2400 what a novel powder!

[MBTcustom]

You may be surprised to learn that until today, I have never popped a primer behind 2400. It's just never been a powder I was familiar with, and I have been a big Unique fan for many years. I kept reading about different ones of you getting excellent results from it, and making the preposterous claim that it too is a do-it-all powder. Well, I was at an estate sale saturday, and had the opportunity to buy an 8lb keg of the stuff for $60. I also bought a 5lb keg of Unique for the same money, but I digress.
The point is, I'm now 2400 rich. I needed to try something different in my .44mag, so I whipped up a batch of starline brass, threw 20 grains in them, and seated a 245 SWC.
Ahem, I suppose it will do, and I wont have to pour it out as fertilizer after all. LOL!
The 44 loves that stuff, and I was pretty impressed with the accuracy (minute of poweraid out to 50yards LOL!)
I think it was doing quite a bit better than 296 for some reason, so next time I'm going to start low and work up a load.

I hope this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Next, I'm going to try it in the 358 Winchester and see what it'll do.

[imashooter2]

296 will make more velocity in top end loads. 2400 is far more versatile though. I use it in a lot of cast loads.

[MBTcustom]

Well, I bought the 296 specifically for the 44 magnum. It was intended for one purpose, but I get the feeling that it is better suited to jacketed bullets. At least, my particular gun seems to like 2400 better right off the bat. I'm glad too, because I've got it to burn.

[Hickory]

A very good powder for the 44.
It needs a rather heavy crimp for best performance.
If Elmer liked it, it must be good[smilie=l:

[Echd]

2400 is my favorite and most versatile powder.

[sprinkintime]

Well, I bought the 296 specifically for the 44 magnum. It was intended for one purpose, but I get the feeling that it is better suited to jacketed bullets. At least, my particular gun seems to like 2400 better right off the bat. I'm glad too, because I've got it to burn.

Also good for 410 shotgun loads.
Sprink

[btroj]

Great powder with cast in about any rifle cartridge. Want good accuracy in the 1800 fps range? You have the right powder.

I bet your 45-70 would like 24 gr of it under a 405 gr bullet too.

[tomme boy]

Not as peaky as 296 or H110 either! On top or bottom end.

[Rick R]

Bought my first 1 lb can a couple years ago and I've been really impressed with the accuracy I've got from a variety of cast loads in my .44 mag and the .45 Colt and my .30-30 AND both .45-70s.
I've got a few other cartridges to try it in but I believe it's earned a spot on my shelf. :)

[missionary5155]

Good morning Goodsteel
Yippeeee! Another convert to 2400. Been using it for many a 8 pounder. Up north there it is the first powder of thought if a lead boolit is gonna get sent flying. Not always "the best" when the smoke clears but never real far behind the best load.
What a super deal also ! Little less than 8 greenbacks a pound is the price 15 years ago. And here I sit with a new to me 1892 44 WCF rifle on my last 200 grains of Unique.
Mike in Peru

[1Shirt]

Wouldn't be without 2400!
1Shirt!

[DanWalker]

If you don't have 2400 and Red Dot in your powder magazine, you're really missing out as a shooter of cast boolits.

[MBTcustom]

That sucks. I left two kegs of red dot sitting on the table. LOL!
Actually, I was trying to save money for a chamber reamer auction on eBay. I ended up getting sniped on the reamers (I'm pretty sick about that) and I didn't clear that table off of all the kegs of powder. I'm content with what I was able to get though. Even a small blessing is a good thing.

[Fishman]

Tim, like you I burned a lot of Unique behind cast boolits (back before I knew the proper way to spell boolits, lol). I didn't try 2400 until a couple years ago and I would love to find an 8 lb keg of it now.

Also, I'm almost out of red dot due to loading shotshells for dove season. I'm jealous at your opportunity! :)

[popper]

Tried it & unique in my 30/30 MG. Accuracy was poor and only 5 gr down from my rifle powder plinking load. I'll stay with my plinker load. Might try it with 100gr. cast.

[Ben]

I wouldn't be without it :
( There is a "typo "in the label below , those were WOLF Primers )

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/Photo0025.jpg

[popper]

I was using PB RD 180 gr with 13-16 gr 2400, 2-3" @ 50. The $ of GC vs powder is a wash, PB works with rifle powder.

[Shuz]

2400 is a very versatile powder in the .44 mag. When I was younger I used to swear by old Elmer's load of 22.0g behind 429421. Velocity from my 4" bbl Smith was 1309fps. Now that I've grown old (and out), I'm much happier with 18g of 2400 and 429421 that gives 1125 fps. also from a 4" bbl Smith. For just general .44 plinkin' I like a 429421HP or a Mihec 503 clone HP and 8.6g of Green Dot for 1085 fps.

[evan price]

I much prefer AA#9 or 2400 in my magnum handguns all day long, instead of 296/110 which I find to be a bit touchy.

[Animal]

My short experience with 2400 led me to believe that it will be the most accurate magnum powder I have loaded for cast lead.

