Is H110 and W296 the same powder ?

[BACKTOSHOOTING]

Im getting ready to start loading 357mag for a Rossi 38/357 lever and haveing a hard time finding load gata for W296 in 357mag loads.

From what i've read W296 and H110 are the same powder, Is this correct ?

The very few I have found show loads of 14 gr will give 1400 ftps rateing and i want to start at 12gn or so and work up my loads with a WD 19BHN Lee tl158gn swc with recluse.

Would that be to low to start at for around 1200 ftps ?

Thanks Steve

[454PB]

Yes, they are the same powder. I think 12 grains is a little low and H-110/WW296 shouldn't be reduced too much. The Hodgdon internet load guide shows a start load of 15 grains with a 158 grain jacketed bullet, and 1400 fps. from a revolver. In a rifle barrel, it will be considerably faster.

[waco]

Agree with 454PB. Same powder.

[wantoutofca]

^^ this is 100% correct

[GLynn41]

it was explained as "296 is the first pass and H110 is the second"- 296 is more regular and consistant in the sperical size-- H110 a liitle less so-- so H110 might have a little more surface area

[FLHTC]

That's one bet i wouldn't make. Some think that Winchester 231 is the same as HP38 but 231 is a ball powder and HP38 is flake. I tend to think that burn rates can be equal but id never consider one powder to be the other. I prefer going through life with all my fingers so this is just my opinion

[454PB]

You better recheck your HP38....mine is ball powder.

By the way, H-414 and WW760 are also the same powder. Check the latest Hodgdon annual manual and you'll see that all loads listed for HP38/231, H-110/296, and H-414/760 are absolutely identical in charge weight, velocity, and pressure.

[thenaaks]

I just went and checked...my hp38 is flake. Looks a lot like titegroup.

[454PB]

Take a look here:

http://www.hodgdon.com/shotpist.html

It states clearly that HP38 is a spherical (same as ball) powder.

[dragon813gt]

Let's start by saying new production is the same powder. And has been for years now. If you have old canisters w231 and HP-38 were definitely different. But HP-38 has always been a ball powder as far as I'm aware.

As to the original question. Do not go below the published starting charges and make sure to use magnum primers. H110/W296 is not an easy powder to light off. And it doesn't like reduced loads. Weird things start to happen. If you want light loads use another powder. As long as you have a new production canister of W296 you can use H110 data.

[BACKTOSHOOTING]

Let's start by saying new production is the same powder. And has been for years now. If you have old canisters w231 and HP-38 were definitely different. But HP-38 has always been a ball powder as far as I'm aware.

As to the original question. Do not go below the published starting charges and make sure to use magnum primers. H110/W296 is not an easy powder to light off. And it doesn't like reduced loads. Weird things start to happen. If you want light loads use another powder. As long as you have a new production canister of W296 you can use H110 data.

OK heres what i will start at. I have new bottles of W296 and made 32 rds each with 13.5, 14.0, 14.5 for my starting test loads with CCI mag pistol primers, OAL 1.587 that dummy rds cycled thru the gun good.
Will this be OK or should i start higher ?

[dragon813gt]

If 13.5 is the starting load then you're fine. I don't have a manual handy and online data only lists XTPs. I know the 158s I've loaded have been around 14.5 grains. I typically load a little above midrange. Accuracy usually decreases w/ max loads.

[BIG BEAR]

Then there is H 4227 and IMR4227, the new stuff,green, not the old CANADIAN BLACK!!! simple EH!!!

[jimd46902]

My can of HP38 is spherical also.