44 mag W296 vs 2400

[Loudenboomer]

2400 is what I like for 3/4 throttle loads in the 44 mag. Standard large pistol primers work fine with 2400 with a preference to the slightly warmer Winchester primer. H110/win 296 is hard to beat when you want to step on the gas. Then I switch to Magnum primers. Another favorite is AA#9. My 2 cents

 

[SSL]

If fact this gun had only 4 shots through it when I bought it. Same thing, guy bought it, 4 shots later returned it. I put a set of x-frame grips on it before I ever tried the first round. I find it incredibly manageable. I've put a couple 50 round sessions through it without any trouble. Although my hand loads I use in my Blackhawk started pulling bullet number 6. So I ordered a reading profile die and will be crimping heavy with it.

My experience exactly! My FFL buddy, against his better judgement, ordered a 5 1/2" .44 Blackhawk for a guy that had never even fired a .357. He also ordered a box of Black Hills 300-grain cartridges at the same time. Seems someone had told him they were real bear killers. My buddy called me about a week after the customer had picked up his gun and asked if I was interested in a mildly used Blackhawk and a box of ammo less six. Since he had ordered it special rather than selling from stock, by the time he deducted his fees I got it for about half.

Oh...and the buyer ended up with a Ruger Single Six.

 

[David Milisock]

Both are classic powders for high-end .44 Magnum loads. That said, I used to shoot handgun silhouette matches back in the eighties, using a .44 Mag revolver. Lots of load development. Lots of testing. Lots of matches.

I never could get 2400 - the old Hercules formulation - to work for me nearly as well as 296. Yes, it was dirtier than 296. But the biggest problem I experienced with hot .44 loads was the propensity of 2400 to "fall off the cliff" very quickly, going from no pressure signs to a sudden abundance of them. W296 was typically more forgiving.

That was a long time ago, though. I'd give both powders a pretty good look. Developing a 240gr load for either - or both - should be pretty straightforward.

My experience exactly with 2400 in any cartridge.

 

[David Milisock]

I really hope to push this 240 grain hi-tek coated pill pretty hard. The sole purpose of this gun is predator defense. I need deep penetration (or higher velocity) without wrecking my gun. I have no problem shooting full house loads. I like to practice with what I'm shooting. Some people swear that 2400 burns dirty others say it burns very clean. I suppose as long as I'm keeping my weapon maintained it shouldn't be a problem either way.

I've had a Model 29 for 30 years, it came with a 10" silhouette barrel and a 6". After a few years of shooting target crap (I get bored by matches) I had the 10" removed and put the 6" on. I carry it in the woods for protection and practice with it, I feel safer in black bear country with it than brown bear country.

Hornady XTP 230 with a max load of H110 or 296. Shooting match or carrying for protection I never cared about how dirty a powder was, I could always wipe her down. For me 2400 was too unpredictable at high pressure and if I wanted a 44 special I wouldn't have bought a magnum.

Just a word to the wise, a few years back I was carrying the 44mag and a hot loaded 444 Marlin rifle with 300 grain projectiles. I ran into a bit of a situation and the Marlin was enough but it took 2 shots. I then had a custom 450 Marlin built on a bolt gun chambered for 500 grain projectiles at 2,000 FPS. The 44mag is handy but keep your rifle close!

 

[Tommie]

296 with that bullet weight.

 

[PD Gohil]

Damn guys. I guess 16lbs of 2400 I bought was a waste....‍

 

[PD Gohil]

W296 shot great! I was able to work it out to max load of 24.0 grains accuracy is good penetration is superb and averaging 1275 FPS. I'm pleased with that combination. Maybe I should run a heavier bullet but for now I'm comfortable with this.

 

[Tommie]

W296 shot great! I was able to work it out to max load of 24.0 grains accuracy is good penetration is superb and averaging 1275 FPS. I'm pleased with that combination. Maybe I should run a heavier bullet but for now I'm comfortable with this.

Glad to hear that. Save the 2400 for heavier bullets.

 

[rr2030]

I discovered many years ago shooting IHMSA with my S&W .44 Mag, that 2400 powder did not shoot as well as 296. That was with a variety of bullets from cast 225 GC to 265 soft points. Since then I have learned that Magnum primers with 2400 is a looser. 2400 for some reason likes standard primers. YMMV

 

[SSL]

I discovered many years ago shooting IHMSA with my S&W .44 Mag, that 2400 powder did not shoot as well as 296. That was with a variety of bullets from cast 225 GC to 265 soft points. Since then I have learned that Magnum primers with 2400 is a looser. 2400 for some reason likes standard primers. YMMV

Yep...Alliant strongly recommends standard primers only with 2400. Has for years.