2400 loading ?
- Thread starter jhde69
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To achieve the same results as listed in the Speer manual you'll need to use magnum primers. Are magnum primers required for 2400? I don't think so, I've not used magnum primers reloading with 2400 in my .357 and .44 magnums...
Curt Blunt
Member
The current Alliant data shows standard primers. Brian Pierce in Handloader, who seems to know his stuff, also recommends standard primers. As I recall, he discussed the issue with the Speer staff and they reshot their loads and developed new data using standard primers.
I load mostley lighter loads with faster burning powders but when I have used 2400 it's been with standard primers. I don't recall any problems. Hope this helps.
I load mostley lighter loads with faster burning powders but when I have used 2400 it's been with standard primers. I don't recall any problems. Hope this helps.
Alliant, the powders manufacturer does not recommend using magnum primers with 2400. There can be an issue with pressure spikes under certain circumstances, and 2400 doesn't need that hot of a primer to begin with.
jubela#4
Member
I've always used standard primers when loading 2400, never had any issues.
bmcgilvray
Member
I've used standard primers with 2400 as that seems to have always been recommended in loading manuals.
2400
When I started reloading 40 years ago I used Speer 160 grain jacketed soft point bullets. My Speer reloading manual number 8 from 1970 called for cci 550 Magnum primer. I let work get in the way of shooting, thats another story, and most of the new manuals do not give any 2400 info. I liked 2400 then and got some the other day I still have a few hundred 160 gr bullets left so will work up a load with winchester small pistol primers. Any of you have a good load for 158 gr swc bullets? Thanks Jim
When I started reloading 40 years ago I used Speer 160 grain jacketed soft point bullets. My Speer reloading manual number 8 from 1970 called for cci 550 Magnum primer. I let work get in the way of shooting, thats another story, and most of the new manuals do not give any 2400 info. I liked 2400 then and got some the other day I still have a few hundred 160 gr bullets left so will work up a load with winchester small pistol primers. Any of you have a good load for 158 gr swc bullets? Thanks Jim
Jhd69,
Just agreeing with others – no you don’t have to use magnum primers with 2400.
I have loaded the 158g LSWC bullet for both 38 Special & 357 Magnum. I have not used 2400 for these loads but I have used the following, buy the way these powders are found in almost every load book I looked up;
Winchester 231
Alliant Bullseye
Hodgdon Universal
Accurate #5
I picked up most all of my load information/numbers from my LEE modern reloading 2nd edition and Lyman reloading handbook 49th edition. These were all for “target rounds” so I tend to load these to the mid/slightly upper mid range also to minimize "lead fowling" in the barrel of your gun keep the Velocity under 950 fps or if you enjoy cleaning your gun… load em hot! As far as the OAL, for my 38 Special’s I keep it at 1.445”, and the 357 magnum at 1.580”, along with your standard sp primers, pressure should not be an issue.
The revolvers these loads were made for were a S&W 38 Special model 10-6 w/4” bull barrel and a S&W 357 magnum model 28-2 (highway patrolman) w/6” barrel, so keep that in mind when you are using these numbers because I don’t know what type of gun your rounds will be going into.
I hope this helps you.
Just agreeing with others – no you don’t have to use magnum primers with 2400.
I have loaded the 158g LSWC bullet for both 38 Special & 357 Magnum. I have not used 2400 for these loads but I have used the following, buy the way these powders are found in almost every load book I looked up;
Winchester 231
Alliant Bullseye
Hodgdon Universal
Accurate #5
I picked up most all of my load information/numbers from my LEE modern reloading 2nd edition and Lyman reloading handbook 49th edition. These were all for “target rounds” so I tend to load these to the mid/slightly upper mid range also to minimize "lead fowling" in the barrel of your gun keep the Velocity under 950 fps or if you enjoy cleaning your gun… load em hot! As far as the OAL, for my 38 Special’s I keep it at 1.445”, and the 357 magnum at 1.580”, along with your standard sp primers, pressure should not be an issue.
The revolvers these loads were made for were a S&W 38 Special model 10-6 w/4” bull barrel and a S&W 357 magnum model 28-2 (highway patrolman) w/6” barrel, so keep that in mind when you are using these numbers because I don’t know what type of gun your rounds will be going into.
I hope this helps you.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I actually get lower SD numbers with standard primers over magnum primers when loading 2400. No need for magnum primers with any of the original Powder Trinity. (Bullseye, Unique, 2400)
The top load for 2400 with 158 gr jacketed bullets in my Speer # 13
manual is 14.8 grs and a standard primer. I have loaded .357 rounds
with a 158 gr cast SWC over 14.8 grs 2400 and standard primer and
14.2 grs 2400 and a magnum primer. I get a bit more velocity and
lower ES with the 14.2 gr-mag primer load so thats what I prefer.
