Yellow granular residue after shooting 296

[Scott Tschirhart]

I was testing.357 ammo yesterday and noted some yellow granular residue in the bore after shooting loads with 16 gr 296 in both revolvers.

I also noted similar residue on the bed cover where my chronograph was.

It does not appear to be a problem in the rifle. Has anyone else noticed this?

[GunnyMack]

Yes I have seen this from 296. It has happened in center fire as well as in 410. I believe it is just residue from or unburnt powder.
The worst I've seen it was in 20 year old reloads.
I have also noticed this with Lilgun.

[wvfarrier]

Yup, just powder residue that didnt completely burn up

[JimT]

Yes. I've had the same experience and agree with the previous posts.

[Walt]

I'm sure you're doing this but H-110 and 296 require a magnum primer and a heavy crimp to maximize powder consumption.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I'm sure you're doing this but H-110 and 296 require a magnum primer and a heavy crimp to maximize powder consumption.

All my.357 loads use small rifle primers. Been doing that for years.

But I probably need more crimp.

[JimT]

I'm sure you're doing this but H-110 and 296 require a magnum primer and a heavy crimp to maximize powder consumption.

All my.357 loads use small rifle primers. Been doing that for years.

But I probably need more crimp.

No matter what you do, there can always be some unburned powder. It's just part of lighting off nitrocellulose and keeping it burning. With some loads you will blow it all out the barrel and not notice it. Heavy crimp and tight bullet pull help, but the primer alone can move the bullet out of the crimp all by itself at times. Reference Mic's tests of primer power.

[Walt]

I have on several occasions been asked why when using H-110/296, a trigger pull results in something that sounds like a squib load. The bullet is stuck a short distance up the barrel and the powder is in a mostly unburned clump which makes a mess when the cylinder is opened. I have always thought that rifle primers in a handgun cartridge result in a high primers. Do small rifle primers have greater brisance than than magnum small pistol primers or is their use mostly to eliminate the possibility of punctured primers?

[JimT]

I have always thought that rifle primers in a handgun cartridge result in a high primers.

Only with large primers. Small primers are all the same size.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Going up to 16.5 seemed to alleviate the problem but 17 gr is too much.

I think I found my load though:

14.5 gr of 2400
1419 in the FA
1316 in the SP101
1757 in the Marlin

[GunnyMack]

To me 2400 was always dirty but that was also back in the Hercules era. I switched from red dot to hi-skor 700x in my trap loads. What 2400 I did shoot was a while ago. Certainly heavier crimp helps.
Like I said even lilgun leaves quite a bit of unburnt behind, less noticeable in 410 but in 28 it's a whole lot more.

[Scott Tschirhart]

2400 loaded properly doesn’t seem to be as dirty as H110 or 296.

But it seems to like to be stepped on a bit.

The cases fall from the chambers, have rounded primers and very clean brass.

[Walt]

The Lyman book shows a maximum of 14.0 gr of 2400 with a 358156 GC bullet for a velocity of 1299 fps but that's with a 4" universal receiver. I normally don't shoot max loads and my standard load in .357 is 13.5 gr of 2400 for a velocity of 1345 fps out of a 6 1/2" Ruger Blackhawk. It's a good load and it works well for me with my Rugers and Smiths.

Jim, thanks for the info on the height of small rifle vs small pistol primers. I never tried them in pistol calibers. Do you know which has the greater brisance; small rifle or magnum small pistol?

[Sixgun]

I never liked 296 or 110 for the simple reason everything has to be perfect…the crimp, using small rifle primers, the cartridge your using it in, and of course the load.

Those two powders, in my opinion are only good for full top loads in high pressure cartridges along with the use of jacketed bullets….

I love it in my Ruger Maximum with 180 grain Hornady bullets….and I’ve shot thousands of those in silhouette competition…..

It’s a niche powder to obtain full velocities…..I prefer to use 4227 or 2400 in most anything other than the Max. or 30 carbine.

You find out these things by extensive chronographing.

[765x53]

According to CCI's own information, their standard small rifle primers and magnum small pistol primers are the same.

[JimT]

Do you know which has the greater brisance; small rifle or magnum small pistol?

Sorry but no, I do not.

[Ysabel Kid]

So, old reloads of 296 produce... Ol' Yellow?

Sorry, couldn't resist...

[Walt]

Dadgum it, Kid!

The only caliber I use H-110 or 296 in is my FA .454, using 300 gr proprietary Lyman 454629 GC bullets. I have for years loaded to just below max but believe it or not, I have only recently learned to shoot more moderate loads for pleasure but with other powders than H-110 or 296. Doesn't take ol' Walt long to learn - I've only had the gun for 30+ years.

[Walt]

Thanks for the info, 765x53!

[Scott Tschirhart]

I’ve used small rifle primers in the .357 for more than 30 years. I use regular small pistol primers for.38 Special loads.

[Walt]

Elmer Keith wrote that use of magnum primers was unnecessary in his 22 gr of 2400 behind 250 gr loads, that he felt it brought pressure up too high. Being a devoted follower of his I rarely use magnum primers in anything except my .454.

[Walt]

I was in Cabela's a month or two ago waiting to buy some primers when I got talking to a guy there who was looking for large pistol magnum primers. Killing time, I asked what calibers he was using them for and he told me that they were satisfactory for nearly all rifle calibers up to 300 Win Mag. I don't think he heard me snorting but I dunno.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Elmer Keith wrote that use of magnum primers was unnecessary in his 22 gr of 2400 behind 250 gr loads, that he felt it brought pressure up too high. Being a devoted follower of his I rarely use magnum primers in anything except my .454.

I think that’s right. I don’t generally use magnum primers with 2400 in anything.

But I use small rifle primers in the.454 Casull as well.