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  #1  
Old 10-25-2010, 07:33 PM
440turner 440turner is offline
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I have used IMR4227 on several loads and have found that I have granuals of unburnt powder laying atop my shooting bench. I load with about six different powders and have noticed this before using this powder, eliminating a one time only occurence. I know that this powder is generally used with the heavier bullets and is a slow powder, I noticed this w/a 240gn bullet. The load that I shot Thursday was a 44 mag. w/a 240 XTP atop 23 grains of IMR 4227 and a CCI300 primer, I shot the load out of my 629-1 and my shooting partners 9 1/2" Redhawk. Does anyone w/ a chrony have any velocity readings using this powder out of the eithier gun?
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Old 10-25-2010, 08:36 PM
jerry7423 jerry7423 is offline
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I have noticed similar issues loading with IMR 4227 with my 357 Magnum loads and HP/XTP's. Also, when I pulled the spent case from my 686, I would find powder granules all over my hands.

I loaded some 44 mag loads with 240 HP/XTP's this past weekend using Alliant 2400 and IMR 4227...I preferred the Alliant 2400 rounds, it seems cleaner. I reload with loadmaster and use a lee pro powder measurer and found I also have more flexibility with the volume discs.....Bottom line, I am not impressed with IMR 4227.
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Old 10-26-2010, 03:09 AM
WR Moore WR Moore is offline
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I've used the 4227 for decades and never noticed unburned powder in my .44 mag loads. My recipe involves the Remington factory 240 gr JHP, a near max load of 4227 and the CCI LP magnum primer (350).

Trying to load this powder in other calibers where I didn't have the magnum primers did produce the unburned powder you describe. The magnum primer seems to be a necessity for clean burning.

I find the .44 load extremely accurate and effective. Somehow, I've never chrono'd the load. I flatly don't care how fast it's going. I know the trajectory, it's accurate, and anything I've shot it at ended up speedily dead with one round.
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Old 10-26-2010, 05:01 AM
440turner 440turner is offline
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I like the accuracy of my load however the unburnt powder is my only complaint, yes my gun needs a cleaning after shooting a days worth of loads but that doesnt bother me. I have cci and federal magnum primers, ill have to try the mag. primers and see if that cures the unburnt powder issue. I also like the fact that 4227 is supposed to not be effected greatly by inclimate weather wich is just what a Michigan deer hunter encounters.
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Old 10-26-2010, 05:35 AM
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I use 23 gr of 4227 with 250gr cast SWCs. I also use CCI350 primers. I do not get an unusual amount of unburned powder. No more than with 2400. This load shoots well in anything I've tried it in, including carbines.

This load gives 1250 fps in my 2 6-1/2" M29s. A little more in a 7-1/2" Redhawk. Velocity with this load is up there in the magnum category, but recoil seems more like a shove than the jolt 2400 loads seem to give in the same velocity range. I like this load in my old 29's for this reason. Could be my imagination, but I don't think so.

I found out years ago during the silhouette days, along with others, that 4227 seems to be a little easier on guns than other powders (296/H110) when considering flame cutting and forcing cone erosion.
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Old 10-26-2010, 09:14 AM
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I gave up on 4227 years and years ago in handgun loads. I never found anything it would do that another powder didn't do significantly better. WW-296 has been my powder of choice for years in magnum revolver loads and I don't see any need to change.
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Old 10-26-2010, 02:17 PM
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Snapping Twig Snapping Twig is offline
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I tried it years back and found it wanting, but that's subjective. Nothing wrong with it if you like it.

Powder tends to be dirty if it is used in a less efficient loading - all powders.

Load something in the upper levels and it tends to burn well.

My unused 4227 came in handy for a new 45-70 load @ 1400fps, so I'll report back in once I shoot a few.
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Old 09-05-2019, 06:53 PM
oddshooter oddshooter is offline
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In the beauty contest, that is most powder discussions;
I think 4227 is pretty.

Some of you guys seem to like Blondes instead.
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Old 09-05-2019, 08:59 PM
cowboy4evr cowboy4evr is offline
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4227 has and is my favorite powder for magnum loads . I always , always , always use full magnum primers . My powder charge varies with the design of the bullet . Simply put , I fill the case at least to the base of the bullet or slightly compressed . This advice given to me years ago has always done well for me . Regards, Paul

Last edited by cowboy4evr; 09-05-2019 at 09:02 PM.
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Old 09-05-2019, 10:28 PM
oger oger is offline
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I use the same 23 gr with a 240 gr cast bullet in my old super blackhawk long barrel. It is the only power that gives me zero leading.
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Old 09-06-2019, 05:50 AM
dhom dhom is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 440turner View Post
I have used IMR4227 on several loads and have found that I have granuals of unburnt powder laying atop my shooting bench. I load with about six different powders and have noticed this before using this powder, eliminating a one time only occurence. I know that this powder is generally used with the heavier bullets and is a slow powder, I noticed this w/a 240gn bullet. The load that I shot Thursday was a 44 mag. w/a 240 XTP atop 23 grains of IMR 4227 and a CCI300 primer, I shot the load out of my 629-1 and my shooting partners 9 1/2" Redhawk. Does anyone w/ a chrony have any velocity readings using this powder out of the eithier gun?
I use that exact load but, with mag primers. Yes, I still get unburnt powder but not that much. [heavy crimp] I have chrono'd that load from a 7 1/2" barrel and was getting 1230 fps with a low SD. Very accurate for me. Always under 3" at 100 yds.
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Old 09-06-2019, 10:27 AM
Biggfoot44 Biggfoot44 is offline
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My default go to initial handload ( for suitable revolvers ) is standard weight cast swc, with 95% load density 4227 . I always gave 1.25in or smaller groups at 25yds .
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Old 09-06-2019, 11:00 AM
boatbum101 boatbum101 is offline
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4227 will not give top velocity but it will give exceptional accuracy . If you want top velocity W296 / H110 will get you there also with very good accuracy . I use mag primers with both powders . 2400 also works quite well & is more forgiving in reduced loads than the other 2 . The trick is to keep any powder in it's preferred pressure level where it burns most effectively . Unique also works better at close to top loads for the same reason . Another powder I like is RS Enforcer / AA 4100 it too works best with mag primers .
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Old 09-07-2019, 08:00 PM
Qc Pistolero Qc Pistolero is offline
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Let me begin by saying that the twin powders(H110/W296)are my favorite for .44 Mag full loads.May I also add that during the powder drought,I was one happy camper when I could find a pound of 4227.
This being put behind me,I'll let you in my findings.4227 is,in handgun use,a very slow powder.Being tough to ignite,always use Magnum primers.
In fact,4227 is so slow that its optimum use is in large hulls.44 Mag and even .45 Colt are on the small side for max efficiency .And yes,even when using mag primers you might find some unburned kernels in the bore.Add to this that in the .44 Mag platform it'll deliver from 50 to 100fps less than my favorite twin powders.
The other side of the coin is I've never found that the unburnt kernels left in the barrel wouls hamper accuracy.This fact actually got me scratching my head as to why it wouldn't do so...but I've found out that I'm better leave this question unanswered(for my mental sanity!).
4227 burns colder than most other high intensity powder...means longer barrel life.
And as mentionned above,accuracy is definitly one of its strong points.
I wouldn't be mad if 4227 would be from now on the only powder I could use in my .44mag!

Last edited by Qc Pistolero; 09-07-2019 at 08:02 PM.
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357 magnum, 629, 686, primer, redhawk, remington, sig arms, silhouette

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