4756/4759/pb/7625 to be discontinued by the end of 2014
- Thread starter Peter M. Eick
- Start date
MichiganScott
Member
I picked up two cans of PB this past week, so I'm all set for the next 5500 rds. of .38 special. The discontinuance of SR4759 hurts more. I've made it a practice over the years to work up a reduced load with every rifle I've ever bought.
AveragEd
Member
Peter M. Eick;137602034It is times like this I get really upset at all of the experiments I have run and testing I have done on different powders. There are times I think I should just buy only Alliant powders and move on. Bullseye said:
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venomballistics
Member
Fed gold medal case, WW12Rwad, Lyman 525 sabot slug, kicked into orbit with the most excellent 4756.
Many a splendid punch drunk.
many a spectacular cloud of crimson mist.
Many a chuckle, following a "here try this"
Twaz perhaps the most accurate, powerful, and successful slug load to grace the 12 ga shotgun.
Alas, I shall miss thee, and mourn at the scent of the Blue Dot load I shall use in your sted.
Perhaps ye may live on in legend, and song.
Many a splendid punch drunk.
many a spectacular cloud of crimson mist.
Many a chuckle, following a "here try this"
Twaz perhaps the most accurate, powerful, and successful slug load to grace the 12 ga shotgun.
Alas, I shall miss thee, and mourn at the scent of the Blue Dot load I shall use in your sted.
Perhaps ye may live on in legend, and song.
OP
Peter M. Eick
Member
Averaged,
Hodgdon was actually losing money on 4756 according to an interview I saw on the web so I can understand their reluctance to keep making it at the same price point. On the other hand, sound business implies that you should raise prices to make up for the lost profits in a normal market. Some like me would just pay the tariff and enjoy the 4756. Others would find different powders.
The problem is one of limited capacity to produce powders. Do you spend the extra time for a low margins product with limited demand, or drop it and try and force folks into your more modern more profitable products. You can also kill off a great deal of liability by getting rid of older reload data if you drop the product.
So I can see what they did and when Alliant catches up they will get the bulk of my business in the future. While many of Hodgdon's products are well respected, most a ball powders of some fashion and I don't like them for the damage they can do to my revolvers with high pressure loads. I much prefer stick or flake powders which will naturally drive me to other products.
I wonder if the old timers lamented the loss of "Sharpshooter" or "Lightning" back in the day or even more modern I remember when Win230 was taken away and we got 231 out of the deal. Sigh.... Now I can lament the loss or 4756, 4759, 7625 etc.....
Hodgdon was actually losing money on 4756 according to an interview I saw on the web so I can understand their reluctance to keep making it at the same price point. On the other hand, sound business implies that you should raise prices to make up for the lost profits in a normal market. Some like me would just pay the tariff and enjoy the 4756. Others would find different powders.
The problem is one of limited capacity to produce powders. Do you spend the extra time for a low margins product with limited demand, or drop it and try and force folks into your more modern more profitable products. You can also kill off a great deal of liability by getting rid of older reload data if you drop the product.
So I can see what they did and when Alliant catches up they will get the bulk of my business in the future. While many of Hodgdon's products are well respected, most a ball powders of some fashion and I don't like them for the damage they can do to my revolvers with high pressure loads. I much prefer stick or flake powders which will naturally drive me to other products.
I wonder if the old timers lamented the loss of "Sharpshooter" or "Lightning" back in the day or even more modern I remember when Win230 was taken away and we got 231 out of the deal. Sigh.... Now I can lament the loss or 4756, 4759, 7625 etc.....
Nemo288
Member
"I wonder if the old timers lamented the loss of "Sharpshooter" or "Lightning" back in the day or even more modern I remember when Win230 was taken away and we got 231 out of the deal. Sigh.... Now I can lament the loss or 4756, 4759, 7625 etc....."
Yep. Adaptability is the key to survival.
Just as I was getting into the 445SM and ordering one of the first stainless DWs made for it,
I found out that the "best" powder for it was already discontinued but supplies could be had.
This was W680 and I found several pounds at a gun show of the era (1990).
Still have a couple of the old steel cans but they are showing some age.
I "make do" with 4227, 296/110, and 1680 (which is very close).
I don't really miss a slower 296 with it's Win. ball powder quirks.
I am moving away from 296 as well when I can.
The one I will miss the most is probably PB.
Makes really clean 12 ga. 7/8 oz target loads and 44 target loads as well.
I have a 6 pound Beretta ultralight and with those loads pretend I have a Churchill 25
===
Nemo
Yep. Adaptability is the key to survival.
Just as I was getting into the 445SM and ordering one of the first stainless DWs made for it,
I found out that the "best" powder for it was already discontinued but supplies could be had.
This was W680 and I found several pounds at a gun show of the era (1990).
