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  #1  
Old 09-18-2016, 7:30 AM
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Default Can 2400 be reduced in loading 357 mag?

I have loaded 357's with 2400 and a 125 grain jacketed bullet with good results...using 17 grains of powder...the "rub" is that I have arthritis and 79 year old hands and joints and the load is a bit stout for my tastes..I don't hunt...just punch paper.

I know some of the powders used in magnums shouldn't be reduced (110 and 296) but don't know about 2400. I got a lot of 2400 so would like to use it and also got a lot of 125 grain jacketed Speer bullets to load.

The Alliant site shows 17.5 grains as the only load for a 125 grain bullet but it seems to me I'd heard that 2400 can be reduced without problems...anyone know for sure? Again, I'm not looking to substitute powders or bullets...I got several working recipes for other components..just curious about the advisibility of down loading 2400..Alliant does not call for magnum primers and in my loads before I've used standard SPP from CCI or Winchester...would hope to use those again as I got a bunch of them.

Thanks

opos
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Old 09-18-2016, 9:08 AM
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The Lyman manual does not show 38 Spl 125gr load using 2400. It does not show 2400 as a choice until pushing a 148 jacketed or a 155 gr lead bullet. So I would say not safe. One needs to be cautious with loads with lo powder charge weights. If the charge when held in the firing position in the weapon falls below the flash hole in the case the ignition of the powder can flash ignite the powder and increase the burn rate within the case.
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Old 09-18-2016, 9:18 AM
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Some info from a couple of my manuals.
Hornady Third Edition (1980) = .357 mag using 125gr jacketed bullet with 2400 powder = 13.8gr - 18.2gr

Hornady 9th Edition (2012) = .357 mag using 125gr jacketed bullet with 2400 powder = 13.9gr - 16.9gr

Hope this helps.
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Old 09-18-2016, 10:09 AM
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Thanks for the info...I got crossed up on my reading "skills"...I have a Speer manual, a Lyman, a Hornady and a bunch of those little "one caliber, one book" things...I got into the rifle section on some of my looking instead of the handgun section, etc...I finally pulled out the little one caliber one book pamphlet...it's just a bunch of reprints of manual data from many manufacturers and I've found what you show....Seems odd that Hornady would show loads from 13 grains or so on up to what is sort of a start or mid range load shown in the Speer Book and the other books listed...but then again that's not uncommon...I got a feeling I can go to 15.5 grains and carefully take a look...if that works then just play around there...if any question I'll just take some tylonol and go back to what I know shoots well..

Thanks again and I'm going into remedial reading at the senior center...lol
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Old 09-18-2016, 12:19 PM
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Will 2400 work in reduced loadings in 357?

Yes, it is "safe" to do. So many manuals list lesser loads for it.

Will 2400 work "well" in reduced 357 loads?

No, sorry, it does not. As a high pressure magnum powder it burns fairly clean with little velocity variations.

When you load it down, you get incomplete burns, lots of dirty unburned flakes and crud in your gun, and velocity fluctuations. Especially with a 4" revolver like my K frame Md 19. BTDT.

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Old 09-18-2016, 1:04 PM
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I use Hodgdon HS-6 for reduced .357 mag loads and H110 for the big boys.
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Old 09-18-2016, 1:39 PM
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Just because you can........

I think you'd be happier with a faster powder.
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Old 09-18-2016, 2:23 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JagerDog View Post
Just because you can........

I think you'd be happier with a faster powder.
I agree.
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Old 09-18-2016, 2:48 PM
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I have shot the 4013 in 38 special with 5.5 grains of W231 for years...it's borderline +P 38 special...and clean and accurate in my GP 100 or Blackhawk.....I'm thinking I might start with that and gently move it up a little at a time and load it in the 357 cases and just see how that plays...I was just looking for a way to use some 2400 and I know it works well at the 17 grain loading in the 357...just a little hard on the hands...it's about 1300-1350 fps in my GP 100.
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Old 09-18-2016, 5:35 PM
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I load .38spl loads in magnum cases with W231 powder all the time, been doing it for years with great results.
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Old 09-18-2016, 5:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by opos View Post
I have loaded 357's with 2400 and a 125 grain jacketed bullet with good results...using 17 grains of powder...the "rub" is that I have arthritis and 79 year old hands and joints and the load is a bit stout for my tastes..I don't hunt...just punch paper.


Speer's 12th ed manual shows 12.5 to 14.3 grains of 2400 for 357 mag with their 125 grain bullets. COAL = 1.575" It says to use CCI magnum primers.


