Does Anyone Use WW296 Anymore?

[sophie]

Over 30 years ago I used to shoot Hunters Pistol Silhouette and reloaded a lot and cast bullets. One of my best shooting and accurate loads for my S&W 27---8-3/8 bbl. was RCBS 162 gr. LCSWC and 15 gr. WW-296 ball powder. It was very accurate in my gun and not quite as dirty as 2400 powder. I am thinking about doing some reloading and was wondering what was being used now. I don't see WW296 mentioned here very much. Maybe some of you reloaders out there have got some new ideas on powders that you like to use. I know there are some new powders on the market since then.

James

 

[OKFC05]

Does Anyone Use WW296 Anymore?

YOU BETCHA!
When the waltz ends and you want your magnum revolver to rock and roll (for me, 6" bbl and longer). I've tried most of the new powders and keep winding up back at HP38/WIN231 and WIN296/H110 for revolvers. Longshot does not ring my bell, don't need 2400 for what I do, won't pay the V powders price.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Um, YEP! Only most of the time it is from the H110 canisters!

 

[Rule3]

Um, YEP! Only most of the time it is from the H110 canisters!

Better check with your Marine buddy to see which one is better

But yes Sophie, W 296/H110 is still the Mag powder along with 2400.

 

[tops]

Also works good in 2 1/2 in. .410 shells. Larry

 

[Dragon88]

W296 is a thing of the past. The new powerhouse in magnum pistol is H110!

Just kidding. H110/W296 is a great powder. Alliant tried to one-up it with 300-MP, but it doesn't seem like they've been successful.

 

[Warren Sear]

In my experience, and in what the manufacturer says, very slight changes in components can make a huge difference in pressure. I used to use 296, but the fact that it was so touchy really bothered me. I quit using it and went to 2400 and never went back. YMMV.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Can you explain "touchy"?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Does anyone use WW296 anymore?

Without a doubt. IMO W296 is the best full power magnum pistol powder on the market. I use it all the time for full power rounds and with heavy bullets. I use HS-6 for lighter loads and even W231 for very light loads. I was using 2400 for a while but I didn't like the results especially with heavy bullets. Luil'Gun is also an option when used in ammo meant for a Carbine.

 

[22shtur]

I use 296, but recently started using 2400, which has more applications for my loads.

 

[Milton]

Fill up a .32 H&R magnum case with 296/H110,pound in a 115 grain cast bullet,light her up with a mag primer and enjoy!!!

 

[rewster]

I use it for my M1 Carbine and it works great !

 

[mtgianni]

Sure, it has a place above my bench.

 

[Coal Man]

Oh yeah!! 357 compressed load is all you could ever want oh and .30 carbine too. I forgot T/C or Ruger 45 colt jacketed buffalo stompers too.

 

[Warren Sear]

Can you explain "touchy"?

Yes. Quoting myself, "...very slight changes in components can make a huge difference in pressure."

 

[Dragon88]

H110/W296 is not touchy. People only get in trouble when they think they know better than the manufacturer and use reduced charges with incorrect primers. I have worked into +P territory with W296 in 44 magnum, it behaves linearly and predictably.

H110/W296 might actually be considered safer in the sense that a maximum charge usually fills the case right up to the bullet. Small charges of fast powder hide down in those large cases. You can drop one, two, three charges of fast powder and it still won't overflow the case in certain cartridges.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Yes. Quoting myself, "...very slight changes in components can make a huge difference in pressure."

Touchy? Okay, but I have not noticed that in any of the loads I have used this powder in. In fact, that is why I use it for the loads I do. It seems to be kind of forgiving at the upper end of things. Not that you cannot get flattened primers or sticky extraction with it, I just never have and like Dragon, I have loaded some mighty stiff 44Mag loads for a carbine.

Since firearms are individuals, maybe yours react as your post states, mine don't seem to.

Caution to another loader is a good thing, just with H110/W296, I like the fact that a maximum load comes right to the base of the bullet and at that point, gives consistent performance. Touchy to me is when you go from "4.2gr" of a powder to "4.3gr" of the same powder with the same components and you get vastly different results. Flattened primers, sticky extraction, wide swings on the chronograph and the like. W296/H110 does not do that. If you are using "21.5gr" and everything is okay, and go to "21.6gr" things are going to be a bit different but not drastically. Now, going to "23.5gr", if you can get it in the case, is going to give you vastly different results, but that would be expected by most folks and not considered "touchy".

It is kind of like describing "sticky extraction". One person thinks it is when you have to use a lot of thumb pressure on the ejector rod, another believes that it is only when you have to drive them out with the edge of the table or a mallet.

Touchy and W296/H110 are not two words that I use to in the same sentence ever.

