Does Anyone Use WW296 Anymore?

[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.

 

[Larry from Bend]

I've had excellent results with H110 in 44 Mag and 357 Mag --- loaded close to or at max. I prefer 2400 in 44 Special --- fairly heavily loaded (1050 fps w/250 grain WLNGC in a 4 5/8" barrel).

 

[ArchAngelCD]

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.

How much slower than AA#9 is 4100? What kind of performance does it deliver compared to other magnum powders you have used? Please post more information on 4100. I have thought about trying it but didn't know anything about it. Do you know if it's anything like IMR4227?

 

[mkk41]

I know they're the same powder , and that Hodgdon is the distributor for both , but for whatever reason , whenever I see W-296 and H-110 on the shelf , the Winchester branded product is almost always $1.00 more per 1lb container.

 

[bluetopper]

How much slower than AA#9 is 4100? What kind of performance does it deliver compared to other magnum powders you have used? Please post more information on 4100. I have thought about trying it but didn't know anything about it. Do you know if it's anything like IMR4227?

I have read, and studying load data leads me to believe also that AA4100 is the same powder as Ramshot Enforcer but I have not visually observed Enforcer powder. I do know that Accurate and Ramshot are both owned by Western powders. From my experience I believe 4100's burn rate to be a tad slower than #9 and noticably faster and much better performance than 4227 especially in 44 Mag. 4227 very nearly catches it in performance in the 500 S&W Mag however. It burns quite cool in comparison to other mag powders with low flash and is the finest grained powder I've ever seen and heavy for volume. If a person wanted to hot rod magnum pistol cartridges you would have a bit of room to do so with this powder. It also seems to burn clean if you want to download it a few full grains and no need for magnum primers. I've even tried it in 38 Spl. and 9mm, just not very cost effective that way. I like it.

 

[sophie]

I have not been on the forum since I inquired about the WW296 powder and started this discussion.
I have a bad infection virus in my desktop and havent been able to get rid of it. I am on a different computer.
Thanks everyone for the opinions of WW296 and 2400 powders.
Lots of good people on this forum and lot of good info on reloading.
I think I will just go to reloading what worked for me quite a few years ago as far as powders go and do appreciate all the feedback I received from the forum members.
Thanks and Merry Christmas.

James

 

[Littledragon777]

I use 23 grains of W296 under 240 grain XTPs in my Super Redhawk 44 mag with 9 1/2 inch barrel for deer hunting here in Missouri. The bucks don't know what hit them when I put one in the boiler room. Never had a lick of a problem with this load for many years now and I shoot a couple hundred rounds a month at the range with this load and it is very accurate, consistant and reliable.


LD

 

[J. W.]

Absolutely! W296/H-110 is my favorite powder for serious loads in .357 Mag, .44 Mag and .45 Colt.

 

[geddylee10002000]

Just bought another 4 lb. keg. Great for my 357, 44 mag.

 

[jbbatok]

My first choice for .44mag and .30 carbine.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have read, and studying load data leads me to believe also that AA4100 is the same powder as Ramshot Enforcer but I have not visually observed Enforcer powder. I do know that Accurate and Ramshot are both owned by Western powders. From my experience I believe 4100's burn rate to be a tad slower than #9 and noticeably faster and much better performance than 4227 especially in 44 Mag. 4227 very nearly catches it in performance in the 500 S&W Mag however. It burns quite cool in comparison to other mag powders with low flash and is the finest grained powder I've ever seen and heavy for volume. If a person wanted to hot rod magnum pistol cartridges you would have a bit of room to do so with this powder. It also seems to burn clean if you want to download it a few full grains and no need for magnum primers. I've even tried it in 38 Spl. and 9mm, just not very cost effective that way. I like it.

Thank you for the information. You may be right about Enforcer and 4100. Commonly owned companies have done it before and will continue to do it. Checking the both sites tells me both are made in Belgium as opposed to the USA for all the other Accurate powders. I see all the Ramshot handgun powders are made in Belgium other than Silhouette which is made at the St. Mark's plant. (Winchester WAP anyone?)