Still have a couple of the old steel cans but they are showing some age.
I "make do" with 4227, 296/110, and 1680 (which is very close).
I don't really miss a slower 296 with it's Win. ball powder quirks.
I am moving away from 296 as well when I can.
The one I will miss the most is probably PB.
Makes really clean 12 ga. 7/8 oz target loads and 44 target loads as well.
I have a 6 pound Beretta ultralight and with those loads pretend I have a Churchill 25
===
Nemo
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I used 7625 for .380 hot loads years ago (to simulate SuperVel). It was fine, but I found AA5 was better…much better.
4756 produced so much pressure in hot .357 magnum loads that primers were backing out in my Model 27. I experimented with lots of powders, and H110 worked better but produced so much flash that I moved on. 2400 was by far the most accurate powder, but AA5 was terrific.
The most accurate powder I have used in the .44 Spl is AA5.
9mm…..VVN330 (5gr under 125gr bullet)…by far the most accurate. VV3N37 is close, but works better in .38 Super…
4756 produced so much pressure in hot .357 magnum loads that primers were backing out in my Model 27. I experimented with lots of powders, and H110 worked better but produced so much flash that I moved on. 2400 was by far the most accurate powder, but AA5 was terrific.
The most accurate powder I have used in the .44 Spl is AA5.
9mm…..VVN330 (5gr under 125gr bullet)…by far the most accurate. VV3N37 is close, but works better in .38 Super…
when I run out of SR7625 and SR4756,I'm gonna convert over to Alliant powders. The Ohio Fin Feather Fur stores seem well stocked with Alliant.
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The discontinuance of these powders was announced at least six-eight months ago, maybe longer. I've used the three powders over the last forty years with good results, but don't see any of them as being irreplaceable. We have a glut of similar powders on today's market like we have never seen before.
The thread is from Dec 2013.
The strange thing....
I used 4759 in reduced rifle loads and though there is no pistol powder on my LGSs shelves, they do still have some cans of 4759. I've been tempted to buy a pound or two.
I used 4759 in reduced rifle loads and though there is no pistol powder on my LGSs shelves, they do still have some cans of 4759. I've been tempted to buy a pound or two.
At the Berea show today,picked up 1 lb. of SR7625 and 2 lbs. of SR4756.
novalty
Member
What was the production date?
"What was the production date ?" Prehistoric,the metal canisters. The SR7625 can was IMR SR7625,one can of the SR4756 was IMR SR4756 and the other was Dupont SR4756. When I started,in the 70s',using 7625 and 4756,labels were under the Dupont brand. Chrographing along the way using Dupont branded,IMR branded,and newer 'plastic' containers,ballistics haven't changed using identical charges. So I wasn't concerned about acquiring the old stuff,still sealed under the caps. I'll test the stuff to verify 'goodness'.
shil
Member
Bad news. I like 7625. Being a shotgunner who is recoil sensitive, I always used it in 20-ga target loads. It really does seem to kick less, for some reason. I also used it for target loads in some of my pistols. They should discontinue that silly 800X that won't meter in any known powder measure and leave 7625 alone.
Recoil sensitive? I admire an honest man!
If any of the powders on the hit list work well for anyone, grab them while you can, I guess. At least it'll buy some time to develop loads with a substitute. I've rediscovered IMR4227. There was no 2400, W296, H110, or A#9 to be had. H110 has re-appeared in these parts but one can't load it down like you can with 4227. Yes, 4227 can leave a little debris, but this has not, in my particular experience with it thus far, proven to be a detriment.I do miss my 2400, though.
Nemo288
Member
Yeah with 4227 (I understand the H version is also going away) it would be hard to overload a magnum 357 or 44.
It also works well in yet larger rounds like the 445, 454, and supermags like the 460 and 500.
I grabbed a lifetime supply on the theory that eventually all the old time formulas will disappear.
It can't be that hard to make as the market seems well supplied with it.
Enjoy!
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Nemo
It also works well in yet larger rounds like the 445, 454, and supermags like the 460 and 500.
I grabbed a lifetime supply on the theory that eventually all the old time formulas will disappear.
It can't be that hard to make as the market seems well supplied with it.
Enjoy!
===
Nemo
Green Frog
Member
Thanks to Dale53 and a mutually beneficial trade, I think I've got enough 4759 for my lifetime (I just use it in 32-40, and only 13.6 gr/round.) I really hate to see it go, though! It shoots dirty, meters poorly, and now will be harder to find, but it really does well in my old high wall Winchester!
Froggie
Froggie
NJM15
Member
4756 0k but not at starting loads ,first time I loaded it in my 9mm's for my Sig 226 had problems cycling, ejecting, and stovepipe that was at starting
kicked it up a few notches it was ok
