H110 v. MP-300

Good morning gentlemen, I just got myself a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt with the 7.5" barrel because I want to shoot some magnum level loads and perhaps try handgun hunting, but I don't need/want 454 level performance. I am torn between these two powders. I know John Linebaugh recommends the H110 but MP-300 is new and looks promising. Which powder is a better fit for a 300 grain cast bullet in the .45 Colt case? I also plan on shooting 200 gr. LSWC because I have a ton of them and want to push them fast. I might also use this powder in a .357 but that is secondary and might not ever use this powder in the .357. Thanks in advance.

John

 

I haven't tried the 300MP stuff yet. I was waiting for people like you to try it and report the results! So far, I haven't heard any reports for my applications.

One problem trying a new powder is that it will take awhile for Alliant to give load guidelines for different applications. That is the case for the .45 Colt applications. Alliant doesn't realize that a lot of people shoot some really hot loads in their .45 Colts, so they don't get in a hurry to test those combinations.

If I was going to experiment with Ruger level loads in a .45 Colt using the 300MP, I would use the published data for .44 Mag as a starting point. In my past observations, putting the same amount of powder into a .45 Colt case using the same bullet weight as listed for .44 mag gave fairly similar results. Naturally you would reduce the starting weight a bit for safety but it would get you in the ballpark.

I had some great results using H-110 in super hot .45 Colt loads. When I first got my BFR in .454 Casull, I didn't have any .454 ammo and no .454 brass. But I did have a bunch of .45 Colt brass. I started out using Ruger only loads and they were fun. Eventually, I was shooting loads discussed by Linebaugh. Those were some high pressure loads no doubt. That is where H-110 really shines. It burnt very cleanly and consistently. According to Linebaugh, my loads were probably in the 45,000 psi range. Eventually, when I acquired .454 brass, I quit putting the hot loads into .45 Colt cases. It was kind of a pain to keep them separated from the normal pressure .45 Colt rounds for the regular revolvers I have.

It would be hard to go wrong using H-110 for hot loads in my opinion. Besides, for some reason, all the Alliant powders are higher priced than Hodgdon powders around here. In fact, around here you can buy W-296 is usually a dollar cheaper than the same stuff in a H-110 can. Go figure. And the W-296 can has a prettier label.

 

Thanks Funshooter45. I always order online, eight pounds at a time. The MP-300 is cheaper for me, but since it requires more powder it ends up being almost the same price per round as H110. I was using the .44 data for comparison and the MP-300 seems pretty similar in performance. Maybe I will just end up flipping a coin in the end.

 

A deciding factor in your choice might be H110-W296 requires Magnum primers for total igniton in high volume, realitvely low charge weights, use of regular primers,even Winchesters may cause squibs, especially in .45 Colt.

 

I would love to see some real world data from someone. Would really really love a fps vs pressure comparison. I think the general consensus though is you can get around Lil'Gun velocities + or - a bit, but ive heard its not as hard on the forcing cone? I dunno though havent heard anything conclusive.

 

I use 45 grains of H110 in my 460XVR and using the 200 grain FTX bullet. It is kick-ass!

 

I have almost 5,000 CCI 300 primers and I would prefer to use them.

 

The Ruger Super Black Hawk, a favorite of mine for a very long time now.
Actually what your asking for is a load that isn't approved or tested by SAMMI. Powders like H110/296 and from what I gather, 300MP are not powders that can be fiddled with outside of, especially below published data. They are intended for full house magnum loads and nothing else. Unlike mid range powders and fast burning powders H110/296 can't be manipulated below listed minimum charges shown. I would like to reiterate that, you can't down load with H110 or 296 because they will act unpredictably. I'm not experienced regarding lead bullets being used with these powders, but I would venture to guess that because those powders produce absolute magnum velocity, severe leading will be a primary issue.
I've been seeing some excellent reviews with 300MP I can tell ya that much, but I haven't had the opportunity to try it yet.

 

I seem to have overlooked Lol'Gun. In Hodgdon's published data it gets similar velocities to H110 but with less pressure. I think I may go with this powder

 

I have an lb of MP300 but have been waiting for some additional data to come out before seriously thinking about loading it. From what I've seen on the Alliant site it appears to be a perfect powder for 357 in a TC. AC #9 is also a good 45 Colt +P powder as is 2400,H & IMR 4227 and Blue Dot.

