.357 Magnum and Hodgdon H110

[Snowdog]

I've recently wandered into powder coating and have had decent results. Unfortunately there's still doesn't seem to be a plethora of load data for PC cast bullets.

I've just cast a few hundred 140 grain .358 SWC using a 358-140-SWC mold using Lyman #2 alloy. I plan on powder coating these (Eastwood's machine gray hot coat powder) but can't nail down a decent recipe with a powder that I discovered that I have.

A while back, a buddy of mine bought the supplies for me to reload some .460 S&W magnum for his revolver. He's not into reloading and purchased way too much powder (H110) and I discovered while rearranging my garage that I still have quite a bit of it. My buddy, who doesn't own the .460S&W anymore, told me to go ahead and use it.

I'd like to use this powder to load my pc'd 140gr SWC and I'd like it to be something that's considered not watered down but not necessarily pushing the envelope. They'll be fired out of a Ruger SP101 with 3" barrel and a S&W 686 with 6" barrel.

Does anyone have any experience with H110 and powder coated bullets? Got a recipe to share?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

As you probably already know the coating protects the lead much like gas checks will so you can go a little hotter than with plain cast bullets. I have not loaded a 140gr coated bullet but I have loaded a 158gr bullet. If you use the starting charge of H110 for a jackets bullet you will be fine.

Warning, Hodgdon tells us not to reduce charges of H110/W296 below the starting charge weights. They claim it's dangerous so he aware. H110 is a great powder for full power magnum loads but it's not a wide range powder for use in light loads.

 

[Blue68f100]

Like ArchAngleCD said H110/W296 works best at max, aka heavy loads. I have not looked to see what the starting load is these days. It used to be 3% reduction of max. When introduced we were told not to reduce at all.

The H110/W296 is a great powder for the 458 SOCOM. Give you another use.

2400 is a better powder if you want to reduce loads, but that's not a option for you.

 

[billybob44]

"http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol "
^^^ With this data, I would load in the middle of the WW-296/H-110 listing for the 140gr. XTP bullet. I think that would give all that you wanted from your PC bullet.
For ME-I load my PC projectiles to middle-top end jacketed loads with no problems...Bill.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

That site yields 17.1 to 19.0 grains of 110. Eighteen grains sounds like a winner.

Load powder coated bullets just like you'd load lubricated lead bullets -- no difference.

 

[Snowdog]

That's what I needed to know. Thanks!

 

[ray15]

22gr. is the max for the 125gr. XTP load. It merits mentioning that the 17.1-19gr. charge is for a 140XTP; max for lead may be 18.5 or less. But in the end no matter what people say here check for yourself. http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

 

[mahansm]

H110 needs a magnum primer to get reliable ignition in .357 magnum loads. I've experienced about 20-30% failure to light with WSP and 125 grain jacketed bullets using 110. WSPM give a 100% ignition rate.

 

[buck460XVR]

As you probably already know the coating protects the lead much like gas checks will so you can go a little hotter than with plain cast bullets.

I have always been told that Powder coating is just a substitute for lube on a cast bullet and does not protect a cast bullet any more than lube. Not really at all like a Gas Check. Thus everything I have been told or read about loading Powder Coated bullets, say to use the same data you use for standard lubed cast bullets.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

I load powder coated bullets in 357, 41 and 44 mag with the same max loads of H110 as I use with jacketed. Leading has not been an issue and accuracy is very good.

 

[billybob44]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?184-Coatings-and-Alternatives
^^^Here is all you need to know on PC, and then some..Bill

 

[billybob44]

With proper cure of the Powder Coat do not be ashamed to run max loads of jacketed listings. Of course work up first for safety..Bill.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I have always been told that Powder coating is just a substitute for lube on a cast bullet and does not protect a cast bullet any more than lube. Not really at all like a Gas Check. Thus everything I have been told or read about loading Powder Coated bullets, say to use the same data you use for standard lubed cast bullets.

You are correct. Powder coating does not substitute for a gas check. However, I find you get a bit better accuracy if you seat the gas check first, then powder coat. My theory is the powder coat holds the gas check on better than just a bare base.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have always been told that Powder coating is just a substitute for lube on a cast bullet and does not protect a cast bullet any more than lube. Not really at all like a Gas Check. Thus everything I have been told or read about loading Powder Coated bullets, say to use the same data you use for standard lubed cast bullets.

I'm no expert and I'm guessing all coating is not the same. I'm not talking about paint, I'm talking about serious coatings like Hi-Tek coating.

