
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I don't know why Blue Dot has lost interest in the 357 Magnum but it has. I have never used it so I can't comment on the combination.

probably because blue dot suffers the same availability issues of everything else Alliant.
300 MP is a good performer ... didn't mention it ... it's another Alliant powder. They have been horrible about meeting the latest demands.
 
...By the way;
Herco powder was the "Factory Duplication " powder in the old days
in many of the loading manuals.
Another good powder that went to the back burner.

That's good to know. I have a few pounds of Herco in my stash...
Lucky me, I also have a several pounds of 2400. Too bad the OP is so far away, otherwise I'd consider sharing some with him.
 
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