What's your favorite powder for magnum pistol rounds & 45LC?

[epijunkie67]

I've started reloading for my 41 magnum lever action rifle and wanted suggestions for powder. I'm using Unique right now (9.3 grains under 210 grain gold dot round using a CCi primer) just to get a feel for it but I think I'll get better performance out of something like Blue Dot or 2400. I also do a little .357 mag and might start reloading for my 45LC. The .357 and .45LC would be for both pistol and rifle.

Suggestions? Should I use a different powder for the 45LC or is there something that can give me good performace for all three of these rounds?

 

[GooseGestapo]

I prefer Alliant#2400

Try 14.5gr w/158gr bullets in .357mag.

Try 20.0gr w/250gr Jacketed HP in .45colt.
(DO NOT USE IN COLT SAA OR CLONES!!!) SEE NOSLER #4 MANUAL FOR FURTHER INFO.

Both are very accurate and very powerful.

CAUTION, THEY ARE LISTED MAX LOADS IN MOST MANUALS.

 

[JR719]

I have used Accurate #5 for my .357, .38's. No complaints, it burns clean as far as I can tell. I use #2 for the .40 and 9mm.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

probably wc820 which is aa9 because it cheap and gives good velocities and accuracy. ANother top choise in the colt is h4227

 

[Starter52]

+1 for 2400. I've used it for 20 years.

 

[Brian Williams]

Lil'Gun is making some noise in my 357s

 

[ReloaderFred]

I've used Winchester 296 for years in my .41 Magnum and .357 Magnum loads for both pistols and Carbines with good success. I've just started experimenting with Lil'Gun in the .357 Magnum, with 180 grain cast gas check bullets. It's proving to be a good powder so far. I'll try it later in the .41 Magnum. I've found that with the magnums, the slower pistol powders give me better accuracy and higher velocities out of the longer barrels.

Just use magnum primers and a good roll crimp, which you should do anyway when loading for the Carbines. I saw one the other day that had pushed a bullet back into the case under magazine spring pressure and locked up the gun during a match.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[azredhawk44]

Haven't tried 2400 yet, but I have used Win296 and H110.

Both go "BANG!!!" with significant authority with my 44mag. I can't handle using Win296 in .357 for my sp101... to much boom for me to like in that little grip.

23.5gr Win296 gives very good accuracy for me in my 5.5" Redhawk with 240gr LSWC, but does lead a little bit. Not terribly, just a little.

H110 and Win296 should be kept very close to published max loads, though. Reducing them can actually result in increased chamber pressures, beyond what a max load can produce. Last I checked, max was 24.0gr for a 240gr LSWC.

 

[MCgunner]

I've been loading GooseGestapo's 14.5 grains 2400 in a .357 under my Lee gas checked cast SWC for years, so when I got a .45 Colt to play with, I worked up my hot loads with it, first in a contender barrel, then the same load proved awesome in my Ruger Blackhawk I bought later.

I load 20 grains under a 300 grain Hornady XTP JHP. It's a fire breathin', butt stompin' load I'd NEVER try in a weaker gun than the Ruger or TC, so don't even THINK about it! I cannot remember where I got that load, but think it was out of a magazine article. It works, but it's pretty hot. I get no pressure signs like sticky cases or extruded primers or anything with it, though.

I've read of much hotter loads to be fired in the Freedom Arms revolvers only. I guess that's in case you can't find .454 brass or something, but I don't see the point in that. My load is .44 mag equivalent, but I don't shoot it all that much. It kinda HURTS to shoot it in that Contender. The Blackhawk just rolls up in the hand with it, no problem.

I load a 255 grain Lee SWC that I mostly shoot. The 300 grain load is my serious outdoor load for hog hunting and I've carried it out west some where bears and cats roam. My 255 grain load is a hoot to shoot, load 8.3 grains of Unique under that Lee cast bullet and get honest to God 1" five shot groups off sandbags at 25 yards with it. It's pushing that big flat point at about 900 fps, be a pretty good anti-personel load I'd thing for self defense asside from a might too much penetration, but I don't worry about that out where I wear this hog leg. It's accurate enough to take a sitting jack rabbit out to 50 yards no problem. The Blackhawk is my favorite handgun in all my collection, though it's only suited for outdoor carry of course, but it's such a versatile firearm when handloaded. I think I'd like .41 mag for the same reasons and of course .44 mag ain't shabby, but I chose the .45 colt out of nostalgia if nothing else for this use and it's not disappointed me. It certainly carries more authority than my .357 mags. I get 1256 fps/1050 ft lbs out of my 7" contender barrel with the 300 grain load, something under 1200 fps in the Ruger (4 5/8" barrel).

 

[db_tanker]

I have seen all the good powders listed that I use in my mags.

Lil'gun is one I haven't been able to get around to, as well as 1680...still using H-110/296, 4227 and 2400....especially the last two for 44 Mag.

for a 41 mag, I would suggest the "twins" and perhaps AA#9.


D

 

[2400]

I've used a lot of 2400 and Unique over the years.

 

[epijunkie67]

A lot of good options here so far. I was looking at my <u>Modern Reloading</u> last night and saw that H110, Accurate #5, Blue Dot, and 2400 seemed to cover an awful lot of range. I'm trying to settle on a single powder that will give me good result for all the calibers I'm reloading across a variety of bullet weights.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

2400 is well suited for this application.

But as our moderator noted: 'lil gun is up-n-comin in these applications.

Just tried some in a 41 mag load for the first time last week. VERY inpressed at this point.

If you are just starting out give 'lil gun SERIOUS thought.

The only reason I haven't done more with it yet? I've got A LOT of 2400 on hand. Only bought a 1lb can of 'lil gun for trial. So far it's looking good in both 357 and 41 mag.

Vit N110 is exellent, but expensive.
Blue dot works well, though slightly flashy and temperature sensitve.
Max effort stuff? 296 or H110.

 

[dodgestdshift]

W-296 for 357 magnum, 44 magnum, 45 Colt. Unique for 45 ACP.

 

[lwrnc1963]

My favorite 45 Colt load is 17.5 grains of 2400 under a 255gr. Oregon Trail SWC. A nice stout load that is still very controllable with one hand.

 

[Ndenway]

I've used blue dot for all my heavy lead loads in 357, 41mag and 45lc, and h110 for jackets, I've just recently started using lil'gun with the heavier bullet weights and it works great,

velocity is much more consistant and slightly faster on avg. with the lead and jacketed bullets than what I've gotten with the blue dot and h110.