Options for A-2400

cdoc42 · February 11, 2024, 11:59 AM

I'm having a difficult time finding Alliant-2400 powder. I use 18.5gr, LPP, and a Remington Black cast 240gr bullet in a Ruger .44 Mag SuperBlackhawk revolver.

I have a lot of Blue Dot. Burn rate charts close to 2400 also include Accurate #9 as well.

Does anyone have any experience with alternatives?

Jim Watson · February 11, 2024, 12:10 PM

I once loaded some Blue Dot because it was the slowest powder I could get that did not have magnum primers recommended. It went bang with no unusual behavior.

Recycled bullet · February 11, 2024, 12:34 PM

IMR4227 may work for you. I have used it to replace Alliant 2400 in 38 special/357 magnum for revolver and rifle, and reduced velocity rifle loads in 308 Winchester.

I have never loaded 44 magnum so I do not have any direct experience with it in this specific caliber/ cartridge.

Nick_C_S · February 11, 2024, 12:35 PM

What's the barrel length of your Super Blackhawk?

If it's 6" or more, look for W296/H-110 (same propellant, different label), or 300-MP. IMR 4227 is a good choice too, but I haven't seen it in a long time.

If it's 4" or less, look for (as you mentioned) Blue Dot, AA#9.

I too am in the hunt for 2400. Powder Valley has 8# canisters available. That's a bit much. 4# would be fine, but 8# is too much. I only use 1# per season.

cdoc42 · February 11, 2024, 02:01 PM

Guys, thanks. A good start for me to review. I tried the 2400 load because the Lyman 50th velocity was 1,001 fps and I understand that cast bullets may be too soft to exceed 1000 fps. I bought these Remington 240gr at a shot show probably 30 years ago and I just got interested in trying them out and found they are very accurate.

My Ruger is a 7.5 inch barrel. The starting load velocities and CUP pressures from Lyman 50th are Blue Dot 933/34,500.....H110 1204/31,800......IMR4227 1036/29,000...
A#9 1009/25,700...compared to A2400 1101/34,700.

I have used H110 for 40 years with JHP bullets, but I don't want to go that fast with these cast bullets. Accurate #9 looks really good due to lower pressure and IMR4227 is a good second. Blue Dot is the lower pressure but 933 fps, which is nothing to sneer about, although to see how these various loads compare I'll have to buy IMR4227 and A#9.

This makes me wonder how I picked 2400 with more pressure than H110....probably because I had it since I first started reloading and it was suggested to me by an older reloading relative at the time -for JHPs. If you were me, where would any of you start at this point? I'm not indecisive, just interested in opinions.

Recycled bullet · February 11, 2024, 02:22 PM

What is a Remington Black cast bullet?

Marco Califo · February 11, 2024, 03:51 PM

I would not refer to Alliant 2400 as A-2400. That "A" is equally, or more likely, interpretted as "Accurate" 2400, which does not exist. Accurate 2200, 2230, 2460, 2520 are suitable for small caliber rifle loads. I have never seem Alliant refer to 2400 as A-2400.

cdoc42 · February 11, 2024, 08:38 PM

Recycle, I can't answer that other than say the box that I bought has outside printing that only says, in the usual Remington font, and the weight of the bullet. I wrote to Remington before the bankruptcy but did not receive any response.

Marco, I apologize, you are correct. I was trying to reduce the fonts from "Alliant" and I didn't want to just use "2400" in case neophytes would not recognize it, but I see that dilemma exists in either case.

**44 AMP** · February 12, 2024, 12:58 AM

I've been using 2400 since it was made under the Hercules name. 18gr is the listed starting load in the 1970 Lyman manual (250gr cast) showing a bit over 1,000 from their 6.5" test gun.

There are several powders that can duplicate that level load, though H110/w296 are not the best choices, they prefer to be loaded heavier.

As to the bullets, I don't remember Remington doing cast bullets. Their lead bullets were swaged, and a bit soft because of that. Easy to check with the "rule of thumb".

