Posted By: pab1
H110 & W296 Reduced Load Confusion - 09/04/2016 12:17 AM
I've used both of these powders for 15 or 16 years. I've always heard the warning about not using reduced loads with either powder. I always stick with published data. My question is why the data from Hodgdon (as well as Winchester data before W296 being Hodgdon) show one minimum charge yet Sierra shows a minimum charge well below their data.
As an example for 454 Casull with their 300 gr JSP Winchester shows 29.5gr of W296 as a minimum. Hodgdon shows a 28.5gr minimum with H110 for a FA JFP. Both charges are fairly close in weight. Sierra shows a minimum of 24.1gr of H110 and 24.8gr of W296 as minimums for their 300 gr JSP.
I know they're using different bullets but the max charges shown in data for all three bullets is very close. For max charges there's 1gr difference for H110 and 1.5gr difference for W296 when comparing Hodgdon/Win data to Sierra data. Their max data is within 3-5% of the Sierra max data. With max charges that close I wouldn't think the minimum charge listed by Sierra is due to a bullet that seats deeper or is harder resulting in higher pressures.
Hodgdon data says not to go more than 3% below the minimum H110 charge listed. Winchester data says not to go below minimum charges shown for W296. The minimum powder charge in Sierras data is 15.5-16% below H110 and W296 data. The min to max spread Winchester lists for W296 is 2 gr. Hodgdon data shows H110 has a 1.5gr range between min and max charges. Sierra data has a 5.2gr spread for W296 and a 5.1gr range for H110 from min to max.
This discrepancy in data is something that's always confused me but I didn't think about it much before. I'm only asking now because I'd like to try the lower end Sierra loads. Sierra's lower velocity load is appealing to me due to issues with my hand. I have a good supply of the 300 gr Sierra JSPs and W296 and I'd like to use that combo. I just keep questioning the Sierra data since its so much lower than Hodgdon and Winchesters data. Anybody know the reason for this?
As an example for 454 Casull with their 300 gr JSP Winchester shows 29.5gr of W296 as a minimum. Hodgdon shows a 28.5gr minimum with H110 for a FA JFP. Both charges are fairly close in weight. Sierra shows a minimum of 24.1gr of H110 and 24.8gr of W296 as minimums for their 300 gr JSP.
I know they're using different bullets but the max charges shown in data for all three bullets is very close. For max charges there's 1gr difference for H110 and 1.5gr difference for W296 when comparing Hodgdon/Win data to Sierra data. Their max data is within 3-5% of the Sierra max data. With max charges that close I wouldn't think the minimum charge listed by Sierra is due to a bullet that seats deeper or is harder resulting in higher pressures.
Hodgdon data says not to go more than 3% below the minimum H110 charge listed. Winchester data says not to go below minimum charges shown for W296. The minimum powder charge in Sierras data is 15.5-16% below H110 and W296 data. The min to max spread Winchester lists for W296 is 2 gr. Hodgdon data shows H110 has a 1.5gr range between min and max charges. Sierra data has a 5.2gr spread for W296 and a 5.1gr range for H110 from min to max.
This discrepancy in data is something that's always confused me but I didn't think about it much before. I'm only asking now because I'd like to try the lower end Sierra loads. Sierra's lower velocity load is appealing to me due to issues with my hand. I have a good supply of the 300 gr Sierra JSPs and W296 and I'd like to use that combo. I just keep questioning the Sierra data since its so much lower than Hodgdon and Winchesters data. Anybody know the reason for this?