Argh... .460 squib.

[Anmut]

230g .452 cast with 43g of H110 and a LRP. Got five shots off no issue before she pfffffffffffffffft one round half way down the barrel on me. I can't get my hands on any large rifle magnum primers right now OR any other powder besides H110...

Anyone else loading for this bad boy?

 

[osteodoc08]

I load for its lil brother, 454 Casull in a SRH. I feel your pain on components. I was giddy finding some 231 today. Only recommendation is to use that ammo for range fodder until you can find some mag primers. Or change powder when you can.

 

[Anmut]

Thanks - I pushed some rounds a few tenths of inch further down into the case to help increase pressure a little bit - however I think the issue really is the non magnum primers. I'm going to hit the range again tomorrow with enough gear to clear squibs if I get another. I've got some jacketed 240g hornady xtp mags showing up on wed. that I've got to at least clear some brass for!

 

[Hondo 60]

While the lack of a magnum primer might be the issue...
I'm dubious. It sounds much more like a lack of powder in that round.

Or did you see a whole bunch of unburned powder?
You didn't say.

Not trying to insult you, just giving you something to think about.

Good luck in finding mag primers.

 

[gamestalker]

42.0 grs. seems a bit light for that bullet weight using H110, I would be loading 45.0 grs. or more? You do know you can't safely reduce starting charges with H110 / 296, and when you do squibs become one of the primary concerns. Magnum primers, although necessary in my experience with H110, have never caused a squib for me when substituted with standard primers. In fact, I've never had a squib.

My recommendation is, go back to the drawing board and start with charges that are within the published range, use magnum primers, and don't try to substitute powder reduction by seating deeper, or by increasing the crimp, it won't work, and could create a serious situation for you. And if you are going to be loading some jacketed bullets, absolutely, positively do not reduce below published start charges with H110 / 296. H110 is intended for full tilt magnum loading, and can't be manipulated at all.

GS

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Thanks - I pushed some rounds a few tenths of inch further down into the case to help increase pressure a little bit - however I think the issue really is the non magnum primers. I'm going to hit the range again tomorrow with enough gear to clear squibs if I get another. I've got some jacketed 240g hornady xtp mags showing up on wed. that I've got to at least clear some brass for!

I'm fairly sure most large rifle primers are just as hot or hotter than magnum pistol primers which light off H110/W296 just fine. Like asked above, was there a lot of powder left in the case/handgun? If not you might have had a empty case or very light charge.

 

[Walkalong]

A primer won't drive the bullet halfway down the barrel, so there was some powder there. Without looking at powder charges in a load book, it sounds like the load is a hair light and maybe that round was on the low side of the drop variation, along with using a standard primer.

Sounds like.

 

[buck460XVR]

Sounds like a light load combined with maybe too light of crimp. Does that bullet have a cannelure or is it a 230gr intended for taper crimping? Where did you get your start load for using those components? Was this the first round in the cylinder or had other rounds been fired with it in the cylinder. In a large volume case like the .460, the use of magnum primers is not usually necessary for H110/W296 when the correct charge and crimp are used. The .460 is a whole different beast to load for. Until you are used to it's quirks, going outside the box of published loads is an iffy proposition at best. I have been reloading for the .460 since it first came out. I have yet to see a load recipe using 230 gr cast bullets.

 

[Anmut]

There was a whole ball of unburnt powder I had to clean out. I'm off to the range in a bit to test the rest of these rounds out.

 

[Anmut]

Alright, I got 17 rounds down range with no issue. I believe the extra seating depth I added helped increase the pressure enough. I'm going to reseat the last 20 I have and set them off tomorrow.

That is a seriously accurate revolver after you calm your nerves from the muzzle blast and recoil. Punishingly loud though - tomorrow I'm bringing ear plugs AND ear muffs - the muffs just did not cut it today.

 

[boogieman]

If you were shooting a XVR I would be very surprised if you dont have serious hearing issues. I cant imagine that any other firearm with that round is much better. Considering your loading practice and lack of "ears" maybe its best if you rethink your safety. I actually wear ear plugs with muffs over them when shooting my xvr.

 

[tyeo098]

H110 needs to be loaded at/near full pressure in order to burn correctly.

Downloading H110/W296 more than 3% will cause squibs and incorrect burns.

 

[buck460XVR]

H110 needs to be loaded at/near full pressure in order to burn correctly.

Downloading H110/W296 more than 3% will cause squibs and incorrect burns.

I wonder why then that Hodgdon has published loads showing min. charges for the .460 @ 10% less than max. loads? One should NEVER go below published loads to prevent a squib, but I still have doubts as to where the OP got his load recipe and if the bullets were appropriate for the cartridge. If he could still "push" the bullets a few "TENTHS" farther into the case, I seriously doubt there was much crimp or a cannelure on the bullet. With that short of bullet, jumping the crimp(if there was any) would still allow the cylinder to rotate, but could result in an incomplete burn, thus creating the squib. Add to this a light charge and it is not a surprise he stuck a bullet.

