H110 reduced loads?

[NSP64]

I load j bullets to 1700 fps in my 14" single shot, but was wondering about a slower load for cast (1100 or so)? I use 15.5 gr under 200 gr jhp.
Happy thanksgiving!

[Larry Gibson]

NO! Do I need to repeat myself....NO! H110 and it's twin, 296, give severe ignition problems with reduced loads. It is an invitation to a SEE. That's why you see all the warnings not to use reduced loads with those powders.

You don't say what cartridge so can't advise on what to use for a good reduced load.

Larry Gibson

[NSP64]

sorry, 44mag. seems like bluedot with max charge wasn't getting enough out of the 14" barrel, same with universal:( sorry the charge was 25.5 not 15.5 hodgdon shows 27 as the low end for 200gr jhp @1700 fps but I get it (1700 fps)at 25.5 because of the BBl length.

[NSP64]

I went out on a limb and loaded up some LEE 90341 240gr RN cast from w/w and water dropped. Used .429 sizer and pan lubed with straight JPW came out at 250 gr. Hodgdon lists a 240 jhp load at 23-24 gr of H110, and I was worried about leading. So, I dropped the charge down to 20.gr and ran them across the crono. figuring the lead being slicker and heavier I should be OK. Came out at 1430fps average with ES being 65fps:-D Am going to use this boolit made into a soft nose (Bruce B method) next gun season in Illinois 11-29/12-2 :Fire:
P.S. not a trace of lead!

[MT Gianni]

NO! Do I need to repeat myself....NO! H110 and it's twin, 296, give severe ignition problems with reduced loads. It is an invitation to a SEE. That's why you see all the warnings not to use reduced loads with those powders.

You don't say what cartridge so can't advise on what to use for a good reduced load.

Larry Gibson

RCBS cast manual gives several reduced loads for rifles with these powders. Too many to ignore. Their mfg says not to reduce starting loads for pistols below book starting loads. I would find another powder if it were me. Gianni

[44man]

Very true---NO reduced loads with H110 or 296. You might get away with it for a while but you are playing with fire! :neutral: Change to a faster powder.

[9.3X62AL]

Agreed--Alliant 2400 "downloads" safely, and doesn't require 90%+ powder space fill to burn consistently.

[S.R.Custom]

I fooled around with reduced 296/110 loads for a bit... (I'm not one to do or not do something just because everyone says so, so I had to see for myself.) If for no other reason, don't do it because the accuracy sucks making for a pointless waste of powder and lead.

When I started reducing loads, I got varying degrees of pressure, as indicated by the primer flattening. Within the same loading, some primers didn't show any pressure at all (except for the firing pin strike, they looked like new primers), and some looked like I'd laid 'em on a rail road track in front of the 8:10 express. And the target showed it.

The only way I've found to reasonably reduce 296/110 loads is to reduce the capacity of the case. In other words, cut some magnum cases down to .44 spl length. Without going into the drill of how I found out, I was able to determine that .44 spl cases have 81% of the powder space that full length magnum cases have; 18.2 grs. of 296 under a 240 gr. bullet makes for an accurate loading. I've not chronoed the loading, but it's noticeably less vigorous than the full magnum load, and the primers fill out consistently.

[GLynn41]

What they said--a different powder is needed to lower things or than h110/296

[beemer]

I worked with with H110 and 125 gr. jacketed bullets in a 6 in. 357 mag. It's been a while so I don't remember the loads exactly but I think H110 needs to be loaded hot with heavy bullets. The velocity varied over 200 fps,some were mild and some wild when charges were reduced. Even with heavier loads with 125 gr. bullets were not consistant ,heavy bullets helped. I should have kept records on that session, sometimes it helps to know where you've been so you don't do it again. SuperMag has the stuff pegged, my experience only backs his up.

beemer

[jtaylor1960]

If the powder copany say not to reduce the load there is usually a reason.There are a lot of other powders you can reduce safely.H-110 is meant for full power flame throwing loads and is about the best there is for that purpose.

[Larry Gibson]

MT Gianni

"RCBS cast manual gives several reduced loads for rifles with these powders."

Always being one to learn new tricks I looked in my RCBS cast manual. Compared the data for 357 and 44 both rifle and handgun. I found perhaps a half grain difference in loads. Perhaps you'd point me to the correct "download" information?

Larry Gibson

[MT Gianni]

Pg 71 shows 296 for use in 308 at a reduced velocity of 1788 fps with a 187 gr bullet., 175 gr uses H110 for 1440 fps starting load. Pg 65 show H110 for 30-30, 64 for 296. It may be that these two twins have more of a resemblance to WC820 than we thought but I will continue to use them only for high end pistols loads until I run out of all other rifle powders. Gianni

[Bass Ackward]

Pg 71 shows 296 for use in 308 at a reduced velocity of 1788 fps with a 187 gr bullet., 175 gr uses H110 for 1440 fps starting load. Pg 65 show H110 for 30-30, 64 for 296. It may be that these two twins have more of a resemblance to WC820 than we thought but I will continue to use them only for high end pistols loads until I run out of all other rifle powders. Gianni


Wow. It was actually 2, 308s that started the H110 / 296 warnings back in the early 70s against using reduced loads.

[Lloyd Smale]

I agree with the rest of the guys. I cant see risking gun damage or personal damage for a 20 dollar a lb can of powder.

[MT Gianni]

Thanks Bass, The published date on theis is 1986 but you never know how some info gets in print. Gianni

[Larry Gibson]

MT Giani

See there, I've learned a new trick. However I'll still not recommend H110/296 for reduced loads in any cartridge. Too many documented cases of hangfires with potential for SEEs. I also tried it in a 30-06 once and had such erratic velocities in what should have been a good velocity/pressure range that I quit using it right away. I was not looking at bottle necked cartridges as newsmokepole64 mentioned "15.5 gr under 200 gr jhp." which led me to believe we we talking .357, .41, .44 or one of the .45 straight walled pistol cartridges. My bad.

Larry Gibson

[NSP64]

Sorry, that15.5 was supposed to read 25.5 and it was for a 44mag. went and got a can of 2400:-D

[kount_zer0]

What does SEE stand for. I understand the need to operate propellants correctly, but the acronym is confusing me.

[AlaskaMike]

Secondary Explosive Effect or something like that.

Mike

[cbrick]

SuperMag nailed it. I too have fooled with reduced H-110 loads, while I was lucky enough to not run into dangerous pressure problems, I don't know of a better way to turn a fine shooting load into a complete waste of powder, lead and time.

An accurate 454 load (albeit a bit hard kicking) when reduced 3 gr wouldn't hit the barn while standing inside it.

Much better ways to come up with a good lower velocity load than risking reducing H-110.

Rick