[Char-Gar]

Welcome to the party Tim... try a little on your Corn Flakes as well.

[Shooter6br]

16 g with clone 314299 200g in American Enfield sporter .

[DrCaveman]

Yep for me too. It has been such a nice shooter in my magnum handgun rounds that i am pretty sure i will never buy another can of h110 or lil gun.

In 30-30 and 30-06 it has been passable but not great yet for me, i think i need to dial in some other aspects of the load. So many others are so successful and that powder has been the solution to so many situations, that i will not give up on it yet

Then jump to 45-70, and 2400 was great from the get go.

Only defiency ive found is trying for really light magnum pistol rounds, or bottoming out the rifle rounds. 14 gr in a 30-30 got me terrible accuracy while 16-18 gr was good. Much higher gets no love from reloading manuals, i assume the pressure spikes.

Others tout unique as the stand-alone powder; i think i would pick 2400 and just forget the soft pistol loads and be happy with everything hotter than that

[MBTcustom]

Very informative post there DrCaveman. Good observations.

[DrCaveman]

Tim

I should add that i like the fact that 2400 seems to tolerate my almost-full-house loads in my 357 and 460 magnums. It doesnt seem to need to be pushed full throttle to get good results. I think that is why i like it better than h110/lil gun varieties, and also why it works in rifles

Still the pressure curve is unavoidable, so the rifle results can vary wildly. I swear that i will shoot a 1" group @ 100 yds with my tikka 30-06 and rcbs 30-180-fn using 2400 but i havent done it yet

Get to shoot some deer in 10 days, finally...so target practice may take a haitus since my weekends are only so long...you retired guys are lucky

[smokeywolf]

I've charged 218 bee, 30-06 and 45-70 cartridges with it. It never disappoints.

[MBTcustom]

Well, I've loaded a range of cartridges for 44mag, 444Marlin, and soon 45-70. If it's not raining, I'll drag 'em all out to the range and see what they do.

[btroj]

Oh, I know what they will do. They will bore you to death with small groups, no leading, and tons of enjoyment.

2400 is the one powder I can't go without. Maybe that is why I bought 2 8 pounds this past winter.

[superbee]

Sadly, I was disappointed in the accuracy 2400 gave me in the 32-20, so I traded it to my brother for a can of Unique.

[Clay M]

It is also a very good powder for the 500S&W.The thing I like most is the fact you can reduce the charges without running into trouble.My X frame like 29 grs of 2400 and the 400 RCBS bullet for a velocity of 1400fps.That is about all my hands and wrist will stand,and that is enough to kill anything I want to hunt.

[smokeywolf]

I think that if I was limited to one powder and one powder only it would be 2400. Maybe not the best, but highly usable in most pistol calibers and in rifle calibers from 218 bee to 45-70. The only other powder I can think of that has greater versatility than 2400 is FFFg black.

smokeywolf

[357mags]

2400 puts 296 & 110 to shame in the Mags! More accurate, nothing worth mentioning in velocity loss.

[MBTcustom]

Well, I got to the range today, and the rain of lead was spectacular indeed!
The verdict is:
45-70 = Awesome
444 Marlin = Awesome
44 Mag = blah.

The 44Mag is giving me fits because nothing fits LOL! I bought it for close quarters self defence from bears or pigs, and it's good enough for that. I'll keep working on it.

[btroj]

I'm telling you, that 2400 stuff is addictive. I have burned more of it than any other powder. It just screams to be used with cast bullets.

Just watch out, Run likes to harass me for shooting my bullets too slow. 2400 isn't the speed king in rifles with cast.

[MBTcustom]

Well dad gum Brad, I'm shooting a 45-70 at 90lb Arkansas deer! For cryin out loud, how fast does it really have to be?!? LOL!
BTW, I just decided to use your load (26 grains wasn't it?) I was running a wiffle ball all over the backstop. The darn thing was only the size of a golf ball, and I was hitting it every time at 50 yards! It just couldn't catch a break from me. The spectators were duly impressed!

[runfiverun]

more like 24grs in the 45-70.
littlegirl shoots a 435gr gas check boolit over 24.5 in the browning.
thank god the rifle jas that crescent steel poker on the back and doesn't have a squishy pad or i'd have to switch to h-322 or something for her.

oh 19.3 grs of 2400 in the 44 mag with something like a 220-270 gr boolit should be in the area of happiness.
if things are a bit iffy check the cases [for neck tension evenness] and switch primers around.

[btroj]

I shoot 24 gr in my Marlin with a 410 cast. I cut back to 22.5 if I use a filler.

That load just shoots consistent, boring 2 inch groups or better at 100 yards all day long.

Now Run is right, H322 will push that bullet a slight bit faster. Kick it out at 1700 and you got something. A couple black bears from Manitoba were downright displeased to be introduced to that load.

2400 will do about anything that needs doing in a 44 mag. Like you know, it just needs some tinkering.

