2400 in a .41 magnum

I load .41 mag with 2400 a fair bit. But usually with 215-225gr lead. The only data I have is straight out of Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook 4th Edition, which is a good addition to a reloader's library.

They actually list a 195gr and a 210gr, but nothing between. 17.1gr is their max for the 210gr. 18.5gr for the 195gr bullet. Work up slowly, and be safe.

Others may be willing to give you specific recommendations based on their own personal experience with that bullet weight, but I don't have any.

robbt said:

hi WrongHanded, I was thinking about starting with 16 grs, , so I am close,
lyman made the mold for the bullet I am using only its not in currently reloading manuels.

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That doesn't sound like a bad place to begin. Let us know how it goes!

Alliant currently lists a maximum load with a 200-grain jacketed bullet at 16.8 grains of 2400.

25-20 WCF said:

Alliant currently lists a maximum load with a 200-grain jacketed bullet at 16.8 grains of 2400.

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Yes they do. A Speer JHP-SWC, which I can't find on the Speer website. Closest I could find in an image search was a Speer 200gr semi jacketed semi-wadcutter hollow point.

But the weight of the lead missing from the cavity of a hollow point bullet, has to go somewhere. And that somewhere often seems to be inside the case. Which results in lower case volume.

Factors like that are yet another reason to work up cautiously.

If you are looking for something not quite as full-throttle as 2400, Unique would be a good choice.

Oddly enough, after all these years, I picked up a few pounds of 2400 to try in the .41 as well. We will see how it compares to IMR4227...

Charlie98 said:

Oddly enough, after all these years, I picked up a few pounds of 2400 to try in the .41 as well. We will see how it compares to IMR4227...

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Let us know! My experience with 4227 is limited, but I'd be very interested in how you think the two compare and contrast.

You didn't mention which two guns you bought. I use an S&W M58 with 4" barrel and an M57 with a 6".
I shoot a lot of 200gr bullets through both of them.
An RCBS 210KT is a semi-wadcutter that when cast of Linotype is about 200gr, and it purrs with 18.5gr of 2400 from the M57 at about 1310fps.
Work up to it if you try it!
I have one of my cavities drilled for a .186 hollow-point, and THAT, when cast of w/w+2%tin, will weigh about 200gr. Cast of Lyman #2 will also weigh about that, but be a bit harder.
With 18.0gr of 2400 I can get about 1290fps from the M57, again, start a couple grains less and work up.
I size my bullets at .413" and use several different lubes, one at a time, and much of my shooting is over my M33 Oehler Chronograph with a 5' spacing.
I have gotten 1300fps from the M58 with 2400, but it takes a bit, and is a HANDFULL!
I also have a Lyman 410610, a gas-checked semi-wadcutter, that weighs about the same from the same alloys. One of the cavities in that mold is also cut for a .186" hollow-pointer. I like it sized .413", also.
Velocities are about the same as the RCBS, but accuracy may differ, a bit.
In the shorter gun, I much prefer Unique, or another, faster powder, most of which I have tried over the screens.
Shooting bowling pins(revolver) can be interesting with any of these loads. I use a custom-made mold that I bought in a group-buy from Night Owl, with a sharp-pointed 200gr bullet for most BPs, though.
I use it because it feeds from a speed-loader faster. Most of the time, I shoot it with a faster powder like 700X, Universal Clay, or WW231.
Have fun,
Gene

2400 is fun to use, but in the 4" guns, it gets old quick. It's perfectly safe of course, so if it's what "rock yer boat," by ALL means, have at it. I've run quite a bit through mine.
As using ammo, I prefer a medium burning-range powder to duplicate the first, theoretical, police-load.
Unique, Herco, 800X, or International Clays, or any of OTHER similar powders to bring a 200-210gr bullet to 1000fps or slightly less.
Personally, I use 170gr cast bullets to shoot at tin cans, or over a long shooting day.
I cast my own bullets, but that is almost a separate hobby in itself. You can buy almost anything you would wish.
IMR4227 works pretty well with cast bullets, and the recoil-impulse seems to be less than 2400, but if you load it up, it WILL get interesting. I find 4227 fouls the barrel until you get it into the higher pressure-ranges, but it's easy to clean, and doesn't SEEM to affect accuracy.
2400 does, too, but not as bad as 4227.
Have fun,
Gene

Nevmavrick said:

IMR4227 works pretty well with cast bullets, and the recoil-impulse seems to be less than 2400, but if you load it up, it WILL get interesting. I find 4227 fouls the barrel until you get it into the higher pressure-ranges, but it's easy to clean, and doesn't SEEM to affect accuracy.
2400 does, too, but not as bad as 4227.

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IMR4227 definitely is not the hot setup in short (4") barrels... but it's marvelous in my 20" Marlin! I've even tried it in my 5.5" Ruger with .45 Colt loads... same-same. It's kind of an expensive powder to use... so I just use Unique in the handgun loads, and IMR4227 (or, perhaps, 2400) in the carbine loads.

Nevmavrick said:

I find 4227 fouls the barrel until you get it into the higher pressure-ranges, but it's easy to clean, and doesn't SEEM to affect accuracy.2400 does, too, but not as bad as 4227.

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Hard cast bullets can foul the barrel if run too easy. They require higher pressures than softer bullets, say Br 12 versus 15 or higher.