296 for 357

[Carrier]

Just got some 296 and looked at Hodgdon and Hornady. Bit of a difference between the two. Which one would you use?

 

[125JHP]

I'd start somewhere in the upper middle of the Hornady data and work upward - only load 5 or 10 of each load till I found a good one my gun likes then load a bunch from there. Use your chrono or get one if your playing at the upper end of data.

 

[robert1804]

I would use the Hodgdon data if using ALL the components they show.

 

[rwsmith]

Since that's max load....

Back off about 10% to get a feel how your component combination is going to react. Don't go for top load right off the bat. If you approach the lower load ok then you are welcome to try the higher one.

 

[Carrier]

Well I think I'm going to go with the Hornady and make up some at 17, 18 and 19 grains and see how they are then go from there. Just odd that Hodgdons start load is .7 grains higher that Hornadys highest. Also will be using Federal GM200M primers.

 

[colt_saa]

I have been loading 21.6 grains of H110/296 behind the Winchester 125JHP since the late 70s or early 80s.

This load chronographs out at:
1315 FPS from my 3 1/2" model 27s
It hits 1600 from my 8" Pythons
It screams right at 2200 FPS from my 16" 1892 Lever action

15,000+ of these have gone down the barrels of my and my buddies 357s over the years. I stopped counting when I began buying projectiles several thousand at a time.

Always start low and work up. Even identical firearms and components can vary from time to time.

 

[Carrier]

I'm shooting it with my 686 with 4.2" barrel.

 

[MichiganScott]

Did you by chance notice the difference in velocity? Hornady could well be telling you that driving their XTP much above 1500-1600 FPS would stress the bullet above the design envelope.

Just start low and work your way up. I tried 21.5 grains one time and the muzzle flash just about burned the hair off my arms. It was a blast to shoot them at dusk.

 

[lebomm]

With that 4" bbl. you're going to get a lot of bark and a big fireball. 296 operates best at or near maximum, so be careful with reduced loadings.
Please do keep us posted.

Larry

 

[Geno44]

I'm not currently up to speed on 296 but I remember a whole bunch of cautions about backing off of top loads due to detonation and I'm sure this was on WW 296. I would do some more checking on this before doing any loading. 17 grains would be a substantial back-down from the max charge.
Added information-The 2003 Winchester reloading manual shows the maximum charge at 18.5 grains of 296 for a 125 grain jacketed bullet. It seems strange that Hodgden data would show 3.5 grains more than Winchester does.

 

[Carrier]

Hornady used a 8" colt Python. Hodgdon doesn't leave much between start and max. One grain isn't a whole lot.

 

[phonejack]

If velocity is a factor, keep in mind that the Hodgen data uses a 10" barrel.

 

[leas327]

Dip the case into the powder, hammer a bullet on top. 296 runs best at max...lol!

But seriously, I ran into the same thing you are worried about a few years ago and worked up loads. Two guns loved 21.5 grains, another started to get sticky extraction at 20.5.

 

[Carrier]

Dip the case into the powder, hammer a bullet on top. 296 runs best at max...lol!

But seriously, I ran into the same thing you are worried about a few years ago and worked up loads. Two guns loved 21.5 grains, another started to get sticky extraction at 20.5.

Guess I'd find out just how strong a 686 is!!!
I think I will load some at 18, 19 and 20 then see how it is then work up to 21 or so. I'm fairly new to reloading and haven't done a lot but of what I have with other calibers this is the biggest difference between a powder oem and a bullet oem load data that I have seen.

 

[cjwils]

I have a Winchester publication from 1982 in which they list the recipes to duplicate Winchester factory loads. For a 125 grain jacketed bullet, they list 18.5 grains of 296, with Winchester primers, which they say has pressure of 32,500 CUP. They say do not reduce that load. Again, this is a factory duplication load, not a stated maximum.

 

[Carrier]

I have a Winchester publication from 1982 in which they list the recipes to duplicate Winchester factory loads. For a 125 grain jacketed bullet, they list 18.5 grains of 296, with Winchester primers, which they say has pressure of 32,500 CUP. They say do not reduce that load. Again, this is a factory duplication load, not a stated maximum.

That's interesting. So maybe I should start out at 18.5 grains and go up from there? The only difference will be the Federal GM200M primers I will be using.

 

[125JHP]

I have Winchester manuals from 1989 thru 2003 that all have the same data as cjwils - 18.5gr for the 125 JHP .

BUT... I also have a 2006 Winchester manual that magically states a new max load of 22.0 gr Win 296, (XTP, win case, WSPM @1.59" and 10" test bbl) with 1966 fps at 41400 CUP. Probably had a change of personnel in the lab.

 

[Snapping Twig]

FWIW, 296/110 is most efficient with heavier bullets.

Fat loads with light bullets can lead to forcing cone erosion and some top strap wear.

I use it, it's my go-to magnum powder, but I load 160 & 170 cast SWC in the 357.

I prefer 2400 overall for 357, but 296/110 works and gets highest velocity.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I always go with the powder mfg. data when there's a question, but in this case they have a pretty tight min to max. Just as a check the Speer manual lists your bullet and charge to be 18.3 to 20.3, more in line with the mid to max Hornady load. So yeah, I would start in the middle of the Hornady data.

Speer also notes that a mag primer is needed with 296 as it's a ball powder, but you already knew that.

 

[LostintheOzone]

To the question...when there's any question, I defer to the powder manufacturer's data. Hodgdon doesn't manufacture anything, but they own and distribute Winchester powders. From the get-go, Winchester always cautioned strongly against reduced charges of 296...

They manufacture the labels they put on the powder containers.