I'm getting low on bullseye and haven't seen any on the shelves anywhere. But I found some 700x locally and it seems like a decent "substitute" or BE (light target loads for 38 special).

My question is how does this stuff meter? I have a uniflow (large drum unfortunately), and lee auto disc. I think the uniflow is going to be a no go because of the large drum and it really cuts at low charge weights because of it. I'll pick up the small one one day! So I'm pretty much stuck with the Lee I think. I'll be loading 148 wadcutters of various shapes and probably some 125 jsp. Any info is appreciated!

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Jim

The only thing that meters worse than 700X is 800X, really big flakes. I've never run either through the Uniflow, though once I get my Lyman 55 settled in, it will throw either semi-consistently, (I wouldn't want to try it anywhere near max loading)

Big flakes like Unique which works ok in a uniflow with a small rotor.

I bought a lb of 700x to try. After using Bullseye, Titegroup and WST successfully. I will never use the 700x as it was all over the place in metering by a large margin. For that reason and after some research seeing the same complaint I would not recommend it from a 'metering' standpoint.
I have really been happy with Titegroup recently with plated 148/158 bullets.
Karl

So does the 700x meter better in the Uniflo than in the Lyman 55?

I've never used it. But I was just talking to someone who has.
Doesn't like it for the reasons you mention. Just got some BE, switching to that for next batch.

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Reg. Magnum wants/Rossi wallet

This confirmed what I've been told about this stuff. I hate to pass up powder in this day and age...maybe I'll jus pick up one pound of it for a rainy day. I could always use a dipper and weigh every charge or finally get that small pistol rotor for my uniflow. I wish I could find something else for light loads but no such luck. I did grab some power pistol from them so that was a plus!

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Jim

I use it for .38spl. Im using the Hornady powder measure that came with my Lock N Load classic kit. After bending the ear of a guy at the range, he suggested wiping down the whole powder measure with a dryer sheet, to eliminate as much static as possible, and I found that made a pretty significant difference in the charge weight being thrown. That being said, I can only get it +/- .2 grains with the 700X, which is alright, given my load of 4.2 gr with a 125 gr LRN, is a mid level .38 round, and not loaded at the high end of the chart(5.0 is max, according to my Hornady book).

I just finished some testing on the Lee classic turret with the pro auto disk. I weighed about 25 or 30 throws each with several different disks, and got surprisingly consistent results. A little lower than what was listed on the Lee guide, but the weight stayed very close.

700x
.49 hole in disk 1:
Lee guide - 3.6 gr
Actual - 3.5 gr (one low of 3.3, a couple of 3.4s, 2 high of 3.6)

.53 hole:
Lee - 3.9 gr
Actual - 3.8 gr (3 lows of 3.7, several 3.9's)

I tested with Unique also, with similar results - .2 to .3 gr spread. I don't plan on loading at maximums, so I am more than happy with these numbers for "poor metering" powders.

Also, I did the test by throwing a charge, then indexing the turret 4 times, just like I would if sizing and seating bullets. This seemed to keep the powder agitated. I still need to test with some other disks for 700x, and also with Bullseye and HP-38 (these 2 should work great).

My recommendation is to try it in the Uniflow. I got a pound of 800X and it shoots great in 40 and 9 but meters terribly. I got the best results with an ancient Lachmiller powder measure. The cavity in the drum is about 2/3" in diameter (really wide). The advantage of this wide cavity is that there is no chance of the powder to bridge. The variations in drops is small enough that it doesn't make much of a difference for handgun target practice (10 yards).

I use 700X in my Uniflow, but it has the smaller pistol drum. It yields quite a bit less variation on pistol loads in general. In my Redding for rifles, I get a lot of variation trying to do small loads. Is there a chance you could spring for a pistol drum for your Uniflow? I use it for rifle loads also up to about 35 grains, more accurate than the Redding.

Thanks for the info. I'll pick up a pound of it and I'll finally order that small rotor for my rcbs. If I don't like it, oh well. Maybe by the time I'm done with it I'll find something else. At this time I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth!

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Jim

I have had plenty of time to load rounds with 700 and 800x over the years.
I do not mind hand weighing each load out of a small glass bowl and using a small aluminum measuring spoon that I barrowed from the wife many years ago, to drop into a funnel that will fill my cases, one at a time.

