I'm going to start loading .50AE for a Desert Eagle. I will be using Speer 300gr Gold Dots and I'm having trouble deciding on the powder. I was set to use W296 but Lyman says they had the best results with IMR4227.

Anyone loading .50AE? What do you like?

Thank you in advance.

Chubbs

I don't load for 50AE, but I do use both W296/H110(same powder) and IMR4227 in my X-Frame .460 mag and also in .357 mag and .44 mag. IMR4227 burn rate is just a hair slower than W296/H110. Both powders give great accuracy and top velocities with W296/H110 giving the highest velocities in all calibers. Accuracy is almost moot in all calibers as both powders give great accuracy once you find the load your gun likes. My long piped revolvers and carbines seem to prefer IMR4227 and it tends to be a tad less temperature sensitive. IMR4227 also has more leeway when it comes to powder charges and can be used for reduced recoil loads whereas W296/H110 has very narrow parameters and must be used full throttle all the time. In many cases IMR4227 does not require a Magnum Primer whereas W296/H110 does. W296/H110 generally is easier to find and most of the time is a little less expensive than IMR4227. I thinkin' either would do you just fine as long as you stay within published loads.