hp 38/w231

[HOWARD J]

Does Hp38 meter (RCBS uniflo) as well as W231 ?

 

[rcmodel]

It should.

It's the same exact powder sold under two different names.

rc

 

[edfardos]

I just switched from hp38 to w231. I didn't have to adjust the powder drop.

same stuff.

--edfardos

 

[HOWARD J]

Thanks for the info
H

 

[ReloaderFred]

HP-38 normally runs a couple of dollars per pound cheaper than Win. 231, probably due to the licensing agreement, but it is the same powder. It's made in St. Marks, FL.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Yeah, I buy the one that costs less at the time. No difference and that came directly from Hodgdon.

 

[joneb]

It's the same exact powder sold under two different names.

How long have they been the same? Did HP-38 become 231 or the other way round?
Could be some old stuff out there from before the unification

 

[LiveLife]

I believe around 2006 as up until 2005, Winchester load data for W231 differed from Hodgdon HP-38 load data but since 2006, both have been the same - http://www.hodgdon.com/history.html

In March 2006, Hodgdon Powder Company and Winchester® Ammunition announced that Winchester® branded reloading powders would be licensed to Hodgdon. Winchester smokeless propellants, the choice of loading professionals, are available to the handloader to duplicate the factory performance of loads from handgun to rifle and shotgun.

When I see published load data that shows different powder charges/velocities/pressures for W231 vs HP-38, I consider load testing may have been done with older than 2005 W231/HP-38 powders.

 

[rcmodel]

Old W-231 was made by the Winchester owned St. Marks powder facility in St. Marks Florida from 1969-2006.

Hodgdon HP-38 was made by St. Marks also, but in different lots made expressly for Hodgdon.

Burn rates and data for each were not the same.

In 1998, Winchester got out of the powder manufacturing business all together, and St. Marks Powder, Inc. became a separate company.

In 2006 Winchester divested itself of powder packaging & distribution.
And Hodgdon took over the packaging & distribution.

From that point foreword, it all comes out of the same shipping containers and is packaged and sold by Hodgdon.

The powder magazine, packaging, and manufacturing facilities are located in Herrington, Kansas. Additional magazine space is located at a closed military air base, (Forbes Field) leased from the City of Topeka, Kansas.

So, if you have older W-231, or HP-38 powder, or older data, they were not the same prior to 2006.

rc

 

[Lj1941]

Question

I know since Hodgons bought the rights to Winchester.The present day W 231 is the as HP 38 AND W 296 and H 110 are the same. I know that todays W 760 and H 414 are the same.What about a can of H 414 that is close to 25 or more years old? I have a can of H 414 thatvI paid $7.95 for. I would bet that it is different than a pound of W760 that is over 10 years old that I also have.You can't just say that they are the same when one is a lot older than the other.I checked some of the old data on the 2 and although close-they are different in most cases. My point is with a lot of new people handloading for the 1st time there is a chance for someone to get in trouble.

 

[LiveLife]

I checked some of the old data on the 2 and although close-they are different in most cases. My point is with a lot of new people handloading for the 1st time there is a chance for someone to get in trouble.

Hence the virtues of powder work up and using mid-to-high range load data target loads. If you use mixed range brass (and most of us do) with unknown reload history, I would not recommend new reloaders jump to loading max charge loads. Using mid-to-high range load data, even with slight variations of older W231/HP-38, powder work up from start charge and watching accuracy trends towards mid-to-high range load data should allow reloaders to identify accurate target loads.

When I help set up new reloaders, I usually suggest they start with W231/HP-38 as it is quite flexible for various calibers and even at mid-range load data, it produces accurate target loads and burns relatively clean.



An example is 200 gr SWC with 5.0 gr of W231/HP-38. Current Hodgdon load data lists the following for this popular lead SWC bullet:

200 gr CAST LSWC W231/HP-38 OAL 1.225" Start 4.4 gr (771 fps) 11,000 CUP - Max 5.6 gr (914 fps) 16,900 CUP

5.0 gr charge is mid-range load data and most 200 gr SWC bullets will be loaded longer at 1.240" - 1.260" OAL, which will lower the chamber pressure even more. Even if there were some variations in older W231 vs HP-38 powders, I don't think you'll run into much issues (Depending on the pistol, barrel and recoil spring rate, you may end up using slightly more than 5.0 gr.).



Another example is the higher pressure 40S&W. Current Hodgdon load data lists the following for Berry's/Hornady 180 gr bullets:

180 gr BERB FP W231/HP-38 OAL 1.125" Start 4.4 gr (872 fps) 26,400 PSI - Max 5.1 gr (984 fps) 33,500 PSI

180 gr Hornady XTP W231/HP-38 OAL 1.125" Start 4.1 gr (797 fps) 23,800 PSI - Max 5.0 gr (947 fps) 32,900 PSI

Berry's 180 gr TCFP bullet with 4.0-4.5 gr will produce light to mild recoil (like 9mm) but accurate target loads. At 26,400 PSI, cases won't bulge enough to cause resizing issues, even out of generous chambers.


Same for 165 gr Berry's plated and Jacketed bullets:

165 gr BERB FP W231/HP-38 OAL 1.125" Start 4.7 gr (933 fps) 25,200 PSI - Max 5.4 gr (1049 fps) 33,400 PSI

165 gr Sierra JHP W231/HP-38 OAL 1.125" Start 4.8 gr (946 fps) 28,100 PSI - Max 5.3 gr (1001 fps) 32,500 PSI

I use 5.0 gr charge for 165 gr 40S&W Montana Gold FMJ/JHP bullets.