using Hodgdon H110 powder in 357 magnum

[JohnnyJD48]

So I read a lot of comments about using Hodgdon H110 powder in a 357 Magnum.Some guys say it is too loud and lots of flash.I loaded some 357 magnum with CFE pistol at minimum to max loads according to Hodgdon load data web site.Also I loaded Hodgdon H110 from 14 to 16 grains.I like to stay a smidge under max loads.My COL was max length as The bullets didnt allow me any variations unless I wanted to shorten the cases.Pretty much the col was same as my factory Federal cases.Anyways one commenter says he doesn`t use H110 to save on his ears.Well I am old and have lost some of my hearing probably due to attending Led Zeppelin, WHO and Grand Funk Railroad concerts.Also as a Flight instructor,those small single engine trainer planes sound is above safe decibel for your ears.In my opinion I like the bang and recoil of my 1911 45`s and so does my wife.Her favorite gun is a Kimber 1911 45.WE recently purchased a Smith And Wesson model 686 in the 357 magnum.At first she wasnt sure about a revolver but she is falling in love with this 686.We are having a ball shooting this gun.We have the S&W model 60 j frame is 357 but it is hard on the wrist.This 686 is a new kind of shooting as we have many semi automatics.We go to the USA Range in Round Rock Texas two to three times a month.WE shoot my reloads and factory ammo.We both get a real kick out of my H110 reloads and enjoy the big flash and bang.We do have our ear protection and off course that muffles the sound.I am posting a picture of my wife shooting the S&W 686 in 357 magnum loaded with H110 16 grain 158 gr soft tip fmj reload.Also we both have our Concealed carry license here in Austin Texas.Her carry gun is the S&W M&P 4.25 inch 2.0 9mm with fiber optic sights.My carry is the SIG 938.>JD

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

 

[Alk8944]

H-110 works well in .357, although I prefer Alliant 2400 which was the original propellant intended for load development of the cartridge by Winchester in 1935. 2400 charge weights will be 1-1.5 grains less than H-110, and 2400 is less erosive than H-110.

If you are not aware Winchester 296 and H-110 are identical and are manufactured by General Dynamics in their St. Johns Florida plant that originally was owned by Winchester. Since Hodgdon distributes W296 now the only difference between these two is the label Hodgdon applies to the bottle during packaging!

 

[Kinman]

Welcome aboard...I like H-110 and use it in different calibers, 44 magnum and 44 special, 357, .321 Bullschuetzen, and .218 Bee. It usually performs best if used at close to maximum weight charges and many have had issues with reduced loads as it can become explosive. In reduced charges like in the .321 Bullschuetzen I use pufflon/dacron to keep the powder charge up against the primer. Hard to beat a full weight charge of H-110 for blast and flash. It is nearly the same as W-231 which from what I remember was developed and used in the .30 carbine. Having shot a Ruger Super Blackhawk in .30 carbine with full house H-110 loads I can attest to it producing similar results, blast and flash.

 

[BB57]

As noted above colloidal ball powders like Win 296/H110 cause a lot more forcing cone erosion than flake powders or even flattened spherical powders like 2400.

I’m not a big fan of H110/Win 296 for that throat erosion reason, but also because it’s a slow burning powder that uses a very heavy powder charge that significantly increases recoil.

If you launch a 158 gr FMJ with 16 grains of H110 from a 6” barrel you’ll get about 1230 fps.

If you launch the same bullet from the same 6” revolver with 8 grains of Unique you’ll get the same velocity of 1230 fps.

The difference is in recoil.

16 grains of H110:
Charge Weight: 16.0 gr Muzzle Velocity: 1230.0 ft/s
Firearm Weight: 2.8 lb Bullet Weight: 158.0 gr

Recoil Velocity: 13.8 ft/s Recoil Energy: 8.2 ft•lbs
Recoil Impulse: 1.2 lb•s

8 grains of Unique:
Charge Weight: 8.0 gr Muzzle Velocity: 1230.0 ft/s
Firearm Weight: 2.8 lb Bullet Weight: 158.0 gr

Recoil Velocity: 11.8 ft/s Recoil Energy: 6.1 ft•lbs
Recoil Impulse: 1.0 lb•s

The load using H110 has:
- 17% more recoil velocity;
- 20% more recoil impulse; and
- 34% more recoil energy.

That’s 34% more recoil energy for the same ballistic performance.

H110 can get you about 50 fps more with a max load than a flake powder. But since you are not wanting a max load anyway, all you are getting using H110 is smacked 34% harder in recoil.

Finally, I am not a big fan of H110/Win 296 in a handgun I use for self defense or practical completion as sonnet or later you will end up with a grain of partially burnt powder falling out of a chamber during the reload and landing on the ejector star. When that happens that hard, partially burned grain of colloidal ball powder won’t smash down and will instead prevent the ejector start from going all the way back in, and that will prevent the cylinder from going back in the frame.

It creates a jam that requires you to dump the rounds out of the cylinder and then hold the ejector rod down while you brush the offending grain of powder off the front side of the ejector star, before reloading the revolver. That doesn’t happen fast.

 

[stansdds]

Welcome to the S&W Forums! I have some experience using H-110/W-296 in the 357 Magnum. I found that this powder works best with heavier bullets and longer barrels. I tried 125 gr JHP bullets, impressive blast and fire ball, but just not pleasant to shoot. I had better results with 158 grain JHP bullets. It is a good powder choice for chasing maximum velocity and it should not be significantly down loaded from maximum safe charges. Barrel forcing cone erosion is accelerated with this powder, the worst offending loads will be those using bullets of less than 140 grains in weight.

 

[HankB]

According to their old loading data manuals, Winchester used 296 (same as H110 as already noted) as the factory powder in their .357 Magnum ammo. They noted it as being unsuitable for reduced loads and requiring a firm crimp. I've used it with good results.

Just as a data point, a starting load of 14.5 grains of 296 under a 158 grain Hornady averaged 1263 ft/sec out of a 5" S&W M27.

I don't use 296 all the time since I usually don't load up to maximum for practice. One of my favorites - now discontinued - was SR-4756, which filled more or less the same niche as Unique, but burned much cleaner. Interestingly enough, a number of my manuals do not show Unique for 158 grain .357 loads. (Oh, and SR-4756 data did NOT interchange with Unique.)