FWIW

 

[Skip Sackett]

Oh yeah!! 357 compressed load is all you could ever want oh and .30 carbine too. I forgot T/C or Ruger 45 colt jacketed buffalo stompers too.

John Linebaugh is a master at those 45 Colt loads! I use his as well for my Ruger 45 Convertible. A 280gr LSWC @ 1400fps is an impressive round, to say the least. On both ends of the firearm as a matter of fact!

 

[alwslate]

I use W296 for full power loads in 44 mag revolvers or in my Ruger #3
carbine. I have gone a bit above published max loads for use in the
strong #3 only. I prefer W296 for loads in my Marlin 357 mag carbine
with jacketed bullets but still prefer 2400 for 357 revolver loads.

 

[snowman]

My favorite powder(I use the H110 label also). Meters flawlessly, clean burn, accurate, fills the case, etc.

sophie, if I were you I would go right back to it and not bother looking at other powders.

Andy

 

[brick]

I also use it in my M1 carbine.

 

[BW460]

Sophie, no one seems to have given you the basic answer. Today, H-110 and W296 are the SAME powder. You may or may not be able to find 296 anymore but that doesnt matter - H-110 is the same thing.

 

[Warren Sear]

Winchester's components catalog reads (or at least used to);
"Do not reduce powder charges with 296. These loads must be used exactly as shown. A reduction in charge or change in components can cause dangerous pressures".

Now that, my friends, is touchy! Standard reloading safety procedures recommend reducing powder charges whenever any component is changed, and then slowly working up again. Winchester says not to do that.

Winchester gave (gives?) exact specifications for loading 296, and warns against changing any components. 296 can provide excellent results, but unless you are willing to use the exact brand of bullet, case, and primer, you should probably avoid using 296, at least if you adhere to the manufacture's warning. I did listen to what they said and realized that 296 was not for me; I like to experiment, use cast lead bullets and change other components. I do not claim to know more than the manufacturer, so I avoid 296.

 

[Dragon88]

I like to experiment, use cast lead bullets and change other components.

You can do all of that with H110/W296, is seems you are misunderstanding their statement. The minimum charge listed in their data is your starting charge, and use a magnum primer. That's it.

 

[cfplinker]

Winchester's components catalog reads (or at least used to);
"Do not reduce powder charges with 296. These loads must be used exactly as shown. A reduction in charge or change in components can cause dangerous pressures".

The above statement is shown in the Winchester Reloading Components Manuals that I have from 1975 through 1994 (I have some but certainly not all years) My 2003 edition says to see the Note on page 31 for all 296 loads. The note on Page 31 reads:Loads using 296 powder require heavy bullet pull (heavy crimp. Using 296 powder with light bullet pull (light crimp) may result in squib loads and cause damage to the firearm, shooter, and/or bystanders.

Thus by 2003 Winchester was not as adamant about using only the stipulated components for 296 loads.

My 2004 Hodgdon Basic Reloaders Manual says not to reduce the H110 loads more than 3%. The 2011 Hodgdon book doesn't have this statement but the difference between minimum and maximum loads varies from about 10% for 357 Magnum 158 gr XTP or the 270 gr Speer GDSP in 44 Magnum down to 4% for the 240 gr Nosler JHP also in 44 Magnum.

I spot checked some loads in Lyman 48 and they seem to adhere to the small 3-4% spread of the Hornady book whereas Speer Edition V has a spread more like the 10% we are used to seeing.

This just tells us again that data from different sources is different and even from the same source can change over time. So try to use several references that are timely when deciding What your starting and finishing loads will be.

 

[Skip Sackett]

so I avoid 296.

Warren, no that is not touchy, they are parameters.

Do you know what kind of pressures happen when you reduce loads with this powder?

It isn't higher pressure friend, but lower. When you have lower pressures with this powder, you get squibs. If you run a second round after a squib, then you can have some real trouble.

Understanding the problems with the powder is very important. This is one of those places where a little bit of knowledge is more dangerous than a lot of knowledge.

 

[GF1]

My favorite powder(I use the H110 label also). Meters flawlessly, clean burn, accurate, fills the case, etc.

sophie, if I were you I would go right back to it and not bother looking at other powders.

Andy

Funny, that's just what I advise...only it's 2400 not H-110/W296.

 

[bluetopper]

I've switched to Accurate 4100 as my magnum pistol powder. It can be downloaded, doesn't need a magnum primer, very versatile and performs great.

 

[Nemo288]

I still use W296 in 44 Magnum loads. I have developed my own
loads with it, just making sure they were near or at full pressure.
26 grains under a 200 grain XTP and with a CCI 350 primer
yields excellent results in all my magnums.
I bought a large canister awhile ago (like 20 years) and am still
working on it. As far as I can tell it performs identically to what it
did when new.

---
Nemo

 

[Reloader]

I use H110 and standard primers..more flexibility.