[smokeywolf]

Just looking back thru my ledger and found entries from 1973 showing that I was getting good results from 22.0 grns. of (Hercules) 2400 under a 385 grn. cast boolit shot out of an original trapdoor Springfield.

smokeywolf

[MBTcustom]

I really liked the 26gr load. I got 1410fps IIRC, and it was quite accurate, and didn't beat me up.
I think I really need to make an extended magazine tube for that rifle.

[btroj]

What are you hunting that one in the chamber and 4 in the tube isn't enough?

Do the white tails around Little Rock carry? Are they rabid? Zombie deer?

Tim, if you would learn to shoot better you could carry a single shot........

[MBTcustom]

What are you hunting that one in the chamber and 4 in the tube isn't enough?

Do the white tails around Little Rock carry? Are they rabid? Zombie deer?

Tim, if you would learn to shoot better you could carry a single shot........

I'm going to remember that when I'm working on your rifle Brad.
:kidding:
Seriously though, that guide gun only holds four in the tube, and it would be real nice to be able to just keep on walking that pop can without having to reload.

[btroj]

Tim, that is why I have a Marlin 1894 CB in 45 Colt. It holds 10 rounds and the action is pretty smooth after a few thousand rounds. It moves gold balls, cans, or whatever, around the berm quite well.


My 45-70 is the full length rifle barrel version and I like the 4 round magazine. I like the balance when I carry it hunting.

Those darn lever guns are an easy addiction. Nothing better for plinking and they work quite well for hunting too. My dad keeps asking if I'm ever going to hunt with a bolt action again.

[MBTcustom]

Well, I'm contemplating a magazine extension that can be removed that sticks out past the barrel about 6". Mine is the guide gun with the 16" barrel which makes it very handy in the woods I would think, but they short stroked the mag tube as well for what reason the Lord only knows.
I figure that one or two shots per year are going to be shot at deer, and the rest of the time, I'm going to be tearing up the berm. Oh well, I probably don't have time for such a project anyway.

[beezapilot]

2400 was the standby powder for many rounds for me when I was loading years ago- and anticipate that it will be again. I did have an odd incident with it though- some .44 mags that I'd loaded in 1998 made it to the range a couple of years ago. I fired from a Mod 29 and it poofed at me, the slug cleared the barrel and there was powder turned greenish all over the place- cleaned off the weapon and tried again- the second round felt like half power and had lots of the green powder (when I say powder it "looked" like the granular shape of 2400, but had changed color). I disposed of the rest of the rounds and wrote it off until last week when a buddy in NC mentioned that he'd had a similar experience- with .44 mags that were about 5 years old. Curious on shelf life...

[felix]

Chemistry is chemistry. Shelf life is unknown once it leaves its manufactured controlled atmosphere where quality control is likely to be assured before leaving. Even if a shooting test had been performed, the final chemical composition of the powder will never be the same from lot to lot. Never here means greatest odds. ... felix

[Ford SD]

Well, I'm contemplating a magazine extension that can be removed that sticks out past the barrel about 6". Mine is the guide gun with the 16" barrel which makes it very handy in the woods I would think, but they short stroked the mag tube as well for what reason the Lord only knows.
I figure that one or two shots per year are going to be shot at deer, and the rest of the time, I'm going to be tearing up the berm. Oh well, I probably don't have time for such a project anyway.


I wonder if they left the mag tube short for a reason
Some bolt action rifles are 3/4/ a few 5 with being flush on the bottom
if you have more than 4 in the tube for 4570 and heavy loads -----> how is recoil going to affect the rounds in the tube

also won't it change the balance point to the front so if you have to hold it on target for a long time you will weaving up and down?

[BubbaJon]

2400 is a very versatile powder in the .44 mag. When I was younger I used to swear by old Elmer's load of 22.0g behind 429421. Velocity from my 4" bbl Smith was 1309fps. Now that I've grown old (and out), I'm much happier with 18g of 2400 and 429421 that gives 1125 fps. also from a 4" bbl Smith. For just general .44 plinkin' I like a 429421HP or a Mihec 503 clone HP and 8.6g of Green Dot for 1085 fps.

Yeah, folks will try to sell you on those bone-cruncher loads but my guns much prefer 16 to 19 gr behind 240-265 gr boolits.

[popper]

Tim - just make a 45/70 detachable mag levergun.

[singleshot]

Tim - just make a 45/70 detachable mag levergun.

That guide gun would look great with a 75-round drum hanging down! :-)

[MBTcustom]

Oh, ok. Ive got some sheet metal here.....

[MTtimberline]

I just wish at least a pound of 2400 could be found around here. 8 pound keg would be even better. Nothing for any of the Alliant line has been seen in a long time, but still keeping an eye out.

[btroj]

That guide gun would look great with a 75-round drum hanging down! :-)
I'm just gonna say this much- if you are man enough to carry a rifle loaded with 85 rounds of 45-70 then you are man enough to not need a gun.