I bought some 124gr 9mm bullets with Hi-Tek coating and tried to make them fail. I loaded them up to the Max charge of Longshot and the chronograph good me the velocity was just over 1200 fps, no leading at all and they were very accurate. A friend did the same and was able to recover a few and the coating was intact. I'm thinking that is a little better than cast bullets with lube.

I have not used many different coatings so they may differ, I just don't know.

 

[buck460XVR]

I'm no expert and I'm guessing all coating is not the same. I'm not talking about paint, I'm talking about serious coatings like Hi-Tek coating.

I too wasn't talking paint, thus the words Powder Coating used in my response. I too have only shot a few PC lead bullets. My experience is that while being better for preventing lead fouling than standard lubed bullets, that they are more like a plated bullets than a gas checked. I've read that some hot, slow burning powders may actually melt some coatings and create a mess. I personally have not experienced that, but then again I only loaded them to standard cast and plated bullet velocities and not true magnum velocities. I know folks that load standard lubed hardcast bullets to magnum velocities without excessive fouling also and know folks that feel that lead fouling is just the nature of the beast. Myself, I just keep it simple and use the PC, copper plated and lubed lead for plinkers and stick with jacketed for upper end magnum type loads. But that's me, others are free to do what works for them.

 

[billybob44]

Each to his own, but IMO..
Powder Coat PAINT is hard enough for Magnum pressures.
A QUALITY paint is as tough/tougher than a jacket, as far as handgun loads/pressures.
Most paint is to be baked @ 400 degrees for 15 min or so. I usually give them 20 min or so.
When you pay the $ for a QUALITY paint, you will get a hard coating.
I have yet to have any lead in the barrels of my Glocks/S&W revolvers, with jacketed data used..Bill.

 

[alfsauve]

H110 needs a magnum primer to get reliable ignition....

When I started using H110, eons ago, all the reloading data had warnings to use magnum primers.

Now I hardly see a mention in the more current books.

 

[Skinnedknuckles]

When I started using H110, eons ago, all the reloading data had warnings to use magnum primers.

Now I hardly see a mention in the more current books.

If you check the Hodgdon site, it calls for Winchester Small Pistol Magnum in all the .357 loads listed for H110. But they don't list any .357 loads that I can find with anything other than a magnum primer (even HP-38 under a lead HBWC). For what is it's worth.

 

[Eddietruett]

I shot a lot of HyTek Coated bullets from Summers Enterprises, SNS Casting and Missouri Bullets. My Hog hunting load is a 180gr from Missouri and I load it with the max load listed for jacketed bullets which is 13.5gr of H110. Pushes it 1250fps+. I worked up to this of course, but my experience is you can push the HyTek Coated lead as fast as jacketed with no problems. Actually the same load of powder will push a Cast bullet faster than a jacketed. Never had a bit of problems with leading. At the same time, I'm a firm believer that leading is caused more by a wrong fitting bullet than it is by velocity. I have 2 Model 686 Revolvers I use for hunting. My 8 3/8" will tack drive lead all day long. I've even shot the 185gr Non Coated Cast bullet from GT Bullets over 1250fps with no leading. At the same time, my 7" Model 686 shoots jacketed bullets much better and jacketed are sized at .357 while cast are .358. If I shoot the same cast loads in the 7 inch I will get some leading with the non coated bullets. I read an interesting article a while back about different coatings and velocities. With all things equal, the Plated bullets from Berrys, Xtreme and Ranier are the slowest. Jacketed next and cast are the fastest. I have no experience in all of the coatings available for the home caster, only the HyTek. I understand you can buy HyTek material and coat your own bullets, but unless you have a great source for cheap or free lead, I can't see where it would be worth all the trouble.

 

[ray15]

My Hog hunting load is a 180gr from Missouri and I load it with the max load listed for jacketed bullets which is 13.5gr of H110. Pushes it 1250fps+. I worked up to this of course, but my experience is you can push the HyTek Coated lead as fast as jacketed with no problems. Actually the same load of powder will push a Cast bullet faster than a jacketed.

Definitely. If you look through enough load data you realize that lead doesn't take as much charge to reach maximum pressure, and generally delivers more velocity at a given pressure. People generally recognize the cause of the latter - lower friction. The cause of the former is that lead bullets conform to the bore and rifling to a greater degree than jacketed, which creates a better seal to the bore. This also means that a max jacketed charge will often be over-pressure when used with a lead bullet. It may take 13.0gr. or less to reach max pressure with your coated lead bullet. Hard to say without more relevant load data for comparison or direct measurement.