800 X for mid-range .357 or .38 Spl +P loads?
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J. R. WEEMS
Member
800X
First used for as instructed by Maj. G. Nonte, for my .41 Magnum, 800x is my go to powder for years for ALL hunting loads. My 10 mm load is super as well. Been that way for 40 years now.
While some say it doesn't measure well, my RCBS Chargemaster, when they came along handles it with NO problem. I fear some folks just need to slow down at times. JMHO
First used for as instructed by Maj. G. Nonte, for my .41 Magnum, 800x is my go to powder for years for ALL hunting loads. My 10 mm load is super as well. Been that way for 40 years now.
While some say it doesn't measure well, my RCBS Chargemaster, when they came along handles it with NO problem. I fear some folks just need to slow down at times. JMHO 800X is the hardest powder to get to throw consistent charges. Not saying it is not a good powder but I get much more consistent charges with Unique and Herco. I liked it in a couple of loads but not 38 or 357
It was a good powder, years ago when steel shot data came out for duck hunters
and they did not know much about pressures.
Back then I also used in 38 and 357 Magnum loads for heavy loads
with both lead and JHP style bullets.
As mentioned, the large flakes did make powder flow a hair pulling thing
but I was in no hurry with my single stage loader, and young, to boot.
Just that Bullseye and Unique could match its performance and usually
attain better groups and higher fps, with my tests.
It will work, just that you need to pay attention to the amount of powder in your full loads
and hopefully weigh each one.
I had one load in my J frame with a 158 lead bullet that was almost "K frame"
power, due to my just using a powder dump and not putting the powder
in my 505 scale pan, for 100% knowledge of the powders weight.
Just because it is a "SLOW" powder , does not mean you can get lazy !!
Stay safe.
and they did not know much about pressures.
Back then I also used in 38 and 357 Magnum loads for heavy loads
with both lead and JHP style bullets.
As mentioned, the large flakes did make powder flow a hair pulling thing
but I was in no hurry with my single stage loader, and young, to boot.
Just that Bullseye and Unique could match its performance and usually
attain better groups and higher fps, with my tests.
It will work, just that you need to pay attention to the amount of powder in your full loads
and hopefully weigh each one.
I had one load in my J frame with a 158 lead bullet that was almost "K frame"
power, due to my just using a powder dump and not putting the powder
in my 505 scale pan, for 100% knowledge of the powders weight.
Just because it is a "SLOW" powder , does not mean you can get lazy !!
Stay safe.
RDub
Member
The burning rate of 800-x is fantastic for 38 Special +P loads.. For 357 it's a little fast for full power. It actually does very well with 110gr JHP's in 357 if you're interested in that bullet weight. Other than that, 800-X is a mid-range powder. It does come with one caveat.. It will not meter in a powder measure. You must dispense a charge and check/adjust each charge as necessary on a scale. I believe that is the reason IMR doesn't list 800-X any more in their 38 Special and 357 Mag data. So it's not suited for high volume loading. But for a box or two at a time it's well worth the trouble I think.
boatbum101
Member
It'll work very well in that role . Be advised it is a weigh every charge powder as it does not meter worth a damn . It'll give you all the power you want & quite good accuracy too . Stay away from the max charges for the above reasons . I've used it in 357 mag cast loads & 38/44 cast loads .
STORMINORMAN
Member
Oh, yeah, great for 40S&W as well...*
Pretty much follows that if it's a good powder for 10mm it should be a good powder for 40 S&W as well: it is!
But hand weighing is really the best (and the safest) way to go... But I do that anyway, so no problemo!
P.S. When going for production I do use the Hornady Lock-n'-Load Auto Charge, seems to work OK, once you really get a-goin'!
Cheers!
Pretty much follows that if it's a good powder for 10mm it should be a good powder for 40 S&W as well: it is!
But hand weighing is really the best (and the safest) way to go... But I do that anyway, so no problemo!
P.S. When going for production I do use the Hornady Lock-n'-Load Auto Charge, seems to work OK, once you really get a-goin'!
Cheers!
Qc Pistolero
Member
Certainly one of the worst metering powder but its burning rate makes it great for soft 44 mag loads(80% from full).
What I do is measure aprox 10 powder measure drop and adjust on the safe side accordingly.
If it goes from 9.7 to 10.2 for say a 10gr target charge,I'll adjust at 9.8gr.
That way I know I won't be battering my gun.And for offhand shooting,even with the large discrepancy,it stays within my standard of 4'' at 20 yds.
What I do is measure aprox 10 powder measure drop and adjust on the safe side accordingly.
If it goes from 9.7 to 10.2 for say a 10gr target charge,I'll adjust at 9.8gr.
That way I know I won't be battering my gun.And for offhand shooting,even with the large discrepancy,it stays within my standard of 4'' at 20 yds.
bigggbbruce
Member
I use it in 10mm , 45 ACP and 44 Mag..
Yes, metering is a problem. I don't shoot volume so I check each charge. Trickle, trickle..
