Which would you choose? H110 or W296

They are the same powder, so what ever has the best price would make sense.


NCsmitty

I have not used the w296 at all .....but have been using the h110 for years reloading 44mag .......if they are the same then I say it doent matter ......but if the 296 is a little more versatile go with it as the 110 you have too walk a pretty fine line with the cup ....

I like dealin with Hodgdon powders , if i have a ?? i can pick up the phone & talk to a person that knows the powder inside & out , I like haveing "people" behind me !!!!

I use 296 and ONLY because it comes in a 4lb container and H110 does not. They ARE the same powder.

I consider H110 and W296 to be powders with limited versatility though they're a very good performer in that limited application. They would never be the only powder on my bench. Buy H110 or W296 if you want to load full power magnum loads with jacketed bullets for hunting or long distance shooting with the resultant heavy recoil in the .357 mag, .41 mag and .44 mag. Both these powders are the same base stock and both are volume and load density sensitive which results in that they may produce squib loadings if the maximum load is dropped by more than 3%. Neither powder is good for downloaded target ammo of for use with any lead bullet but a properly sized hard cast, preferably with gas check. Because of the quantity used and being a slow powder you'll likely see flame cutting if you shoot lots of rounds loaded with this powder.

Read and follow the loading advice, use magnum primers with heavy bullet crimp in your loads.

All Animals Are Created Equal..

but some are more equal than others. Quote.

I have used 296 as long as I have had magnums and I use it exactly as Winchester says (e.g., 240 gr JH/SP, 24 gr; 240 LSWC, 25 gr). I read the manuals and load data and see nuances, but I ignore it and use it as the Maker intended. Never a problem, never a pressure problem manifested. I also read the manuals and see differences in pressure readings and load recommendations for the 2 powders, so if they are the same, I presume the differences are due to lot differences. Or maybe they were not the same in years past, and now are from the same pot of stew at the current maker. Whatever, if they're the same or different, I use them both (let's not talk about 820 here ) and will continue to do so. For my 44 & 357 mags they are the bull's nuts and 30 carbine as well. But we won't talk about 820...

learn something new everytime I come here !

I hear people claiming differences in their performance, but nowadays they're clearly the same powder. Get whichever is available or cheaper. I've used both and the loads have all been interchangeable (after working back up, since we've switched powder lots). I like it in heavy cast 45 LC. 325 grains of lead at just under 1,300 fps doesn't lead and is fun to shoot.

H110 was around before WW 296. It was the powder developed for the M1 Carbine cartridge - which actually specs out to nothing more than a 30 caliber magnum revolver cartridge sans the rimmed case. It has virtually the same case length, loading density, pressures and sectional density as the other revolver magnum cartridges.

If they are the same powder, I'd like to know the actual source testifying to the fact. Researching the loading literature, one will see different load recommendations by weight...though they may be similar.

Previous poster stated they are very similar in burning rates and applications, which the loading manuals will bear out. Both have similar precautions of use...namely not to unload them. They are made for heavy, magnum class pressures and perform well as such. I use H110 frequently, haven't used WW296. I can say that H110 is very stable, and doesn't get very erratic when pushing upper end loads in the magnum range. It is also accuracy stable.

I haven't used WW 296 simply because I found what I needed with the other powders I use.

They are the same

The best indication is that the 2009 Hogdon "Basic Reloading Manual" lists exactly the same loads/pressures for both powders anytime they appear for a given caliber/bullet.

Other 'cloned' Hodgon/Winchester powders are:
- HP38 and Win231
- H414 and Win 760

I don't know how far back these powders have been identical, but it seems pretty certain the current production runs are the same.

- Virgil

H110.

I've gotten different results.......from each. The better results were from H110. Been using it in my full-power .357 and .44 mag loads for over 18 years.

Open a can of H110 and W296..........they smell different, which means they are NOT the same powder in different cans.

In one of his articles, John Linebaugh states, "I've probably shot over 50 lbs of WW-296 in all my testing and twice that much H-110. I feel H-110 is kinder to lead bullets than W296 but H-110 does vary from lot to lot more than W296. I have never seen a "hot" or fast can of H-110 but have used some that was a grain or 2 slower than normal."

If they're the same price, maybe take that into consideration. Otherwise, just buy what's cheapest/available.

Handloader magazine

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In the October issue on page 29 there is a list of powders that are exactly the same.


Hodgdon Winchester

H110....................same as...................296
HP-38...................same as...................231
HS-6....................same as...................540 (discontinued)
H-414...................same as...................760

Actually, I was going to recommend AA9, but 2400 will do the job.

W-296 and 2400 reside on my loading bench...

As stated, H110 and W296 are the same powder. Both are great in full power loads. Unfortunately, it is full power loads only.

I have both. I also have AA#9. A very good magnum powder. But of all, I prefer 2400. It is more flexible. I have loaded thousands of 240 grain anything, 22.0 2400. This is a classic Keith load. Plenty of power, plenty of recoil.

I have also loaded tens of thousands of 240 gr anything with 17.5 grains 2400. This squirts out between 1100-1200 fps, is plenty powerful, and accurate. And a lot easier on me.

I may just go with 2400. It will give the same performance and can be used in lighter loads.

Click to expand...

For just about any given magnum revolver load H110/W296 will get you the highest velocity, well above 2400. The fact that it can't be downloaded doesn't matter to me. It's like complaining that your 50' flatbed semi is bad for hauling groceries.
That said, 2400 is a great powder and may give you a wider range of available loads...but they will not keep up with H110/W296.

H110/W296 will get you the highest velocity, well above 2400.

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Not always true and its been my experience that H110 and W296 may provide a marginal increase in velocity but the cost is 3 to 5 more grains in powder compared to 2400 to get perhaps a 50 fps increase in velocity. I must say that H110 and W296 produce generally very consistent velocities with low standard deviation.

Not always true

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Which is why I said...

For just about any given magnum revolver load

Click to expand...

There are exceptions, especially when you're talking shorter barrels where the slower powders don't have a chance to work.
You do make a good point on the economy side though.

The original source of H110 was surplus carbine powder, made by Winchester, sold by Hodgdon. When surplus stocks ran out, Hodgdon had Winchester make fresh supplies to the same specs as the last of the surplus they had sold. This was not necessarily the same as what Winchester started selling to their specs. But when Hodgdon took over packaging and distribution of Winchester powders, it became a lot simpler to just order up a truckload of powder from St Marks FL and label it whichever way they had orders for. So current H110 is the same as W296, but old data shows differences.

I have a letter from Winchester from a number of years ago confirming that H110 and W296 are the same powder.

There will be some differences between specific containers, because there is some permissible lot-to-lot variance in canister-grade powders.

When you write Hodgdon or Winchester powders for help the answer comes signed Hodgdon /Winchester /IMR. I have gotten written conformation from Hodgdon that H110 and W296 are EXACTLY THE SAME POWDERS. In these times of sewing for everything no company would put something in writing that isn't true.

As stated above:
W231 = HP-38
W296 = H110
W760 = H414
W540 = HS-6
W571 = HS-7

I have W296/H110, 2400 and Lil'Gun on my bench for loading Magnum rounds and all 3 have their place.