Hey guys,

I am trying to choose a powder for deer hunting this year, and have narrowed it down to the obvious choices. Any information comparing WW296, 2400, or H110 would be greatly appreciated.

thanks,
vanbuzen9

You sure picked three good ones. I suggest you try all of them on paper over a chronograph and see if you can learn if your hunting tool has a preference.
Cheezywan

Sorry guys, as cheezywan pointed out, this will be for an 8" smith in .44mag.

thanks,
vanbuzen9

Always had good luck with 2400 and H110. The 240 gr bullets seemed to work best.

2400 will give you a little more in terms of versatility as you can raise or lower the powder charges alot more safely than you can with H110(296 is essentially the same powder). H110 is a pretty much "all or nothing" kinda powder. Ive also found that 2400 seems to shoot better with cast bullets. MAke sure your putting a FIRM crimp on these loads so that you get a good, complete ignition.

If it is available in your area, I would suggest you try some VihtaVuori N-110. I have found it gives me the best accuracy and highest velocity with 240 gr bullets from my 6 inch 629. It is also superb in the 357 and 41 mags.

I've found that deer die very effectivly with velocities between 1100 and 1500 fps. 2400 is very good for loads between those ranges. Havn't used H-110. 296 needs to be loaded hot near the top of the charts to be consistant.

I use a 255 Keith style hardcast with a gas check at around 1350 fps from my 7.5 inch super redhawk, I'm using 2400, can't remember the exact load now, but it does a number on deer and black bear both to a hundred yards.

I've only used 296 in extremly hot loads when I was shooting metal targets. You needed the punch to knock the rams over at 200 meters. Didn't like the recoil and for hunting would rather have a milder load as long as it kills well.

Don't waste your money buying both H110 and WW296 as they are the same powder. There are lot to lot differences, this is why there are some slight differences in loading data. I didn't make this up on my own, it comes from Hodgdon. I've shot enough of both of them, close to 100 lbs combined, to tell you I believe it with no reservation.

Don't leave out Hodgdon Lil'Gun as it provides the same performance as H110/WW296. I just cracked the seal on my 3rd 8lb container of this stuff and I like it..a lot. There is certainly no dust on H4227 either. Being that H4227 is and Extreme powder it is also formulated to vary very little when there are big temperature changes. Seeing that you are in Michigan that may be of some use to you since I'm sure it is a LOT colder when you hunt than it is when you test your handloads.

Thanks guys for all your replies, I will have to buy a few and just test them out. I was wondering why the VIHT N-110 can't be found anywhere around here. Is this a rare powder? More expensive than the others? Where is it the cheapest?

thanks,
vanbuzen9

Most small sporting goods stores don't carry the VihtaVuori line of powders - you'll probably have to go to the reloading supply catalogs to get it. Since it's imported from Finland, the powder has all the import fees attached and is more expensive than the US provided powders (although most powders today are made offshore and imported by the US companies).

Try www.midsouthshooterssupply.com, www.natchezss,com. www.grafs.com and www.lockstock.com as a few that will probably have it on hand. Ordering now from Natchez will give you 10 buck off on the normal 20 buck hazmat charge, if you order in quantity.

It won't be cheap anywhere you find it, because unless they very recently changed, you can only buy it in 2 pound containers. Last one I got from Sportsmans Warehouse and seems like it was about 40 bucks. Worth every penny to me though.

VN110 is just a foreign version of #2400 that burns a little cleaner. LilGun will out-preform the H110 on 250grn bullets and lighter but H110 will do better on the 270grn and up. Don't forget the AA#9, 4100, or WC820. Just my opinion.

Bill

I picked up a lb of" little gun" but have very little data on loading 44 mag on it. Can you give me a start load, and does it require mag primers?
Jim

I am growing rather fond of Accurate #9. I use it in my 45 WinMag as well as 44 Mag and 357 Mag...Of course, I also use 110/296, 2400 and 4227...

I have even seen loads for IMR 4198 for the 44 mag...but stick with the above pistol powders and you can't do much wrong....as others have said...the "twins" are a little more touchy when it comes to weight variation...2400 is a stick powder, and the 4227 is a short cut stick powder so its a little easier to meter through your powder measure...


D

I picked up a lb of" little gun" but have very little data on loading 44 mag on it. Can you give me a start load, and does it require mag primers?
Jim

Jim,
Check out the Hodgdon website for full listing of Lil' Gun for your 44.

http://www.hodgdon.com/data/pistol/44remmag.php


I can also give you some data from my findings with 44 Mag and Lil' Gun. These fired from 12" Encore. I didn't have this powder when I had my Redhawk.

Primer Powder Gr Bullet OAL FPS
CCI350 LiL'Gun 27.5 200gr. Nosler SJHP 1.610 1821
CCI350 LiL'Gun 28.5 200gr. Nosler SJHP 1.610 1914
CCI 350 LiL'Gun 22.5 240gr Nosler SJHP 1.610 1658
CCI 350 LiL'Gun 23.5 240gr Nosler SJHP 1.610 1693

I can also suggest Hodgdon Titegroup as well for some fun light recoil loads. Use a little get a lot with this powder. You can't shoot the highpower/highvelocity loads with Titegroup, but you should get excellent accuracy and a lot of bang for you buck from this powder.

All my loads for the 44 Mag with Lil' Gun were with magnum primers, although may not have been necessary. Good Luck.

2400 is a good powder and I have tried the other two and find you can make a minor mistake with it and not suffer. Example, was out shooting a 44 mag and a fellow down the firing line was also, he came to me to ask if I had a long heavy rod. I just happened to have a 3/8th by 8" bolt in my truck. He had not crimped his bullet tight enough with 296 and the jacketed bullet had to be driven out of the bore. He said he got this often, one of 6 in his ruger. I was loading the same 296 at the time and told him I had the same problem when starting out and he needed to go back and crimp heavier. I have from time to time made a few rounds up that were short and therefore would not crimp heavy. 2400 though needs a crimp would not have been a problem. This is one of the reasons I advocate trimming to minimum length before setting my crimp. If a case is too long you know it.

One powder I never read much about is IMR 4227. My Ruger SBH loves 23.5 gr. of it under just about any cast or jacketed 240 to 260 gr. bullet. I haven't chronographed all of these loads, but a 240 gr. XTP clocks 1325 fps and is powerful medicine on any whitetail. Same load using a 262 gr. hardcast Keith bullet from Dry Creek is extremely accurate, and I'd feel comfortable shooting it at just about anything even big stuff.

Hey guys,

I am trying to choose a powder for deer hunting this year, and have narrowed it down to the obvious choices. Any information comparing WW296, 2400, or H110 would be greatly appreciated.

thanks,
vanbuzen9

Don't close the door on this search before you have tried AA9.

It is just a tad quicker in burning rate than 2400, it meters very well and I have had very good accuracy with it.