 

I don't know if the claims "hold water", but there is some talk about Lil' Gun flame cutting top straps.

Of course I realize you would have to "burn through" a lot of powder to see any effect on your Blackhawk.

(pun intended)

 

I have decided to go with 300-MP after looking at this:
http://www.loaddata.com/members/search_detail.cfm?MetallicID=5942&caliber=.44&caliberid=25&header=.44%20Caliber%20Reloading%20Data

I also use CCI 300 primers and Starline brass out of a 7 1/2-inch Ruger. Now I just need to get ahold of the October issue of Handloader so I can get the charge weights.

 

I have used lots of standard CCI 300 primers with H-110 loaded to max in the 45 Colt out of a Blackhawk. All within published load data max. I have never had a squib load. Now, I live in North Alabama, where it doesn't get very cold; you might have an issue if you're wanting to ignite that powder in sub freezing temps. Also, I might have gotten lower ES's and SD's over the chronograph with a mag primer. I never did that testing. I can say that my groupings were good, 2" or less at 25 yards off sandbags if I did my part.

If you have a bunch of CCI 300 primers, buy a pound of H110 and give it a go. I don't think you're going to get squibs unless you go below the min recommended load for H110 and the bullet you are using. DO NOT go below the min. That probably causes more squib loads than primers do.

I use WLP primers now.

 

I also remember a forum post (either here or on another forum) where someone had tried 300-MP and ran loads from start to max over a chrono. He got large ES numbers, and average accuracy. Also, his velocity numbers weren't that spectacular.

I think in the 45 Colt at least, H110/296 is still king.

 

No doubt H110 and 296 are the superior full house magnum powders for any magnum wheel gun application. Using those 45 Colt brass for some magnum H110 is a really innovative substitute to continuing magnum performance. I agree, start in the 44 mag data by matching the bullet weights. And then when you've aquired some 454 brass, you'll get to experience enjoy s new big bore magnum performance.

I use those two exclusively for my magnum wheel guns.

 

My plan is to start with 22.0 grains over a 300 gr. lead bullet, then work up until I reach 1200-1300 fps. 22.0 is the max load for the .44, so it should give much less pressure & velocity in the .45 case at that weight.

 

xsoldier1911 said:

I have the October 2011 issue and there are no .45 Colt loads listed, only .327, .357, .41, and .44 Magnums and .454 Casull.

 

I was looking for the .44 data.

 

Well I was able to get to 1325 fps with a 300 gr. lead TCFP, CCI 300 primers, Starline brass, and 300-MP. Still working on the 255 gr. LSWC, got to 1350 with that load. I'm trying to work up to 1450.

 

Handloader 277

Pearce has some more .45 Colt/300-MP loads published in Handloader 277 (April 2012).

Still no explanation of his hatchet job on previous incarnation of Marlin and unwarranted gushing praise on later day Marlin... you know, the later one that had to shutdown production due to QC issues

Evidently his Editor is still waiting for him to reply to snail mail as he claimed writer to have no email/texting capability... yeah right. (this is conjecture on my part, part of me thinks its been swept under office rug already, never to be seen again)

Rifle/Handloader ain't what they used to be...

Luck w/ loads!

 

Tried the MP300 after the article in Handloader. 454 Casull loads in a Super RedHawk 9" barrel.

I don't have a chronograph, but the loads were accurate and clean. Shot much better than H110 or Lil Gun loads with the same bullet weights.

 

I've heard only one opinion from someone who tried it. He was comparing it to the performance of H110 / 296 as well. Anyway, he said it just didn't achieve the velocities of H110, but pressures seemed very consistent as did velocity. It appears it is just a little bit slower burning than H110, which holds pressures down a little bit, but in turn velocity is sacrificed. But that was also in a 44 mag., not a 45 Colt. It may very well perform better in the Colt simply because of the increase in case capacity.

If you give it a try, please let us know how it performed for you. I've been thinnking about grabbing some myself to try in the .357's and 44 mag..

 

which is cheaper? Roughly the same grains? I just got canned so I'm trying, to find safe ways to reload on the cheap(er).


cool,
edfardos

 

A few years back I tried running H110 and 296 with standard primers and ended up with velocities jumping all over the place, and also a face full of still bunring powder. I know nothing about how 300 MP burns with standard primers though.