 

[Grumulkin]

It was obviously too light a powder charge and no, you don't need magnum primers of any kind in a 460 S&W Magnum. The correct primer is large rifle.

As far as shooting it without hearing protection goes, you shouldn't do that with any gun and especially the likes of a braked 460 S&W magnum. Of course, if you do it enough maybe you won't hear it at all.

 

[KansasSasquatch]

It was obviously too light a powder charge and no, you don't need magnum primers of any kind in a 460 S&W Magnum. The correct primer is large rifle.

As far as shooting it without hearing protection goes, you shouldn't do that with any gun and especially the likes of a braked 460 S&W magnum. Of course, if you do it enough maybe you won't hear it at all.

No offense but you and boogieman should go back and read the last line of Anmut's last post. He said he had hearing protection, he just didn't double up on it. But it looks like he's going to remedy that.

 

[hatwerinrednek]

230g .452 cast with 43g of H110 and a LRP. Got five shots off no issue before she pfffffffffffffffft one round half way down the barrel on me. I can't get my hands on any large rifle magnum primers right now OR any other powder besides H110...

Anyone else loading for this bad boy?

dont load that calliber but i did the same thing with 38 spec in a 6 in gp100. dont remember the exact load but it was a starting load of 700x in the hornady hand book. the thing is i tripple checked my loads when i weigh them and i always use a flashlight to see that their is infact powder in the case before i seat a bullet. i had 10 rounds to shoot and stuck the 8th. i was using non mag primers. the gunsmith accused me of not putting in powder, but i knew better. ive also read that when using super light loads and you load the cartridge with the bullet downward (witch a revolver shooter would always do) most of the powder is at the farthest end away from the primer , so in my case with a light load with a long barrel and probably dirty with a fast burning powder and a lot of air space in the case resulted in a 40 dollar gunsmith bill and a ton of humiliation .

 

[gamestalker]

Although I've never experienced a squib, I do know that according to my books and powder manufacturer data, that H110 being the slow burner it is, can be very difficult to light if the charge is below published start, and if not using magnum primers.
I use it all the time, and it is in fact my primary magnum powder for all my mag. wheel guns. It has always performed best at charges above minimum start in my experience.

GS

 

[buck460XVR]

Although I've never experienced a squib, I do know that according to my books and powder manufacturer data, that H110 being the slow burner it is, can be very difficult to light if the charge is below published start, and if not using magnum primers.

The .460 uses Large Rifle primers to ignite. In the large volume of the case, using LRPs and the correct charge, H110/W296 will ignite just fine. I use Large Rifle Magnum primers with it only in hunting ammo to be used in extreme cold. Again, my question is and has been from the start, was an appropriate bullet with a cannelure used with the proper crimp? This has as much to do with proper ignition with H110/W296 as primer used. My other question was, and the O.P. has not answered it yet, is where he got the load recipe for the bullet he used. I have been reloading for the .460 since it came out and have never found any published load recipes for a 230 gr lead bullet in .460 S&W Mag. Impossible for anyone to know if he/she started below minimum/start when they don't know what minimum/start is. The most common error I see with inexperienced folks reloading for the .460 is the use of inappropriate bullets. Appropriate jacketed bullets are $40 a hundred. Hardcast intended for the .460 are almost as much. Lead bullets for .45ACP are $40 for 500. Jacketed bullets intended for .45 Colt are $20 a hundred. Folks justify the cost of buying a .460 firearm but then can't justify the cost of feeding it appropriate bullets. Only 230 gr bullets I have ever seem available commercially were for .45ACP and do not have a cannelure. Without a cannelure to heavy roll crimp into, you will probably experience bullet jump in the .460. Again, the shortness of those bullets would allow a fair amount of bullet jump and still allow the cylinder to turn and the gun to function. Add to this a light, inappropriate powder charge and you get a squib. The .460 is not a forgiving cartridge to reload. This is why most manuals publish loads that produce 10,000 less PSI than SAAMI specs for it. With the pressures it operates at, the difference of only a few hundredths of an inch of case capacity can make a boatload of difference. Changing components is much more of an issue than even a .44 mag.

 

[gamestalker]

Actually, Buck460XVR, I think you hit the nail on the head regarding the bullet he used. Without a canelure to roll crimp into, and using a magnum powder such as H110, I can't imagine how those bullets that were appraoching battery, would have stayed in the case mouth, thus the squib. And yes, LRP's are the correct primer.

GS

 

[buck460XVR]

I'm bumpin' this back to the top in hopes the OP will answer the questions asked.

 

[bluetopper]

This is the main reson I don't buy anymore H110. Even slower powders have no problems igniting with smaller charges to make lighter loads.

Rifle powder 4198 is great for somewhat lighter loads in the 500 Mag and 44 Mag. Stuff as much as you want into in the case with no worries and a great powder burn.