All my 357s are N frames and the 14.2 grs is well below older data
for 2400 so i'm not worried about pressure.
manual is 14.8 grs and a standard primer. I have loaded .357 rounds
with a 158 gr cast SWC over 14.8 grs 2400 and standard primer and
14.2 grs 2400 and a magnum primer. I get a bit more velocity and
lower ES with the 14.2 gr-mag primer load so thats what I prefer.
All my 357s are N frames and the 14.2 grs is well below older data
for 2400 so i'm not worried about pressure.
the August Handloader magazine came in the mail today. Bullets & Brass by Brian Pearce had a question about 2400 with mag primers. In the answer to the question Brian suggested using at least 13 to 13.5 grains of 2400 as minimums for the 357 mag with 158 grain jacketed or lead bullets with a standard primer Has anyone out there used 13.5 grains in a load?
BUFF
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I have used a Skeeter Skelton load for .357 Mag cartridges for years. I load .38 Special cases to .357 Magnum velocities using 13.5 grains -2400, standard large pistol primer (W-W, CCI or Federal) to propel a home-cast Lyman 358156 out of a .38 SPECIAL CARTRIDGE CASE. Depending on the gun, I get 1,150 to 1,300 fps and excellent accuracy.
I SAY THIS LOUDLY: I ONLY SHOOT THIS LOAD, ASSEMBLED AS DESCRIBED BELOW, IN GUNS CHAMBERED FOR THE .3357 MAGNUM CARTRIDGE. I have shot it in .38-44's, but generally don't any more.
The Lyman 358156 semiwadcutter hollowpoint weighs 150-ish grains cast with wheel weights, sized, lubed and gascheck attached. I have the same mould in solid SWC design, and when cast, lubed and gas checked, it weighs about 165-170 grains. The bullet is fairly unique, having the aforementioned gas check (I like Hornaday's crimp on style), a lube groove and then TWO crimping grooves. When seated to and crimped in the top groove in a .357 Magnum case, you get about the same powder space inside the cartridge, and same overall loaded cartridge length as when you seat the bullet and crimp it in the lower crimping groove IN A .357 MAGNUM CARTRIDGE CASE.
I load the hollowpoint version of the bullet in the Magnum case over 15.0 graains of -2400 for about 1,400 fps, a little higher or lower depending on the gun.
I like -2400 in the .357 with cast bullets. When I decide to shoot jacketed bullets in .357, for some reason I usually load them with W-296.
If circumstances dictated, I could be pretty happy using only Bullseye, Unique and -2400 for my handgun rounds. Most of us old guys started mostly with the three and they are both old and still plentiful because you can do good work with all three powders.
I SAY THIS LOUDLY: I ONLY SHOOT THIS LOAD, ASSEMBLED AS DESCRIBED BELOW, IN GUNS CHAMBERED FOR THE .3357 MAGNUM CARTRIDGE. I have shot it in .38-44's, but generally don't any more.
The Lyman 358156 semiwadcutter hollowpoint weighs 150-ish grains cast with wheel weights, sized, lubed and gascheck attached. I have the same mould in solid SWC design, and when cast, lubed and gas checked, it weighs about 165-170 grains. The bullet is fairly unique, having the aforementioned gas check (I like Hornaday's crimp on style), a lube groove and then TWO crimping grooves. When seated to and crimped in the top groove in a .357 Magnum case, you get about the same powder space inside the cartridge, and same overall loaded cartridge length as when you seat the bullet and crimp it in the lower crimping groove IN A .357 MAGNUM CARTRIDGE CASE.
I load the hollowpoint version of the bullet in the Magnum case over 15.0 graains of -2400 for about 1,400 fps, a little higher or lower depending on the gun.
I like -2400 in the .357 with cast bullets. When I decide to shoot jacketed bullets in .357, for some reason I usually load them with W-296.
If circumstances dictated, I could be pretty happy using only Bullseye, Unique and -2400 for my handgun rounds. Most of us old guys started mostly with the three and they are both old and still plentiful because you can do good work with all three powders.
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A few years ago I loaded some .357s with a 158 gr cast SWC
over 13.5 grs 2400 and a magnum primer. Velocity ran about
1275 in my 6" S&W md 28.
Peter M. Eick
Member
I have about 5000 small pistol mags that I am slowly burning through in the 357 magnum. When they are gone, I will only shoot small pistol primers with 2400.
14.5 grns of 2400 with a mag primer and a 158 Lasercast or MBC SWC is my standard plinker round. Not that hot in my opinion. Just a nice round to blast with.
Given that 14.5 is fine, I would think 13.5 would leave a bit of unburned powder.
14.5 grns of 2400 with a mag primer and a 158 Lasercast or MBC SWC is my standard plinker round. Not that hot in my opinion. Just a nice round to blast with.
Given that 14.5 is fine, I would think 13.5 would leave a bit of unburned powder.
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