357mag and 2400 unburned powder question...

[smovlov]

Previously I did a load work up of 2400 from the Lyman min of 11.4 up to 13.0 gr. I stopped at 13.0gr and loaded 50 but recently did a load work up from 13.4 gr of 2400 to 15 to see if I was missing anything. I was getting some unburned powder in the barrel and cases even with the 15gr load. Crimps were about as heavy as I can go with the LEE seat/crimp die (done in one step). I used standard primers. Bullet was a 158gr LSWC. Is there anything to this or is it weird?

 

[SEE IT LIKE A NATIVE]

I prefer to seat and crimp in separate steps ! what is the max load listed in the manual ? Kevin

 

[smovlov]

15.3 grains from the Lyman manual for 160gr Linotype. No sticky extraction.

 

[Bexar]

Barrel length? As I remember 2400 is a slow burning powder. In some barrel lengths this could be a factor.

 

[rcmodel]

No, there is nothing to it.

2400 flake powder will just about always leave behind powder 'skeletons' of burned remnants of the flakes.

It burned, but left behind the ash of the flake.

Normal with 2400.
Don't worry about it.

rc

 

[243winxb]

Keep the "skeletons" from getting behind the revolvers extractor by pointing the muzzle up when ejecting the fired brass.

 

[Bexar]

I just looked at my 2400 powder and it's a very fine ball powder. Y'all are calling it "flake". Could somebody please explain why mine looks like fine ball.

 

[Walkalong]

Look at it under magnification and see what it looks like. 2400 is definitely not a ball powder, or even a "flattened" ball powder. It looks like an extruded powder cut into thin disks.

 

[geo57]

smovlov,

I realize you are working with LSWC's but in my personal experiences and experiments these has been my findings using a 158 gr JHP ( Bulk ) from a .357 magnum Ruger GP100 w/ 4 " BBL. , 2400, std. primer and moderate roll crimp :

12.8 grs of 2400 = Quite a bit of unburned powder / residue in both BBL. and cases.

13.5 grs of 2400 = Very little unburned powder / residue in either the BBL. or the cases. This load runs about 1150 FPS , is controllable in DA shooting and as accurate as it needs to be for my intentions.

 

[Bexar]

Walkalong...Yep...I just did and it does look like very tiny bulky flakes. To the naked eye the 2400 does appear to be almost ground pepper size ball powder. When I was thinking flakes I was thinking "Unique" type flakes. I just looked at my H110 for "good bull" and it looks like flattened ball. Thanks.

 

[smovlov]

Is the ash supposed to be hard? The stuff that is residual seems to be the same as unburned powder.

Thanks for the tip 243! Also thanks guys for always providing good information!

 

[Drail]

Don't sweat the fluffy leftover ashes - that's just how 2400 burns. I've been shooting it since 1986. It'll come off real easily. Compressed air is your friend. 2400 is a great magnum powder.

 

[smovlov]

Whatever is left over in the case and the barrel is not fluffy. It's hard like the powder that went in the case.

 

[243winxb]

Not fluffy. Hard enough to keep an s&w m28 from closing if behind the extractor.

 

[USSR]

If you REALLY want to see residue, try 4227 powder. Still, it produces the most accurate load with heavy bullets that I have found. Don't sweat the "cleanliness" or lack thereof of a powder, just determine it's accuracy potential.

Don

 

[smovlov]

Thanks guys. I'm not going to worry about it.

 

[Bud0505]

Previously I did a load work up of 2400 from the Lyman min of 11.4 up to 13.0 gr. I stopped at 13.0gr and loaded 50 but recently did a load work up from 13.4 gr of 2400 to 15 to see if I was missing anything. I was getting some unburned powder in the barrel and cases even with the 15gr load. Crimps were about as heavy as I can go with the LEE seat/crimp die (done in one step). I used standard primers. Bullet was a 158gr LSWC. Is there anything to this or is it weird?

Might want to try a magnum primer to see if it makes a difference.

 

[243winxb]

357 magnum

I use magnum primers with 2400 & 158 to 163 gr cast bullets at 13 to 13.5 grs. It still leaves the burnt kernels of powder.

 

[Nathan Detroit]

Just a quick note. Years ago there was an article in Handloader Magazine from the '70s by one of the research chemists that worked for one of the US ammo manufacturers. He looked at 2400 in the .44 Mag and wanted to find a combination that completely burned the powder charge. What he found was that no matter what the combination of components, he always had 25% to over 30% powder left unburned and blown out the muzzle of the gun. That is just the way 2400 is, so as you have discovered, don't sweat it.

 

[km101]

I have used many combinations of crimp, standard/magnum primers and various weights of bullets with 2400. I still leaves unburned powder or skeletons as someone called them.
That's just the way 2400 shoots. I get good accuracy and that's what counts.

 

[Andrew Leigh]

Smovlov,

I modelled your 15gr. load in a ballistics application I have, it returned the following info;

a) that only 85% of the powder is burnt.
b) that the pressure calculated out at 46 463psi (SAAMI maximum is 35 000psi)

As the charge weight reduces so to does the amount of powder burnt. At 13.0gr only 75% of the powder is burnt.