IMR 4227

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BillBro

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Can anyone give me a definitive answer? I just bought 4lds of this powder for my 44mags and possibly the 2 357's. The label is the medium blue with white lettering and on the back it says made in Canada.

Reading around on the web I read that the "new" IMR4227 is the same as H4227 but will say made in Australia. Obviously I would never substitute one lables powder for another even if they do have the same numerical designator after it (Hogdon/IMR) but later read that there is now only ONE 4227 powder!! Very confusing.

Does anyone know if these two powders are indeed different or are there now not two seperate powders but one? I believe the threads I was reading about this were from back in 2015.

Should I just return the powder or is it any good for the 44 mags and the 357's? I did see that there is no 357 data listed for a 125gr bullet on the Hogdon reloading center. Strike 1.
 
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IMR4227 was always a perfectly good powder for the .44, with proper bullets. (I don’t know about the freakishly lightweight ones.) In any case, you have what you have, so it really doesn’t matter how it compares to any other powder. Use the starting load data for IMR4227 and work up your loads according to your gun and equipment. With the .44 and 240-250 grain bullets you should end up in the 1200-1250 FPS range maximum, if memory serves. It might not be quite as fast as the ball powders, or even #2400, but 4227 was always noted for being easy on the guns and exceptionally accurate. No, I wouldn’t return it. :)

As for data, I always try to use data published approximately when the powder was produced. If the data was safe to publish then, it should still be safe with powder of that age - assuming the powder has not suffered deterioration from improper storage.

All this is normal for me, but of course... JMHO - not an authoritative recommendation. I think you’ll like 4227 in your .44 - particularly if it has a long barrel.
 
Don't know about the new 4227, but the IMR4227 that I have worked with over the past 40+ years is definitely made to be used with max or near max loads with heavier bullets. It has proven to be one of the most accurate powders in my 29 and 586, both with max magnum loads. If you go too "light" with it, you will get incomplete burn and have powder grains left in the barrel. Definitely use magnum primers with it.
 
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Yeah, I've used both 4227 powders in my Ruger .44 magnum, which I use in IHMSA silhouette matches. You can get some really nice groups with either version, but if highest possible velocities is your aim, then go with Winchester 296 or H-110.
 
IMR4227 is an excellent magnum powder.
Less flash and boom than many others, and slightly lower velocities.
But great for reduced recoil and excellent accuracy. The recoil impulse from this powder is less slap and flip and more of a hard push. That's one of the reasons for its great accuracy. Less movement of the revolver before the bullet exits the barrel. Or so some have theorized.
Load it at 90% of max published data and you'll love it.
 
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The current 4227 is Magnum handgun powder suitable for 44 and 357. I would just call Hodgdon if you need clarity on the burn rate of your powder vs H4227. They should be able to know which generation it is by the lot number on the container, or so I would think.
 
IMR 4227 is the go to powder for 300 Blackout Sub-sonic!

I like it for 180 gr. 357's at or near max (Great Lever Action deer load in the 100-150 yard range.

Harry Pope set 100 and 200 yard record groups of 200 shots. Using 32-40. About 3 inches at 200 yards. Harry always used DuPont 4227. (usually took 3 days to shoot a group!)

Ivan
 
Use it. Good stuff in .44 mag.....IMHO, it's just okay in .357. It's my go to powder for 460. Years ago I was told by Hodgdon that the recipes for IMR4227 and H4227 were not interchangeable. Last response was that if there was an issue with interchanging the recipes between the two, they would have given a warning when the changed over the powders. Because of it's slow burn and bulk, you would have a really hard time getting too much of it under a bullet to cause any harm in .44 mag. Most of my loadings for it are either at compressed or just under.
 
Along with the 4lbs of IMR4227 I also bought 5lbs of H110 for my top velocity 44mag loads. Reloading stuff is getting just as scarce as everything else so I just thought to get what I could while I could. I also have A5 7,9, CFEPistol, VVN340, HS-6, 800X, Titegroup and I even have recently bought some NobelSports Vectan 6.5 and 7.5 to try only because it was so cheap, and it's a bigger jug. I also have some Ramshot Silhouette for my pistol powders and those dont include all of my rifle powders, of which I have many more of and in higher volumes.

Barrel lengths are 4" and 20" for the 44's and 5" and 4" for the 357's. I've used H110 before and had about .5lb left when I ordered this new lot. Been using mostly the A9and 7 for the 44 and 357 respectively but while I'm not chasing top velocities I am looking for a little more velocity. Accuracy and respectable speeds are my game. I'd rather hit what I'm aiming at than have it get there milliseconds earlier. If both can be had with a single powder then so much the better.

I've just not ever had such a confusing experience as Ive found with this H vsI 4227 thing. I've read about the same issue with the 4198 powders but fortunately I was only interested in the H version of it and all recipes are spelled out clearly. I use it for the 6.8SPC.

The more I read about the 4227 the more I see that I'm not alone and that this has been going on for quite the while.
 
I used IMR 4227 in my S&W 686 6" revolver with the 125 gr JHP XTP.

As mentioned, it is on the slow side on the burn charts and bulky.
A compressed charge in a 357 case with the 125 gr XTP gave me 1230 fps.

W231 put out 1245 fps
SR4756 gave me 1448 fps
2400 powder gave me 1502 fps

I like it with a 158 gr Lwc at 976 fps for target work and plinking.

Good shooting.
 
4227 with a 125 jhp is the most accurate load in my 19-3 so for backed off a little at 50 yards. You will probably find some <thingies>in the barrel that looks like unburnt powder but no problem. I use a mag primer.
 
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I believe that 4227 is held up as the clear winner for accuracy in the Silhouette game. The folks who won using the 357 Maximum were almost unanimous in their use of 4227.

I have found it accurate in almost everything I put it in.

Prescut
 
Well I'll definitely keep it then. Just bought a Henry 44mag lever gun too so it'll get used.

Loaded some 125gr Gold Dots and shot them this weekend but not with the 4227 but A#7. Velocity was ok but not what I was expecting, 1330fps. According to AccurateI should have seen 1400+ with my 5" barrel as opposed to their 6".
 
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