H380?

Polaris

Handloader
Dec 16, 2009
1,239
29
A friend of mine sold off his 22-250 some years ago. While cleaning out his house to move he found 2 unopened cans of H380 he had squirreled away. He traded them to me for some ammo. Now to figure out what to do with them.

I have 6.5X55 (200 yard match shooting only), 270 win (loading hunting and practice ammo for a friend 130 gr), 280 Rem (full power hunting loads only), 7.5 Swiss (155 gr 200 yard match shooting), and 7.62X54r (174 gr 300 and 600 yard full power match and 150, 180 gr hunting loads).

What is the best application for this powder? Data is listed for all of the above cartridges on Hodgedon's site. Any experience with it out there? I have been loading IMR 4350 or 4320 for the above applications.
 
While Hodgdon has it listed in the Swede up the 140's bullet weight, load density is a tad low for my taste. But in this situation, that's not saying it might be worth a try. It certainly can't hurt. Who knows, it just might shoot well, and all ends well. On the other hand, maybe just sell it to someone else that use's it.
However, I certainly agree on the .22-250 application,,or purchase. IIRC, H-380 was developed by Bruce Hodgdon with the 22-250 in mind. I don't recall the bullet weight used, but it shot bug holes at 3800 fps, and that's how it came to be H380.
 
I get very good results with H380 in my 308 with a 168 grain Horn SST...
 
Works really well in a .243 win with 55gr BT as well. Just in case you are not excited about a 22-250. :wink:
 
I first used H380 35 years ago in a 22-250.
Have been using it for 25 years in 308 with 150-165 gr bullets.
Meters beautifully.
I would think it would work well in any case developed off of the 308.

Sounds like you need another rifle.......
 
actually it got it's name because bruce used 38 grains of it...... it was no where near 3800fps.
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I use it in 220 swift and 243 win.
I really wish it worked better in 223 because I've been sippin from this 8lb keg for too long!!!
 
chet":25hxlu3d said:
actually it got it's name because bruce used 38 grains of it...... it was no where near 3800fps.
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I use it in 220 swift and 243 win.
I really wish it worked better in 223 because I've been sippin from this 8lb keg for too long!!!

Ah yes, that is right,,thanks for the correction Chet. I know my memory isn't what it use to be. I should have just looked in one of the older manuals in the load room to have double checked. I know it's stated there. A little too lazy at times, I guess :roll: I will do better to avoid such in the future. That, or not post after midnight. :lol:
Bunch of sleepless nights lately don't help.
 
One of my favourite loads for the 300WSM was a 165 grain FS charged with H380. I got good velocity and excellent accuracy with that load. It did take some moose for me.
 
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