Vintage win 296 compatibility with 300 blk

[Viking painter]

Hi all my fellow reloaders, I hope you are all having a great Friday. I recently ran across a lot of powder at my local shop that was from a estate sale. Being a avid 300 blk reloader, I bought all the H110 and a old metal can of Win296 from 1977. All the powder was either new or barely used and has been kept well all these years. I’ve run into some old timers that tell me win296 of old days compared to now is much different and I should be very careful loading 300 blk with it due to no load data for it and because it is more sensitive to reduced loads than the modern stuff. Now, I don’t load bunny fart 300 blk loads, I have dialed my H110/296 loads to 20 gr with 110 vmax, 110 Barnes tac tx, 110 Sierra v-hp, and achieve 2270-2300 fps ish from a 10.3” ss ballistic advantage Hanson barrel so they are solid hunting loads and not reduced by any means. My question to you guys that we’re reloading back in them days( I was born in 77)is 296 from then that much more unstable/hot?

 

[Viking painter]

 

[Viking painter]

The price tag says 4.79! Wouldn’t that be nice now!

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I’ve been using W296 since the 90’s - using powder made in the 80’s - and I have not noticed any real change in its stability. I do think Winchester started having it made with better burn inhibitors around 1995-2000 but that’s not a significant change.

I would load it like the modern powder, just keep your test ladders in small batches until you have a good load that works for you.

It’s no fun loading a couple hundred rounds then having to hammer them apart because the loads no good.

 

[Blue68f100]

I started using W296 in the late 70's. If I recall it was around $6/lb back then. When it was 1st released their (Win) load data had a sub note "DO NOT REDUCE". This was changed a few years later and said you could reduce 3%. I was using W296 in 30 carbine.

 

[P Flados]

For actual performance, batch to batch variations are a potentially bigger issue than the difference between "old" formulations and "new" formulations.

For me, my old metal can 296 seemed more forgiving than a more recently purchased 8# jug of H110.

I see slight variations in the labels for your H110 bottles. So basically it looks like you have 4 different "lots" of the "same powder".

The, normal protocol is to start over with a workup with each lot.

If you want to avoid individual workups, mixing say one ounce at a time from each container would generate a blend that would be consistent until you use up all of what you have.

A long time ago, I gave up buying small containers for magnum pistol or rifle powders. My preference is generally to buy 8 lb jugs, or multiple medium jugs of the same lot. I generally load faster powders well below max and worry less about lot to lot variations.

 

[Viking painter]

I’ve been using W296 since the 90’s - using powder made in the 80’s - and I have not noticed any real change in its stability. I do think Winchester started having it made with better burn inhibitors around 1995-2000 but that’s not a significant change.

I would load it like the modern powder, just keep your test ladders in small batches until you have a good load that works for you.

It’s no fun loading a couple hundred rounds then having to hammer them apart because the loads no good.

Yes, I’m going to load small 5-7 rd test rounds and test at 50 yards. Starting at 19.2 up to 20.2. That’s where I’ve always found the best nodes and velocities for my barrels. Pulling bullets is not my thing, these will be Barnes tac tx 110 gr so friggin spendy mistake to make,lol. Thank you sir, I appreciate you all!

 

[Viking painter]

I started using W296 in the late 70's. If I recall it was around $6/lb back then. When it was 1st released their (Win) load data had a sub note "DO NOT REDUCE". This was changed a few years later and said you could reduce 3%. I was using W296 in 30 carbine.

The do not reduce part is exactly what I had reservations about with this powder lot! I’ve decided to just quit worrying about it and let er rip! I load em near max for blackout anyways so should be fine. I think 97.5 or 98.5% load density is the lowest charge with my brass so right in the spec. Thank you for your advice, I’ve been doing this for quite a while but none of us know everything and I appreciate the help!

 

[westernrover]

By CPI, $4.79 is now $25.12, which I think would be a practical price if it were only for inflation. As mentioned elsewhere, some other propellants are still $26.99/lb., but some are marked up to more than twice that. I recently paid $39.99 plus tax for 296 locally (no shipping or hazmat). Unfortunately, we're affected by more than inflation.

 

[Viking painter]

For actual performance, batch to batch variations are a potentially bigger issue than the difference between "old" formulations and "new" formulations.

For me, my old metal can 296 seemed more forgiving than a more recently purchased 8# jug of H110.

I see slight variations in the labels for your H110 bottles. So basically it looks like you have 4 different "lots" of the "same powder".

The, normal protocol is to start over with a workup with each lot.

If you want to avoid individual workups, mixing say one ounce at a time from each container would generate a blend that would be consistent until you use up all of what you have.

A long time ago, I gave up buying small containers for magnum pistol or rifle powders. My preference is generally to buy 8 lb jugs, or multiple medium jugs of the same lot. I generally load faster powders well below max and worry less about lot to lot variations.

Yes, the H110 came from a estate sale and is labeled 1999,2002,2008. I usually buy 8# jugs as well but got all the pictured powders and 3 jugs of varget for $30! I’m going to just throw them all together and do my regular work ups till I find my normal node in the mid 19s to 20.2. The old 296 I’ve heard over the years and just recently as well that it doesn’t play nice with reduced loads so I wanted ask the old pros and confirm my assumption. You guys are the best, thank you much!

 

[Viking painter]

By CPI, $4.79 is now $25.12, which I think would be a practical price if it were only for inflation. As mentioned elsewhere, some other propellants are still $26.99/lb., but some are marked up to more than twice that. I recently paid $39.99 plus tax for 296 locally (no shipping or hazmat). Unfortunately, we're affected by more than

By CPI, $4.79 is now $25.12, which I think would be a practical price if it were only for inflation. As mentioned elsewhere, some other propellants are still $26.99/lb., but some are marked up to more than twice that. I recently paid $39.99 plus tax for 296 locally (no shipping or hazmat). Unfortunately, we're affected by more than inflation.

I got all the powders pictured plus 3 jugs of varget for $30. 1960s prices and almost all unopened!

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

That’s one way to beat the rising costs. I’m skeptical of garage sale powders and won’t buy them but if I knew/know the previous owner and trusted their judgement/practices, sure I’d buy it. I have a good bit of gifted powder and primers.

 

[Viking painter]

That’s one way to beat the rising costs. I’m skeptical of garage sale powders and won’t buy them but if I knew/know the previous owner and trusted their judgement/practices, sure I’d buy it. I have a good bit of gifted powder and primers.

Fortunately I did know the owners son and they were f1 class shooters. Don’t think they even messed with factory ammo. 2 jugs of the h110 were barely opened, 15 oz in one and 13 in the other. All the rest were his backstock of unopened powders and projectiles. I also scored 500x .308 150 gr federal fusions, 1000x 60 gr .224 vmax, and 1000 124 gr fmj rn hornys for 9mm! Was like finding gold nuggets in a parking lot! I tried the 296 today with 110 vmax and set on 19.8 at 2.063, 3/4” at 100 yds with 2283 fps avg es31 sd8.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Fortunately I did know the owners son and they were f1 class shooters. Don’t think they even messed with factory ammo. 2 jugs of the h110 were barely opened, 15 oz in one and 13 in the other. All the rest were his backstock of unopened powders and projectiles. I also scored 500x .308 150 gr federal fusions, 1000x 60 gr .224 vmax, and 1000 124 gr fmj rn hornys for 9mm! Was like finding gold nuggets in a parking lot! I tried the 296 today with 110 vmax and set on 19.8 at 2.063, 3/4” at 100 yds with 2283 fps avg es31 sd8.

Nice!