What's up with 2400??

forestswin · Apr 21, 2013

is it that 2400 is just not too sensitive to the amount of powder used ??????????

loaded up some 357 rounds with Penn Bullets 158 gr TCBB (Premium grade) and shot them today with my S&W 686 6" at 25 yards

loads were all Alliant 2400 with following increments:
11.4 gr, 11.6 gr, 11.8 gr, 12.0 gr, 12.2 gr, 12.4 gr. and a little jump up to 13.2gr

5 shots with 11.4 and 13.2 grouped less than 1 1/4"
5 shots with 11.6, 11.8 and 12.0 grouped less than 1 1/2"
and
5 shots with 12.2 and 12.4 grouped less than 2"

in other words they all grouped pretty darn well

Bob P says these are the most accurate 357 bullets he casts
hooked up with 2400 ---- pretty darn good

rwsmith · Apr 21, 2013

Happy

Looks like a really happy combination!

Dave T · Apr 21, 2013

2400 has been a legendary performer with cast bullets for more years that I've been doing this and that's well over 40 years. Not at all surprised at your results.

Dave

Nevada Ed · Apr 21, 2013

You had me scared for a second...............
I just ordered some 2400 for the 1st time , ever !!

Never needed anything but Blue Dot for my needs with
the m19 but with a new 686, I can now push the envelope !!

Glad to hear that is worked well for you.

BLUEDOT37 · Apr 22, 2013

Decisions...

I have some 158gr cast SWC bullets I was planning on loading up to about 1200fps & couldn't decide on which of my powders to "play" with. I think you helped my indecision.

(Oh no, did I say "think"... that doesn't sound very committed)

fredj338 · Apr 22, 2013

Grouping has little to do with the amount of powder used, more the way your gun likes that combo. With slower powders, often accuracy gets better as load density increases. Onereason I like 2400 vs H110, I can download it a bit & still get good accuracy.

andyo5 · Apr 22, 2013

Those seem like light loads. I have been loading 14.2g of 2400 with 158g JHP bullets.

quinn · Apr 22, 2013

In my younger days, we used 2400 as the standard substitute for black powder in the old single shot rifles... worked well in25-25 up to 50-90. Wonderful, flexible powder

forestswin · Apr 22, 2013

andyo5 said:
Those seem like light loads. I have been loading 14.2g of 2400 with 158g JHP bullets.

yeah, they are on the light load end of the data
I am going to do the top half up to 15.5 gr later

kenjen · Apr 22, 2013

you can also do the same with the 44 mag.

ryanjames170 · Apr 26, 2013

2400 is a awesome powder it only lacks in being able to make. Few extra FPS that H110 makes but it makes up with it in a lot of other ways

4barrel · Apr 26, 2013

forestswin said:
is it that 2400 is just not too sensitive to the amount of powder used ??????????

loaded up some 357 rounds with Penn Bullets 158 gr TCBB (Premium grade) and shot them today with my S&W 686 6" at 25 yards

loads were all Alliant 2400 with following increments:
11.4 gr, 11.6 gr, 11.8 gr, 12.0 gr, 12.2 gr, 12.4 gr. and a little jump up to 13.2gr

5 shots with 11.4 and 13.2 grouped less than 1 1/4"
5 shots with 11.6, 11.8 and 12.0 grouped less than 1 1/2"
and
5 shots with 12.2 and 12.4 grouped less than 2"

in other words they all grouped pretty darn well

Bob P says these are the most accurate 357 bullets he casts
hooked up with 2400 ---- pretty darn good

2400 IS A <FORGIVING POWDER> LIKE 748 IN A RIFLE.

Nevada Ed · Apr 28, 2013

You can "Fine tune" an accuracy load by different crimp pressures and also primers. I never know what will work out best. I have had loads that calls for regular primers and have cut a group in half by adding a mag primer or heavy crimp.

My 2400 is still some where in the middle of the USA.........
14 days and counting.

Enjoy that powder.

bluetopper · Apr 28, 2013

I always thought 2400 was the standard by which other powders were measured by in the 357. Been so since the 1930's I've read.

M29since14 · Apr 28, 2013

You can't go wrong with any reasonable load of #2400 and a good quality 160-gr cast bullet. It is a great powder in general but really stands out for magnum revolver loads. I don't believe I would go up to 15.5 grains, unless you have some good reason for it. A long time ago guys would use up to 16.0 grains but I don't know anyone who does that these days. I use anywhere from 12.5 grains to 14.5 grains, depending on the gun and bullet. I think before I started loading 16 grains again, or anything close to that, I would get out a bigger gun.

fredj338 · Apr 28, 2013

M29since14 said:
You can't go wrong with any reasonable load of #2400 and a good quality 160-gr cast bullet. It is a great powder in general but really stands out for magnum revolver loads. I don't believe I would go up to 15.5 grains, unless you have some good reason for it. A long time ago guys would use up to 16.0 grains but I don't know anyone who does that these days. I use anywhere from 12.5 grains to 14.5 grains, depending on the gun and bullet. I think before I started loading 16 grains again, or anything close to that, I would get out a bigger gun.

I would consider anything over 15.5gr w/ a 158-160gr LSWC as over pressure, but all guns are diff.

forestswin · Apr 28, 2013

M29since14 said:
....I don't believe I would go up to 15.5 grains, unless you have some good reason for it................. I use anywhere from 12.5 grains to 14.5 grains, depending on the gun and bullet.......

M29
thanks for the advice - actually I was thinking about (the high end) today because I wanted to finish my load development loads this week - to shoot next weekend.

the 13.2 gr load was pretty peppy and back in the 1 1/4" group
- looking at your range (12.5 to 14.5) - I really don't have any reason to go any higher - I'll probably stay right there - load about 24 more each of 11.4 grains and 13.2 grains - and see if my results are the same

this is fun

fredj338 · Apr 28, 2013

forestswin said:
M29
thanks for the advice - actually I was thinking about (the high end) today because I wanted to finish my load development loads this week - to shoot next weekend.

the 13.2 gr load was pretty peppy and back in the 1 1/4" group
- looking at your range (12.5 to 14.5) - I really don't have any reason to go any higher - I'll probably stay right there - load about 24 more each of 11.4 grains and 13.2 grains - and see if my results are the same

this is fun

At 13.1gr under a 158grLSWC, I am getting about 1160fps in several 4" guns, 1200fps in a 4 5/8" RBH. Extraction is smooth, I would work to 14.5gr & probably call that max. Lead bullets do NOT load like jacketed. YOu always use a lower powder charge for sim pressures & vel.

WNC Seabee · Apr 28, 2013

I've loaded up 10 each in 4 loads ranging from 14-15.5grs 2400 for my Marlin 1894C, also calst LSWC. Anybody have experience with this combo?

fredj338 · Apr 28, 2013

WNC Seabee said:
I've loaded up 10 each in 4 loads ranging from 14-15.5grs 2400 for my Marlin 1894C, also calst LSWC. Anybody have experience with this combo?

How did you decide on 15.5gr as max? IMO, you are pushing over pressure. Caution.

What's up with 2400??

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