Has anyone calibrated 297 to 296 or H110?

[BD]

I'm just starting into 297 in the .450Bushmaster and I'm wondering if anyone has calibrated the surplus 297 against canister 296, LilGun or H110? If so what were the results? I'm looking to save some time getting into the load range of interest. Any of the big bore handgun cartridges would be relevent.

BD

[TCLouis]

post your data as you work it up.
I asked about the 297 at least twice and got no comparative answer.
Ended up buying some current version WC820 that may get to be more satisfying in the future.
I sure hope so!

So far the WC 820 has been a fiasco in pistol cartridges

Jeff Bartlett had the WC 820 (AA#9 speed)may still have some, but it has been less than satisfactory in pistol loads so far( what I bought it for) but is showing some promise in the aught six.

[Sven]

TC, where/when did you pick up that WC820? I had been looking for it, couldn't find it and bought WC297 instead. I was told 820 was pretty much not available anymore. Haven't had time to do anything with 297, yet.

[TCLouis]

Sven
I bought it from Bartlett in the last year, he only had it listed for a week or two, maybe less. It is AA# 9 speed, not like the very old WC820 that was H110 speed.

The 297 hat McDonald has is the only listing that seems to stay for any length of time.

I would love another jug or two of Bartlett's ORIGINAL #105 too.

There are two batches of that also, old and new and burn rates are nowhere near the same.

[41mag]

BD,

If it helps any at all, I have loaded the 297 in .357, 41, and 44mag loads and compared to the 296 that I had been using it was running about a half grain to a grain slower, in the loads I tried it with.

hope this helps.

[BD]

Thanks 41, I'm trying it tomorrow based on 296 data. As soon as I can get my hands on some 296 I'll do a calibration in something more common, like the .44 mag.
BD

[BD]

Quite a bit slower than H110, so much so that there wasn't much overlap loading 300 grainers in the .450 Bushmaster:

33 grains 297= 1755 fps, 33 grains H110= 1866 fps
34 grains 297= 1797 fps, 34 grains H110= 1932 fps
35 grains 297= 1829 fps, 35 grains H110+ Too Hot!
36 grains 297= 1919 fps

The board will probably screw up the table. In any event it is at least 2 grains slower in this cartridge, and much cooler burning.

When I get some 296, (and some more free time), I'll run some calibration tests in a more common cartridge
BD

[Lloyd Smale]

thats about what i found. Its about 2 grains slower in the big cases like the 500 linebaugh but only about one grain slower in a smaller case like a 44mag

[Eutectic]

If we factored in 1680 or the older lots of WC680 surplus.....
My WC680 surplus and older Accurate 1680 are very close in performance...

Would you gentlemen rank 297 closer to 296 or closer to 1680 in performance?

Thanks, Eutectic

[BD]

I'd put it much closer to the 296 with similar characteristics. The WC680 loads were around 40 grains to reach 1900 fps if I remember correctly, and the powder didn't burn completely, a bad thing in a gas gun.
BD

[Lloyd Smale]

i agree with bd. much closer to 296. I wish someone would save me some time and do some load work in the 762x39 with it.

[BD]

I did a some comparison of 297 to 296 today in the .450B.

Behind a 250 grain FTX;
38 grains of 296 yielded 2144 fps
38 grains of 297 yielded 2071 fps

39 grains of 296 yielded 2173 fps
39 grains of 297 yielded 2126 fps

40 grains of 297 gave 2169 fps

I'd call it a grain and a half slower in this application. Sds are comparible. It's a little coarser and a little bulkier, the powder measure set to drop 40 grains of 297 drops 44 grains of 296.

297 lights well and is as accurate as 296 in the .450B. I'll pass on additional data as I develop it.

BD

[usbp379]

Could this be closer to Alliant's new 300MP? I understand that 300MP is just slightly slower than H-110. This might be a good powder for the 300BLK.

[bradh]

SVEN --- Jeff Barlett at www.gibrass.com is currently showing WC820 available for 8 pounds
it's $100.00

[nody]

Just called Pat's. No more WC297 (or 297) left, and they will NOT be getting any more.