Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns The other magnum pistol powders?

H110/296 seems to be the prevalent magnum pistol powder for top end loads. It plain works. Lil Gun, AA #9, and 2400 are used a good bit as well.

Been looking over other powder options, mostly because thats what I do when venturing into a new cartridge - 475 Linebaugh in this instance. It seems several newer powders exist - Ramshot Enforcer, Viht N110, Alliant 300MP. All lists velocities that meet or exceed H110.

I'm wondering if they provide more velocity? Cleaner burning? Temp insensitve? Anyone have any experience with the newer powders?

Never used them, but I became a fan of AA#9 many years ago. For many of my magnum cartridges, it provided similar velocities, but used less powder. When I was reloading large quantities of .44 mag and .30 Carbine, every little bit counted. I remain a fan to this day.

I lost a little velocity, about 30 fps, and had to go to 105% load density, but shrunk groups noticeably with VV N110 in my SuperRedhawk.

I'm using an extended OAL with 300 grain bullets in that pistol, N110 is kinda on the slow side and you need all the case capacity you can get. And it is very clean.

I'm also using N110 in the 240 grain, regular length load in my Ruger 77/44, and it's running mid 1700s with with pretty good accuracy, relative to the platform. 296/H110 and Lil gun will give you more velocity (about 100 fps?). I haven't had this rifle long enough to try a lot of different loads in it.

I am about to try some Lil gun in the rifle with some 300 grain XTPs, 300 grain Beartooth WFN GCs, and some Speer 240 grain Unicor JSP bullets.

Lil gun looks like it provides good velocity with low(er) pressure, but I've heard of issues with forcing cones and high temperature. but, it will allow me to run a harcast LBT-style 300 grain bullet at mid-1500s with pressure just over 30 Kpsi, so I'm gonna give it a try. This would be in my rifle, so the forcing cone won't be an issue, but I hope the throat holds up.

Those are the only powders I have tried (or will try) besides W231, which was used for mid-range loads and not intended to compete with top-end loads.

I'm a H110/296 fan...just no need for anything else when it comes to high velocity Magnum rounds...and there is also a probalem when you get into the .454 or above as "...too much of a good thing."

No longer interested in what produces the highest velocities when bullet weight exceeds 300 grains as it comes with the price of physical damage. I'm running 330-420 grain bullets with Unique in the 1100 fps range in a FA 83/.475 and it will be more than enought for anything I'm going to hunt is super accurate and won't damage my wrist and elbow....

Bob

I would not over look BLUE DOT, it might be giving up a few feet per second, but its still a good effective choice and accuracy in several of my revolvers it top tear.
Ive found its the most accurate choice in both my 44 mags with 240 grain jacketed

http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=44%20Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun

I am very much of the same mind of RJM52 with my 475 and 500 Linebaugh's (and 41 and 44 Mag's and 45 Colt's) though I tend to use HS-6 for such loads. It burns fine and, as usual, the loads and the guns shoot better than I. What do you plan on hunting with your "top-end" loads?

I use 300MP for the 480R but I have never Cronoed it

That said I use Only 300MP for the 480R

Snake

I use Enforce exclusively for 44mag now. Very good stuff. It is a true ball powder and as such pours like water. Works best with mag primer. Much less abrasive than H110/296.