Take one of the bullets and press your thumbnail into the base, hard. IF there is a gouge or groove the bullets are "soft". IF there is only a bright line or no mark at all, they are "hard". Not exact, but good enough to tell the difference easily. Soft slugs should be held to lower speeds generally 1,00fps or so, or less. Harder slugs can be driven faster without the same risk of leading.

Take a look at the bullet body. Normally, traditional cast bullets will have grease grooves while swages bullets usually don't. Some swaged bullets do have knurled rings or have the entire body knurled to a degree. "Black" bullets implies a black (probably graphite) lube coating.

My "go to" cast bullet load in .44 Mag is 10gr Unique with a 240 which runs in the 1100fps neighborhood from 6" and longer tubes.

cdoc42 · February 13, 2024, 07:16 PM

44AMP, thanks! Your post is helpful. I'll look more closely at the bullets to see how they compare to your analysis. I "Almost" went to Cabelas today to buy Accurate #9 but the projected 3" snowfall turned into 12 and the time to shovel prevented the trip. Is it just an inherent attribute for reloaders to experiment or an excuse to say I'm one of the crowd? Good Lord. I have Unique. I have Blue Dot. Why do I need Accurate#9 because I have insufficient 2400????

**44 AMP** · February 14, 2024, 02:09 AM

Lately I've been running AA No.9 in my .44 Mag Desert Eagle, which seems to like it, (240gr Jacketed) loaded to the hotter end. Same ammo also did fine in my Super Blackhawk.

I've run Blue Dot in the .44AMP (jacketed 240s) but those loads were in 1400fps range and are over published data, and not at all suitable for lead slugs, other than specially hard cast ones.

I know you can get 1,000fps from Unique, or Blue Dot, but I don't know where you'll find data specific to the bullets you have, sorry.

AA No. 9 is good, but not worth a drive through a blizzard to get some if all you're looking for can be done with what you have already on hand.

February 11, 2024, 11:59 AM	#1
cdoc42 Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,698	Options for A-2400 I'm having a difficult time finding Alliant-2400 powder. I use 18.5gr, LPP, and a Remington Black cast 240gr bullet in a Ruger .44 Mag SuperBlackhawk revolver. I have a lot of Blue Dot. Burn rate charts close to 2400 also include Accurate #9 as well. Does anyone have any experience with alternatives?

February 11, 2024, 12:35 PM	#4
Nick_C_S Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2013 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,536	What's the barrel length of your Super Blackhawk? If it's 6" or more, look for W296/H-110 (same propellant, different label), or 300-MP. IMR 4227 is a good choice too, but I haven't seen it in a long time. If it's 4" or less, look for (as you mentioned) Blue Dot, AA#9. I too am in the hunt for 2400. Powder Valley has 8# canisters available. That's a bit much. 4# would be fine, but 8# is too much. I only use 1# per season. __________________ Gun control laws benefit only criminals and politicians - but then, I repeat myself. Life Member, National Rifle Association

February 11, 2024, 03:51 PM	#7
Marco Califo Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2011 Location: LA (Greater Los Angeles Area) Posts: 2,614	I would not refer to Alliant 2400 as A-2400. That "A" is equally, or more likely, interpretted as "Accurate" 2400, which does not exist. Accurate 2200, 2230, 2460, 2520 are suitable for small caliber rifle loads. I have never seem Alliant refer to 2400 as A-2400. __________________ ............ Last edited by Marco Califo; February 12, 2024 at 01:46 PM.

February 14, 2024, 02:09 AM	#11
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 29,029	Lately I've been running AA No.9 in my .44 Mag Desert Eagle, which seems to like it, (240gr Jacketed) loaded to the hotter end. Same ammo also did fine in my Super Blackhawk. I've run Blue Dot in the .44AMP (jacketed 240s) but those loads were in 1400fps range and are over published data, and not at all suitable for lead slugs, other than specially hard cast ones. I know you can get 1,000fps from Unique, or Blue Dot, but I don't know where you'll find data specific to the bullets you have, sorry. AA No. 9 is good, but not worth a drive through a blizzard to get some if all you're looking for can be done with what you have already on hand. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

February 11, 2024, 12:10 PM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,619	I once loaded some Blue Dot because it was the slowest powder I could get that did not have magnum primers recommended. It went bang with no unusual behavior.