.
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Old 09-18-2016, 7:51 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pacrat View Post
Will 2400 work in reduced loadings in 357?

Yes, it is "safe" to do. So many manuals list lesser loads for it.

Will 2400 work "well" in reduced 357 loads?

No, sorry, it does not. As a high pressure magnum powder it burns fairly clean with little velocity variations.

When you load it down, you get incomplete burns, lots of dirty unburned flakes and crud in your gun, and velocity fluctuations. Especially with a 4" revolver like my K frame Md 19. BTDT.

JM2c
True.

I loaded up 100 with magnum primers. Gonna see how that helps with the powder burning.
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Old 09-18-2016, 10:28 PM
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Isn't a reduced .357 Magnum load a 38 Special?

A friend of mine gave me three pounds of 2400 recently. He purchased the powder in the early 1970s. I still have an unopened cardboard can of 2400 I bought in the early 1980s. Is 2400 still popular?
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Old 09-18-2016, 11:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hambam105 View Post
[1]...Isn't a reduced .357 Magnum load a 38 Special?

A friend of mine gave me three pounds of 2400 recently. He purchased the powder in the early 1970s. I still have an unopened cardboard can of 2400 I bought in the early 1980s. [2]...Is 2400 still popular?
[1]...........Close but no cigar. That extra .100" of case lenght makes big pressure/velocity difference.

[2]........... Yes, for magnum pistol, and small rifle catridges. I also use it in .221 Fireball. Long ago it was even popular as a shotgun powder. Many also use it for larger rifle reduced cast plinker loads under a polyester filler.

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Old 09-19-2016, 8:31 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hambam105 View Post
Isn't a reduced .357 Magnum load a 38 Special?

A friend of mine gave me three pounds of 2400 recently. He purchased the powder in the early 1970s. I still have an unopened cardboard can of 2400 I bought in the early 1980s. Is 2400 still popular?
2400 use to be very popular for magnum cartridges, and 30 Carbine. I think the new Alliant 300MP surpasses 2400 for magnum cartridges.



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Old 09-19-2016, 9:24 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hambam105 View Post
Is 2400 still popular?
Yes, and fairly harder to find than other powders. Works well for many pistol rounds, and the shotgunners use it for .410.

I use it for 32-20 and 25-20, and it is also good for 38-40 and a lot of others. It is a good powder and useful, so if you're close and don't want yours, I'm interested.
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Old 09-20-2016, 12:07 AM
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Thanks for all the responses so far.

I won't be doing any shotgun reloading for a while. I do plan on shooting cast bullets in reduced loads for 7.62x54r and for 7.65x53mm. Hopefully 2400 might work. I have an 1957 Lyman reloading manual kicking around the garage someplace. When I find it hopefully I'll find a use for the 2400. Otherwise the powder goes to a good home.
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Old 09-24-2016, 12:54 PM
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Saturday 9-24 Update.

I posted about reducing 2400 when using a speer 4013 bullet....I got the following e mail from Alliant today...regardless of what the Hornady manual or others say about loads of 2400 down in the 14 grain range to start using 2400 with this particular bullet below 16.5 grains is a no-no....

I appreciate all the folks that "weighed in" on answering the question but like many things I still had a nagging feeling about this particular bullet and what I had heard somewhere back in time...and I guess I was right..

Only points out that crossing from one manual to another can get a person in a jam on occasion...this bullet is one that I really have enjoyed loading for years..it's a great projectile but Speer pulled it from "reduced loads" on the 38 special with 231 some while back and their rep says no reduction on 2400 below 16.5 grains..Check check check.

Here is the cut/past of my question to Alliant and their reply:

"Is 2400 a powder that I can "load down" with? I have a friend that uses 17
grains of 2400 with the 125 grain 4013 Speer and likes it...I'm older and have
arthritis..I'd like to try some of my 2400 with these bullets but might like to
start with a lower charge and work up...would I be safe starting around 15.5
grains or is that reducing too much? I know some of the magnum powders are not
good for reducing but I'm not sure about 2400...your "recipe" shows 17.5 grains
but no "range"...just the one load for 125 grain bullets...Is that a maximum or
a suggested or a "do not reduce" load?? Kind of confused on that. "

Many thanks


"The minimum load for that bullet using Alliant 2400 is 16.5 grains. It is not
advisable to drop below this charge.
Thanks,
Duane V.
Technical Services Rep
Alliant/Blazer/CCI/Speer"
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Last edited by opos; 09-24-2016 at 12:59 PM..
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