Win 296 for .38 Special?

[seeking_coyotes]

Can I use the Win 296 powder that I am using for my .44 magnum and .357 loads to load up some .38 Special loads?

 

[newfalguy101]

Without consulting my load manual I cant say with 100% certianty, BUT, I AM reasonably certian that 296 is NOT a good choice for .38's as its more for full power cartridges.

If I were you, I would pull out YOUR handy dandy re-loading manual and se what it says

 

[ssyoumans]

No. This is a Magnum powder and works in a very narrow pressure loading range. 38 Special is much lower and you cannot download 296.

 

[ssyoumans]

What weight bullet are you trying to load? I'm sure other THR members will chime in with some recommendations. For full power +P 158gr LSWC I am working with Unique.

 

[mbopp]

NO!!!!!!! 296 reportedly has a phenomenon of detonating and creating a pressure spike in reduced loads. I'm having good luck with 231 in 38 Spl or reduced 357 loads.

 

[gamestalker]

Absolutely not!!! Even in a magnum cartridge application, 296 aand H110 begin to show pressure spike's when dowm at the low end of listed data. In case you haven't noticed, listed charges with those powders have a warning to not reduce charges below minimum data.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

As said above, W296/H110 IS NOT am appropriate powder for loading .38 Special ammo.
W231/HP-38 is a much better choice for that task.

Be aware, it's not only a bad choice, it can be dangerous because W296 should not be downloaded. Unlike other powders that will only produce terrible results, downloading W296 can be dangerous so don't do it.

 

[MEHavey]

With a heavy 158grJSP bullet and loaded to absolute max pressure (17,000psi), you'd only have only an 80% case fill (not particuarly good for predictable WW296 performnce) and still dump fully 50% of that--unburned--out of the muzzle of a 4" revolver.

...and get only 900fps for all your trouble.

 

[zxcvbob]

Has anybody said "No" yet?

 

[Clark]

I could not find one in my manuals, but I knew I could work up a great H110 load with 38 special... just takes a good crimp... just like H110 in 9mm, 45acp, and 45Colt.

But then I found one, in Sierra 4th 1995:
38 Special, 158 gr JHP 296, k-38, 6" barrel
10.6 gr 850 fps
11.1 gr 900 fps
11.6 gr 950 fps
12.1 gr 1000 fps

 

[joneb]

Can I use the Win 296 powder that I am using for my .44 magnum and .357 loads to load up some .38 Special loads?

I will vote NO on that experiment.
HS-6 is as slow as I have gone with 38spl with good results.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I will vote NO on that experiment.
HS-6 is as slow as I have gone with 38spl with good results.

I use HS-6 in the .38 Special too but only when pushing +P pressures. HS-6 performs extremely well at the top or the pressure range. (with a magnum primer)

 

[MEHavey]

... in Sierra 4th 1995:
38 Special, 158 gr JHP 296, k-38, 6" barrel
10.6 gr 850 fps
11.1 gr 900 fps
11.6 gr 950 fps
12.1 gr 1000 fps

That last one still dumps most (now 55%) of the powder out of the muzzle even in a longer 6" barrel. Think of it this way: more than half the powder is merely acting as cream of wheat (except for the big muzzle flash that impresses friends and foes alike).

 

[squarles67]

I wouldn't.........

 

[Walkalong]

As posted, unsuitable. You need a fast to medium powder for .38 Spl.

Somewhere between say:

Bullseye to Unique.

N310 to N340.

AA #2 to AA #5

Clays to HS-6.

WST to W-231.

Competition to True Blue.

etc

 

[zxcvbob]

WSF or Herco might be good with heavy bullets.

 

[NCsmitty]

W296/H110 are a poor choice in the 38 Special.

Unique is a good choice for stout +P loads for the 38 Special and in smaller calibers. I use it in 32 Auto and 32 S&W long. Unique is good in many different calibers.


NCsmitty

 

[Harley Quinn]

Yes I read it pretty clearly, but there are some who would still want to try it for some reason sort of like shooting lead in a DE

zxcvbob Has anybody said "No" yet?

 

[MichaelK]

The tenth edition Speer manual lists +P 38 special loads for H110, 296, and IMR 4227. I will not however repeat the load numbers here.

 

[oneounceload]

20 answers, no response from the OP - boy needs several manuals to stay safe

 

[ArchAngelCD]

It is interesting.
I saw the Hodgdon 357 mag load 18 gr LIL'GUN 158 gr JHP.
I reamed out some 38 sp revolvers to 357 mag and went around shooting 26 gr LIL'GUN 158 and being impressed with the huge recoil and noise.

Clark,
Why do you keep doing things like that? You know how overpressure a charge of 26gr of Lil'Gun is in a .38 Special case let alone a .357 Magnum case. Someone is going to try what you write some day no matter what you warn against and get hurt!

 

[newfalguy101]

I didnt do it man!!

Oh, wait, you mean the OTHER Clark

 

[Harley Quinn]

4227 in a 38 spl That is one I reserve for my 440 Corbon

 

[Bush Pilot]

Clark,
Whay do you keep doing things like that? You know how overpressure a charge of 26gr of Lil'Gun is in a .38 Special case let alone a .357 Magnum case. Someone is going to try what you write some day no matter what you warn against and get hurt!

Apparently you forgot who you were talking about, that's his SOP.

 

[ironhead7544]

No, it would not be safe. In order to get good performance with 296 it has to be working at magnum pressures. That is way too high for the 38 Special.