February 11, 2024, 12:34 PM	#3
Recycled bullet Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2022 Posts: 350	IMR4227 may work for you. I have used it to replace Alliant 2400 in 38 special/357 magnum for revolver and rifle, and reduced velocity rifle loads in 308 Winchester. I have never loaded 44 magnum so I do not have any direct experience with it in this specific caliber/ cartridge.

February 11, 2024, 02:01 PM	#5
cdoc42 Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,698	Guys, thanks. A good start for me to review. I tried the 2400 load because the Lyman 50th velocity was 1,001 fps and I understand that cast bullets may be too soft to exceed 1000 fps. I bought these Remington 240gr at a shot show probably 30 years ago and I just got interested in trying them out and found they are very accurate. My Ruger is a 7.5 inch barrel. The starting load velocities and CUP pressures from Lyman 50th are Blue Dot 933/34,500.....H110 1204/31,800......IMR4227 1036/29,000... A#9 1009/25,700...compared to A2400 1101/34,700. I have used H110 for 40 years with JHP bullets, but I don't want to go that fast with these cast bullets. Accurate #9 looks really good due to lower pressure and IMR4227 is a good second. Blue Dot is the lower pressure but 933 fps, which is nothing to sneer about, although to see how these various loads compare I'll have to buy IMR4227 and A#9. This makes me wonder how I picked 2400 with more pressure than H110....probably because I had it since I first started reloading and it was suggested to me by an older reloading relative at the time -for JHPs. If you were me, where would any of you start at this point? I'm not indecisive, just interested in opinions.

February 11, 2024, 02:22 PM	#6
Recycled bullet Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2022 Posts: 350	What is a Remington Black cast bullet?

February 11, 2024, 08:38 PM	#8
cdoc42 Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,698	Recycle, I can't answer that other than say the box that I bought has outside printing that only says, in the usual Remington font, and the weight of the bullet. I wrote to Remington before the bankruptcy but did not receive any response. Marco, I apologize, you are correct. I was trying to reduce the fonts from "Alliant" and I didn't want to just use "2400" in case neophytes would not recognize it, but I see that dilemma exists in either case.

February 12, 2024, 12:58 AM	#9
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 29,029	I've been using 2400 since it was made under the Hercules name. 18gr is the listed starting load in the 1970 Lyman manual (250gr cast) showing a bit over 1,000 from their 6.5" test gun. There are several powders that can duplicate that level load, though H110/w296 are not the best choices, they prefer to be loaded heavier. As to the bullets, I don't remember Remington doing cast bullets. Their lead bullets were swaged, and a bit soft because of that. Easy to check with the "rule of thumb". Take one of the bullets and press your thumbnail into the base, hard. IF there is a gouge or groove the bullets are "soft". IF there is only a bright line or no mark at all, they are "hard". Not exact, but good enough to tell the difference easily. Soft slugs should be held to lower speeds generally 1,00fps or so, or less. Harder slugs can be driven faster without the same risk of leading. Take a look at the bullet body. Normally, traditional cast bullets will have grease grooves while swages bullets usually don't. Some swaged bullets do have knurled rings or have the entire body knurled to a degree. "Black" bullets implies a black (probably graphite) lube coating. My "go to" cast bullet load in .44 Mag is 10gr Unique with a 240 which runs in the 1100fps neighborhood from 6" and longer tubes. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

February 13, 2024, 07:16 PM	#10
cdoc42 Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,698	44AMP, thanks! Your post is helpful. I'll look more closely at the bullets to see how they compare to your analysis. I "Almost" went to Cabelas today to buy Accurate #9 but the projected 3" snowfall turned into 12 and the time to shovel prevented the trip. Is it just an inherent attribute for reloaders to experiment or an excuse to say I'm one of the crowd? Good Lord. I have Unique. I have Blue Dot. Why do I need Accurate#9 because I have insufficient 2400????