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400 grain
What projectile did you load? Can you please provide the full load data and source you're using?
I'm seeing starting loads of H110 in the 42 grain range, or higher.
for 400 gr JSP with COL 2.050, Hodgdon data has a charge of 34.0 - 40.0 gr. Your 33.0 gr charge sounds low.
other than a primer failure as a cause, I would be concerned about loading under recommended charge range as the slower burning powder is prone to exactly this event if it doesn’t achieve a sufficient pressure.
if the goal is to have less recoil, one Is better served by a slightly faster burn powder than a lightly loaded magnum powder.
ThisI'd be pulling down the remainder of those reloads for a forensic-level inspection of components...
Nice! I tried doing the same and found N110 and AA9 to produce good velocities but not nearly as much blast and recoil as H110/W296. Not quite as fast as Longshot of course. Good to know about that powder working well in lightish 44 mag loads. Seems like it’s very easy to find which is convenientOver this past summer I’ve gotten really into loading 44 magnum, specifically light-ish 240 grain loads. Factory stuff pushing 1450 ft/s is cool but my perfect fun load pushes them around 1150 ft/s. So it’s much warmer than a 44 special but not at all punishing like full steam magnums.
So in the course of looking through my powder options it was clear I’d need something faster than H110 but not silly fast like titegroup. Anyway I ended up with an 8# jug of Hodgdon Longshot, which seems to be something of a bastard handgun powder. Well it’s turned out wonderfully as I can get the 44 mag loads right in that sweet spot but still have reliable ignition and complete powder burns.
if you’re looking for a lighter 500 S&W load I’m guessing it would be a similar thing.
Another thing to keep in mind is the OAL of the projectile itself. I use plated and jacketed bullets in 44 mag and some brand of bullets are longer than others and have the cannelure higher up (towards the point) on the bullet. This means that you could increase the pressures even at the same cartridge OAL due to the longer bullet being seated deeper. And vice versa for shorter bullets decreasing pressure etc
I had this problem with a can of 2400 a few years back. In my 357 reloads the velocities were very eradic and about 1 in 5 was a squib.....same thing your seeing.....plenty of powder caked into the bore behind the projo. I could not get that can of 2400 to work for me so I tossed it.I was in fact using H110! Large rifle primers.
H110 or W296 are ideal for .30 Carbine. For .357 N110 or N340 are better choices.Interesting. I use H110 for .30 carbine and .357 and haven’t had any issues.
H110 == WW296Had the exact same experience with H110 in the 500. I was working up a load with lead bullets and unless there is a certain amount of powder, H110 will NOT go bang. It will crystallize as seen here.
2400 is my go to 357 mag powder. Incredible accuracy with 2400 under a Zero 158 gr JSPH110 or W296 are ideal for .30 Carbine. For .357 N110 or N340 are better choices.
Sounds like a reloader problem.Same problem with handloading my 500 as well. a LOT squibs while developing the load. Oddly enough, the powder didn't burn but rather partially caked and partially blown out the sides in front of the cylinder.
I noticed H110 is like stripper glitter, that sh*t sticks to everything, why I hate reloading with it but still use it because it works.Had the exact same experience with H110 in the 500. I was working up a load with lead bullets and unless there is a certain amount of powder, H110 will NOT go bang. It will crystallize as seen here.
Nope. 33 grains of H110. It's not a super hot load or anything, but not light either. When I *did* have a light load (an accident, but I caught it, and fired it anyway to see what it was like) it fired just fine other than being light.
Did you use a magnum large rifle primer? I thought all new 500 mag brass uses LRP?I've had squibs specifically in the 500. My first thought was that I forgot the powder charge but the primer went off and the case was full of powder. Apparently, that particular powder needed a magnum primer.
Sounds like people are downloading the powder charge below min which is never a good idea with H110/W296Damn, why so many squibs in 500?
It isn't the only magnum caliber or the only caliber that uses H110.
Maybe becusse the 500 is the most popular of the magnum calibers?
I switch between magnum and regular primers. No difference. For magnum powders and Black Powder.Did you use a magnum large rifle primer? I thought all new 500 mag brass uses LRP?
Powderpuff 500 and 357 Maximum the drag show with special guests 30 super carry, 357 SIG and 45 GayAndProud.
I have read from several people a small increase in fps. But it is usually a very small percentage.Magnum primers are not required for certain calibers. My 460 S&W mag calls out LRP's . While I can't put the claim to 100% fact , i've read that mag primers can be benificial with the help of complete efficient ignition of ball powders. I experimented using CCI SRMP's in .223 with Win 748 ball powder. No measurable difference in precision or consistiency, but I did observe about another 25 FPS in velocities using mag primers vs std .
Partial burn will do thatPowder looks kinda clumpy and stuck together. You get some kinda oil or gun cleaner in some cases ?
Third option - low bullet tension from a bad or no crimp.Sounds like a reloader problem.
How do you get "a lot of squibs"?
Either the powder was sh*t or you were well below the min charge.