I walked into the world of W296 and Cast Boolits today

[Animal]

What a great load! 22.9gr of W296 and a 250gr Kieth style boolit! I was nervous about working up loads with W296 because of the reduction problems it is known for, but at the end of the day I achieved the most accurate load I've fired from my Ruger SRH!

I'd like to hear what other people have experienced with this powder in the 44 mag.

[fecmech]

I'm not sure why everyone is so afraid of it, if it's reduced too much it squibs. As long as you don't shoot another bullet into a plugged barrel it's no big deal. IMO it is the best powder for real magnum loads with target grade accuracy. If a fellow (or gal)does not want to run at top velocities in his or her magnum level handgun use a faster powder. The faster powder will give less recoil and muzzle blast as a bonus. Both 296/H110 perform very well at the top end of the velocity range.

I'd like to hear what other people have experienced with this powder in the 44 mag.

I burned more than a couple of 8 lb kegs of 296 when I shot silhouette with a .44 mag. My standard load was 25/296/429421 for 1350 fps out of a Ruger Super"B".

[TXGunNut]

I don't do 44 Mag (much) but have piddled with RBH loads in 45 Colt; WW296/H110 makes these big boys do all I want from a revolver. They are remarkably accurate even as max loads are approached. 2400 does nicely in both cartridges as well.

[KYCaster]

My favorite magnum handgun powder, by far.

I've always found accuracy to improve as velocity increased right up to the point where I chickened out...either pressure signs or punishing recoil would make me stop and back off the load a bit.

I've been using it since it first hit the market back in the 60's, having started my reloading career reading Dick Casull and Dean Grinell talk about hotrodding the 45 Colt with duplex powder loads because Herculese 2400 was the best thing available and it just didn't cut it...pretty scary stuff from my point of view.

Then somebody (maybe Casull, IDK) tried some of that surplus 30 Carbine powder that Hogdgen had and magnum handguns leaped to a whole 'nuther level.

Hodgden called it H110 then Winchester picked it up and called it W296. Rumor said it was different lots of the same powder, but I tried both and preferred the Winchester variety....still do even though it's all the same since Hodgden bought the Winchester powders.

Anyway, that's my take on it. Nice to know it's working well for you.

Jerry

[Animal]

The 2400 has also been great. I didn't think anything could be better than 2400. I'll have to do some side by side comparisons of the powders sometime soon. I got lucky yesterday. My LGS had 2 pounds of 2400 available and I took it! I was hoping for some w296, but I still love my 2400.

[dale2242]

296/H110 is great for full power loads in the 357 and 44Mags.
It also is very accurate in my 22 Hornet with pistol primers a V-max bullets.....dale

[paul h]

Another fan of H-110/W-296 for full power top accuracy loads in magnum revolvers from .357-.500. The more you add, the better it gets, just don't back off the gas pedal.

[HighHook]

Been loving 296 in 357/44 for 30 years.

Last week I loaded 41 gr 296 in some 500sw shells. My son told me the earth moved when fired and the muzzle blast came out over 2'.

[osteodoc08]

Been loving 296 in 357/44 for 30 years.

Last week I loaded 41 gr 296 in some 500sw shells. My son told me the earth moved when fired and the muzzle blast came out over 2'.

Ah yeah! Gotta love some 296 fireballs!

I too love 296, especially when stoked to the max in my 41s. It amazing the power produced, especially in a rifle.

[bobthenailer]

Im a longtime fan of 296/H110 and use it regulary in the 357,44 mag & 454 casull
alot of friends as well as myself have loaded 296 down to 20.0 grs with a 240 gr bullet , using a mag primer in 44 mag with great results !

[Animal]

I don't understand why Hodgdon refuses to post cast boolit data for this powder. I called and asked them one time and they told me that it just wasn't a good powder for non j-word boolits. They didn't give any safety reasons, just that "customers have consistently complained about the performance". And me, not being as experienced as I'd like to be with reloading was too scared to color outside the lines. I've loaded it with Hornaday XTP for my .357 mag and that is IT, until now. So far, I'd say this powder makes cast boolits fly more accurately than those damned J-words!

Done ranting

[Shuz]

WW 296/H-110 as well as WC 820 all flow thru my Dillon Square Deal B powder measure better than any other powder. I shoot only cast boolits in my revolvers and highly recommend these powders for the .44 mag with boolit weights from 230g to 325 grains. IMHO, these powders are more suited to the heavier weight boolits in .44 caliber.

[nicholst55]

I've used W296/H110 a fair bit in .357 Mag and .45 Colt, but not in .44 Mag yet. They excel at what they do, and are easy to work with. I just finished shooting up some stout H110 .45 Colt loads in my Blackhawk that resulted in some of the best groups I've shot to date with that gun. I got this load data from John Linebaugh's website, and it did everything he claimed it would; it also left me with a sore wrist! A bit much for every day use, IMHO, but an excellent hunting load.

[dragon813gt]

It's all I use in my magnums. I have a jug of 2400 sitting on the shelf unopened. Maybe one day

I also have some LilGun. Seems great on paper with greater velocity at reduced pressures. And the accuracy was superb. But man is it a hot powder. Not being able to touch the barrel in my 1894C after a mag dump made me put it back on the shelf.