Unburnt 2205 in 357mag and 44mag

Reloading equipment, methods, load data, powder and projectile information.

Unburnt 2205 in 357mag and 44mag

Post by Kelsey Cooter » 22 Feb 2021, 7:43 am

Hey blokes I'm still getting unburnt powder with 2205. With the 44mag I'm using 240gr speer soft points and 23.3grs 2205. Shoots a great group out of my 20" 1892 but there is still a small amount of unburnt powder left in the barrel even though I had the seating die set to crimp as heavy as possible before starting to deform the brass. I do have a lee crimp die for 44 as I use it for my 44-40, I haven't tried it yet but I plan to see if it makes any difference.

I also made some 357 rounds with 158gr projectiles for my gp100. The amount of unburnt powder was pretty extreme.

Would magnum primers make a difference? Or large rifle primers for the 44? I'm currently using CCI standard pistol primers
Kelsey Cooter
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 408
Queensland

Re: Unburnt 2205 in 357mag and 44mag

Post by Tiger650 » 22 Feb 2021, 8:04 am

Mag primers may be the solution.
2205 works well in my .357" mod 92, I did have your problem using Lilgun with no crimp, gave the powder away to a mate before I found out about the crimp issue, had not thought to do that with rifle ammo.
My 15gn 2205 loads in his revolver made impressive fireworks in low light.
Tiger650
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 451
Victoria

Re: Unburnt 2205 in 357mag and 44mag

Post by straightshooter » 22 Feb 2021, 8:14 am

I experienced a similar problem years ago with 2400 in a 44mag, which by the way is a bit faster than 2205.
The cure for me was to go to Blue dot.
Problem is with the ADI powder range 2205 is a little too slow and the next faster powder is AP100 which is a little too fast for satisfactory performance.
The magnum pistol primer may help by increasing chamber pressure but I would consider increasing pressure a risky path to follow unless it is supported by adhering to a published recipe from a reputable source.
Your 1892 isn't the strongest of actions.
"Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about."
"There is no expedient to which a man will not resort to avoid the real labor of thinking." Sir Joshua Reynolds
straightshooter
Warrant Officer C1
Warrant Officer C1
 
Posts: 1263
New South Wales

Re: Unburnt 2205 in 357mag and 44mag

Post by Gamerancher » 22 Feb 2021, 8:27 am

Unburnt powder is almost always encountered with 2205 in the cases you are talking about. It usually won't have any bearing on the accuracy of the rifle.
After a National match in Victoria a few years ago, you could have half filled a bottle with the amount of powder left on the benches we stood behind to shoot.
User avatar
Gamerancher
Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major
 
Posts: 1596
New South Wales

Re: Unburnt 2205 in 357mag and 44mag

Post by Bello » 22 Feb 2021, 8:51 am

Hi Guys
I use 2205 in some of my pistols (357 and 44 Mag), and there is ALWAYS unburnt 2205 powder left.
Its a litle annoying.
I have tried different powder weights and primers with no real change.
User avatar
Bello
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 313
New South Wales

Re: Unburnt 2205 in 357mag and 44mag

Post by Kelsey Cooter » 22 Feb 2021, 8:54 am

Thanks for the responses, I'll try the magnum primers (to be honest I didn't think about the primers until this morning) I still have almost 2kg of 2205 and the 44 shoots a great group, so I don't want to change powders.

I bought 2205 with the intention of using it in my 25-20's and 38-40's purely because of the adi data, but I tried it in a 25-20 a while ago, and the unburnt powder was so extreme with the 1st 5 I tested I just completely ditched the idea.

After seeing the amount of unburnt powder I can tap out of my gp100 after 6 shots I can imagine what you're saying Gamerancher.
Kelsey Cooter
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 408
Queensland

Re: Unburnt 2205 in 357mag and 44mag

Post by marrinup » 22 Feb 2021, 3:17 pm

Had the same problem with the 310 Cadet, solved it by placing a cardboard cookie boiled in bees wax on top of powder, slightly compressed, now all the powder gets burnt off and nothing left behind, BTW, it improves accuracy as it uses all the powder,................ just my 2 bobs worth
marrinup
Recruit
Recruit
 
Posts: 5
Western Australia

Re: Unburnt 2205 in 357mag and 44mag

Post by Macross » 22 Feb 2021, 4:41 pm

I have also had the same issue with .357 rounds for my S&W 686. I switched to Federal Small Magnum Pistol primers and seems to have improved a bit but still get a little unburnt powder here and there.
Macross
Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
 
Posts: 157
Queensland

Re: Unburnt 2205 in 357mag and 44mag

Post by boingk » 23 Feb 2021, 8:35 pm

I like to use Fiocchi small rifle primers and Federal Large Magnum Rifle primers. Both seem to work nicely with 2205 and 357/44 magnums.

- boingk
Nil
boingk
Sergeant
Sergeant
 
Posts: 682
Other


Back to top
 
Return to Reloading ammunition