W296 vs. H110

[kount_zer0]

Which powder to chose for 45Colt +P loads for a RBH?

I'm impartial to brand, but having seen W296 small small grain size, I'd like to look for something else...

Thanks!

 

[EddieCoyle]

They're the same powder; not similar - they are the same. Winchester powder is made by Hodgdon. If you go to their site, you'll see that the load data for the two powders is identical.

 

[Jim Watson]

Other way 'round, Eddie. Hodgdon is the distributor, they do not own the factory. Actually, neither DuPont nor Olin/Winchester are in the gunpowder business any more. The IMR plant in Canada and the Ball (Spherical) process plant in Florida are both owned by General Dynamics. And most other Hodgdon powders are made by ADI in Australia.

 

[kount_zer0]

OK thanks for the info. I just got back from a local store and the owner showed me some H110...they look exactly the same. I knew the data was the same for both, but I was hoping to get a larger grain powder (easier to handle).

I'll just be extra careful I guess.

My goal is to get near 1200fps with a 255 and 300 gr cast bullet. And the most often quoted data is for W296/H110...

 

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

From The Hodgdon Site

I think you might want to try some hodgdon Lil Gun ! their website shows several loads that do what you want with 250 - 300 grain bullets ! Kevin

 

[dannyabear]

You might also want to check out Alliants 2400; its what I use.

 

[usp_fan]

I've had great success with Lil'gun in my .45 colt Ruger only loads.

 

[robsc]

http://stevespages.com/451p_3_240.html

 

[zxcvbob]

7.5" barrel? You can get to 255 grain bullets to 1200 fps easy with Herco, WSF, or 2400.

Blue Dot, #9, and 4100 should work too but I haven't tried 'em yet.

 

[Steve in PA]

You can claim they are the same powders, but I've never got the same results.

When working up loads for my SRH, I got better accuracy and performance from H110. I've been using it ever since.

I also tried working up loads for my .357mag with both powders, and again.....H110 out performs W296.

 

[Grumulkin]

When working up loads for my SRH, I got better accuracy and performance from H110. I've been using it ever since.

Is really is your imagination but no matter, since H110 is usually a few cents cheaper than Winchester 296. I e-mailed Hodgdon and they confirmed that H110 is the same as Win. 296. Also, if you look at the 2007 Hodgdon reloading magazine you will finde that where H110 is listed for a load, they also always list Win. 296 with the very same numbers.

Another interesting fact that can be gleaned from the Hodgdon magazine is that H414 is the very same as Win. 760.

 

[FM12]

Never use either one in .38 spl. You'll get only squibs.

In other calibers, I recommend: 1. heavy bullets 2. Heavy crimp 3. Magnum primers. 4. full loads.

 

[GP100man]

my 44 redhawk loves IMR 800x & the flakes dont get any bigger,HERCO is bulky also!!

GP100man

 

[Steve in PA]

Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. All I know is that if I open a can of H110 and W296...they smell different, so something is different. Maybe it is my imagination.

But when I worked up the loads for both the .357 and .44mag.....I used both powders because I didn't know which one would work best, etc.

Same weight charge for both powders, same cases, same primers, same bullets in each caliber.....H110 beat W296 hands down. I had no pre-conceived notion as to which was the better powder....both were on the same playing field as far as I was concerned.

And the Hornady manual usually shows a .5 grain difference between H110 and W296 in the .44mag, so if they are the same exact powder, why the difference? Its a small variation......but in my reloading experience (over 15 years) H110 always shot better than W296.

Thats my experiences and observations. Yours may vary. All I can say is load up both, see which shoots best for you.

 

[Grumulkin]

And the Hornady manual usually shows a .5 grain difference between H110 and W296 in the .44mag, so if they are the same exact powder, why the difference?

That is a good question and I wondered the same thing. Though it is hard to believe, maybe Hornady didn't know it was the same powder?

With any powder, there can me minor lot to lot variations; perhaps this is what you noticed.

 

[philbo]

Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. All I know is that if I open a can of H110 and W296...they smell different, so something is different. Maybe it is my imagination.

It's your imagination. But, don't believe me, call Hodgdon and check for yourself. They probably get alot of calls about this on a daily basis.

Hodgdon and Winchester will both confirm that they are the exact same powder from the exact same factory. Any variation is the normal variation from one lot to another. Which is why you should always rework your loads when opening a new canister of powder.

Any variations in the load books is attributed to the fact that they were tested at different times, sometime years apart. No company reworks every load when they bring out an updated manual. Lots of loads are just copied and pasted into the new manual.

HP38 & W231 are the same.
HS7 & W571 were the same, but both have been discontinued.
HS6 & W540 are the same.

 

[12Bravo20]

I have never used either powder for pistol reloading but I do get better results with H110 when reloading .410 shells. I get a little better range and tighter pattern with H110

 

[ArchAngelCD]

You can claim they are the same powders, but I've never got the same results.

When working up loads for my SRH, I got better accuracy and performance from H110. I've been using it ever since.

I also tried working up loads for my .357mag with both powders, and again.....H110 out performs W296.

Steve in PA,
How long ago was that? I agree H110 was a slightly better powder before the merger but they really are the same now. Also, this holds true for HP-38 and W231.

 

[kount_zer0]

Wow! Thank you for all the thoughtfull responses!