IMR 4227

[Michael]

Worked with friend a few years ago who stumbled into some commercial 300gr FNBB hardcast bullets, they were cheap and he wanted them, would not of been my first choice. He dinked around with lighter loads, didn't work that well, light loads with hard BB bullets.... we all know what happens there. One day I commented that heavy 44 cal slugs were developed to be used has full powered hunting loads, he had some 296 floating around so he loaded up, I want to say 18, 19, and 20gr charges for his SRH. 18 was ok, 19 better, and 20 oh boy! Shot very well, but not for the timid, even with a handball glove with the padded palm, it stung. Go big or go home lived up to it's name there. When I was shooting pistol silhouette I thought a 240gr SWC and 23gr of H110 deseverd some respect, nah, by comparison it was a plinking load.

 

[CZ93X62]

My use of H/IMR-4227 has been rather limited, both in 44 Magnum and other calibers. It seems to me to be IMR's response to Hercules/Alliant 2400, and while the two powders' data points don't overlap they seem to serve the same range of applications among my calibers. Since about forever, Alliant and Winchester powders have always been a whole lot easier for me to find locally than are any of the IMRs or Hodgdons, so I gravitate to 2400 and 296 for most of my mag revolver loading--2400 for castings and 296 for the redcoats.

 

[RicinYakima]

Dupont IMR powders were based upon #1204 (later called #4227) for the short black powder 25/20, etc. in about 1930. The last formula was basis for the Savage 22 Hornet cartridge and was the first IMR powder. IMR is an acronym for Improved Military Rifle. The first IMR reloading powders included ever popular favorites IMR3031 (1934), IMR4064 (1935) and IMR4350 (1940). While IMR 4895 was invented for the M1 Garand, it wasn't commercially available until the 1950's.

 

[BBerguson]

I’ve loaded a lot of it in 30 carbine with 130gr bullets and haven’t had any trouble. Also shot some in 222 with cast. Been reloading for 44 years and this is a new powder for me…

 

[L Ross]

I was turned on to 4227 for breech seating in the .32-40. It was a natural extension to load cast bullets in fixed ammo in the .308, .32 W. Spl., .30-30, .30-06, 8x57 and more. So whenever I could I bought jugs of the stuff. I like it, I trust it, and I find it to be useful. Sort of like an easy to measure 4759, sort of.

 

[RBHarter]

4227 seen here in smallville ....43/# . Looks like a life time.of continued suffering with dirty old nique'.

 

[L Ross]

4227 seen here in smallville ....43/# . Looks like a life time.of continued suffering with dirty old nique'.

Last time I saw a deal on dirty old Unique it was $68 an 8 lb jug. Seriously, no more than 10 years ago. I only made a piglet outa myself. I wish I woulda went full stinky boar mode.

 

[RBHarter]

I'm still trying to burn up the 12# Dad gave me 20 yr ago in the Hercules steel keg . I bought an 8# , $118 I think under the 0 , Dad left another 12# in a 4&8# jug . If I shoot another 35 years at the current rate I should be just about out .

 

[BBerguson]

I’m down to my last pound of unique and need to find some or an appropriate replacement.

 

[fiver]

bout anything between green-dot and 800-X will fill in for Unique.
Herco is a good one, and it's overlooked by about 90% of the reloaders out there.

i generally just go straight to 2400 in my rifles, and save unique for the lever rifles.

 

[CZ93X62]

What Fiver said, about Herco & Unique. That Skeeter's Load in 44 Special (Lyman #429421 atop 7.5 x Unique) works just as well with 8.2 grains of Herco in its place. I use 4X as much Herco as I do Unique during most years. Locally, Unique disappears almost instantly; Herco hangs around a lot longer.

 

[BBerguson]

I’m not a fan of Herco, worst metering powder I’ve ever loaded. I have 2400 and 296 and have always used it for pistol rounds. I’ll load some up for the rifle now and see what works.

 

[fiver]

work with 800-X or Steel for a couple of minutes and you'll be more than happy to work with Herco.

 

[BBerguson]

Never bought either of them Fiver, pretty sure I don’t want to now! lol Would like to try some Universal but haven’t found any yet.

 

[fiver]

i use a ton of 2400 [and AA-4100] for general rifle cast bullet shooting.
i can find more accurate loads with other powders, but if i tip the barrel and shoot a little more carefully i can just about get there with 2400.
it's worth it to me, 2400 meters well and it's just simple and easy to load.
if i were shooting for dollars i'd definitely spend the extra time and effort to measure weigh sort and filler my cases to get that extra 1/4".
but 99.9% of the time i just smile and keep pulling the trigger watching that 1 1-1/2" group start filling in the hole in the paper.

 

[Brad]

2400 is my go to powder for cast loads in rifles. It just works.
Not always the fastest. Not always the most accurate. It is position sensitive.

Why use it? Because it gives very acceptable results with little effort.

 

[RicinYakima]

My accuracy and precision shoot is always benchrest, so I don't understand this notion of 2400 being position sensitive. It may be because I always tap the back of the case against the right receiver rail, lay it on the follower and chamber it. My hunting, plinking, loads it doesn't matter to get the last 1/16th inch group.

 

[L Ross]

work with 800-X or Steel for a couple of minutes and you'll be more than happy to work with Herco.

If one must work with course flake powders such as Steel, try to find a Belding & Mull measure. They are not impossible to find and you will thank me later.

 

[CZ93X62]

800-X is AWFUL in my RCBS measures. Life is too short for aggravations like that, esp. when ball powders are so readily available (most of the time).

 

[BBerguson]

I’m half tempted to setup one of my MEC reloaders just to throw powder charges with some of the flake powders. They have smooth one piece drops tubes and nothing for the charge to bridge on. The bridging is what gives me fits. First a light charge and then an extra heavy one. Don’t think I’d get that with the MEC.

I have a complete set of the Lee powder “scoops” but static in the winter gives them problems. I may try grounding myself, I’ve done that before when static was making powder stick to my funnels