Mass loading is nice but every now and then it is nice to do it the old fashioned way. I load any powder and don't complain, since it is a lot better than messing around with the old Black powder but many of you probably never had to go that route.

I still have some original BP rifles and Navy pistols that my father used when I was knee high to a grass hopper.
700x is a sweet heart to load...................

Grab some and never look back.

700X was the first powder that I used in reloading. For two reasons, it came in half pound cans, and it was one of the powders listed for my Lee scoop. I was using a Lee Loader, the hammer tool type. I didn't have any problem using the scoop, other than static cling, which applies to all powders that I have used. A metal measure would be an improvement, and I would make one out of an old 38 case, trimmed as necessary, if I were still doing things that way.

Best,
Rick

Thanks again guys. I picked up one lb of it and will crack it open when I finish off the last of my bullseye. Like NevadaEd mentioned, if I have to hand weigh them all, so be it. When I first started loading I did it this way anyway out of paranoia so I actually have a rhythm I can get in. I also don't shoot in crazy quantities so if I sit down and load 50-100 at a time this way I'm good to go.

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Jim

riverrat38 has a great suggestion.I use cut down 45 cases with a wire handle epoxied to them to load black powder.Its almost as fast as using a powder measure.

I already grabbed a brazing rod from work this morning anticipating making one of these home made dippers! Also finally ordered the small rotor for my uniflow. It's something I put off too long anyway. That'll come in handy for other powders too.

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Jim

As far as metering, I wouldn't know, I use Lee dippers.

But recently I tried 700X in a .38 Special, with a Hornady 148 gr. HBWC. I tested it against BE and Red Dot. I loaded 50 rounds each, with the only variable being the powder, and shot them through my Colt Officers Model Match. The 700X gave me better groups than either of the others, although it was very close between the three of them.

I bought the 700X back when there were no other fast burning pistol powders available, but I'll buy it whenever I see it now.

Late to the party, but would like to report that we used a couple of pounds of 700X back in the day we were loading 38 Spl HBWCs for PPC. Never had any problem with metering in our Dillon 650.

Froggie

Just one little add on...........

I have had only one powder give me a little problem when going through my powder throwing unit. Of course my unit is a little older than most and maybe all the wear and tear has made it easy for the powders to slide through it?

Reminds me of a Timex.........takes a beating but keeps on ticking..... used on shotgun, rifle and pistol loads over the years.
It is a little old red and black, Pacific.

Sounds like a winner Robert. And better late than never froggie! Thanks for your input.

Ed, this is not the first time I heard someone mention an old pacific powder measure metering almost all powder with great results....might have to keep my eyes peeled for one. Can never have enough stuff.

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Jim

I like 700X use it for 9mm and 45 ACP . It meters fine through my old Lyman 55 be sure to keep hopper full . I have great results in 45 ACP using 4.9 gr 700X pushing a 185 gr Raner FP's, Win large pistol primers.
I also like 4.6 grs 700X with 230 gr Zero FMJ and Win WLP primers this a nice mild load that shoots well in all my Colt 1911's

It has the best chance in the 55, that said, I have never used it because it had the same rep. 40 years ago as it does today, as far as poor metering.

It does work well in .45acp and .45 Colt according to some of the range rats I shoot with.

Big, soft flakes can be a problem. I have noticed poor metering in my old Lyman measure, but OK results with my Dillon 550. I believe this is due to the baffle in the Dillon, but I'm not sure.

Other than that, not a bad powder, and you can load shotshells with it, too, if it doesn't work out for your pistols.

Good luck!

Thanks again fellas. And I have a baffle too so hopefully that helps if I decide to try the powder measure instead of the dipper.

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Jim

I have used 700X in my Lyman 55, but that was many years ago. I don't remember having any problems, and I still have a pound or so of 700X somewhere. I used it mainly for shotshells back in my skeet shooting days.

I spent the morning testing 700X in my 65 year old Ideal 55 and my 40 year old Uniflow. Both are baffled.

I started by lightly dressing the chambers/drums with powdered graphite.

The old orange 55 metered the best when set deep and narrow rather than wide and shallow. The variance was no greater than plus/minus .1 grain.

I find Unique to be fussier than the 700X.

Not just 700X, but I have found out that for any powder deep is better than shallow for the Lyman 55. I always keep the thin top part even over the second (middle) part and adjust only the middle part.