Yes, metering is a problem. I don't shoot volume so I check each charge. Trickle, trickle..
Road_Clam
Member
I'm going to throw out a big caution for 800X , it's a very inconsistent metering powder that yields some excessive extreme spreads in your velocities. I spent some time experimenting 800X in 10mm and a chronograph and in the end, a powder that ended up garden fertilizer in my yard. Switched to AA9 and a HUGE difference in metering precision and very low ES's in my 10mm.
I don’t use it in either .38 or .357, but do like it in .45 Colt. It’s such a nuisance that I haven’t used it in several years, but the Lee flat-nose ~250 grain comboy bullet and 800X was always my most accurate combination in my 625 Mountain Gun. As has been said, it’s a weigh-every-charge proposition, as far as I’m concerned. 
fredj338
Member
An older flake pwder that meters like corn flakes. It is the darling of some 10mm guys but I find the poor metering just a pita. Too many other good powder choices to load with 800x imo. Even 50rds weighing by hand is daunting.
Last edited:
Hornady lists 800X for its 125 gr XTP.
This data is pulled from load data.com as republished Hornady data. As always however, you need to obtain your own data source and verify the data rather than trusting my typing and copy/paste skills.
Notes: This data was shot by Brian Pearce, Wolfe Publishing Company. Gun: Colt Trooper 38 Special; barrel length: 4-inches; case: Starline; primer: Winchester Small Pistol; bullet diameter: .357"; maximum COAL: 1.550"; maximum case length: 1.155"; trim to length: 1.145".
125 gr Hornady HP-XTP or FP-XTP, IMR 800-X
5.6 gr, 856 fps
6.0 gr, 898 fps
6.4 gr, 951 fps
6.8 gr, 1004 fps
7.1 gr, 1052 fps
7.5 gr, 1101 fps
I use the 7.5 grain, 125 gr XTP load in my 3" Model 13, and 4" Model 19 as an "indoor" home defense load.
It expands reliably to about .480" but over penetrates to about 20"-22", so it's not ideal for self defense from a potential over penetration perspective. Still the residual velocity of an over penetrating hit isn't going to take it through an interior or exterior wall.
At standard pressure .38 Special or .38+P velocities under about 1050 fps the 125 gr XTP won't expand, so you really need a stout .38+P or .357 Magnum velocities to get good terminal performance, and a maximum load of 800X will do pretty well.
Hornady also has 800X data for its 140 and 158 gr XTP bullets, but .38+P loads don't generate enough velocity for reliable expansion (about 1000-1050 fps).
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That said, my preferred Hornady 125 gr XTP load is either 8.5 gr or 9.0 gr of Unique (depending on the revolver - I back off to 8.5 grains if the cases start sticking at 9 grains, as I like quick, clean ejection with short ejector rod 2 1/2" revolvers). Those loads give me about 1250 fps and 1300 fps in my 2 1/2" Model 66 and Model 686. At those velocities the 125 gr XTP will expand to about .530" and give me about 18" of penetration.
The 9 grain charge also makes it a light recoiling load compared to a max charge of colloidal ball powder like Win 296 or H110 and you lose little or nothing in terms of velocity a 2 1/2" barrel.
This data is pulled from load data.com as republished Hornady data. As always however, you need to obtain your own data source and verify the data rather than trusting my typing and copy/paste skills.
Notes: This data was shot by Brian Pearce, Wolfe Publishing Company. Gun: Colt Trooper 38 Special; barrel length: 4-inches; case: Starline; primer: Winchester Small Pistol; bullet diameter: .357"; maximum COAL: 1.550"; maximum case length: 1.155"; trim to length: 1.145".
125 gr Hornady HP-XTP or FP-XTP, IMR 800-X
5.6 gr, 856 fps
6.0 gr, 898 fps
6.4 gr, 951 fps
6.8 gr, 1004 fps
7.1 gr, 1052 fps
7.5 gr, 1101 fps
I use the 7.5 grain, 125 gr XTP load in my 3" Model 13, and 4" Model 19 as an "indoor" home defense load.
It expands reliably to about .480" but over penetrates to about 20"-22", so it's not ideal for self defense from a potential over penetration perspective. Still the residual velocity of an over penetrating hit isn't going to take it through an interior or exterior wall.
At standard pressure .38 Special or .38+P velocities under about 1050 fps the 125 gr XTP won't expand, so you really need a stout .38+P or .357 Magnum velocities to get good terminal performance, and a maximum load of 800X will do pretty well.
Hornady also has 800X data for its 140 and 158 gr XTP bullets, but .38+P loads don't generate enough velocity for reliable expansion (about 1000-1050 fps).
-----
That said, my preferred Hornady 125 gr XTP load is either 8.5 gr or 9.0 gr of Unique (depending on the revolver - I back off to 8.5 grains if the cases start sticking at 9 grains, as I like quick, clean ejection with short ejector rod 2 1/2" revolvers). Those loads give me about 1250 fps and 1300 fps in my 2 1/2" Model 66 and Model 686. At those velocities the 125 gr XTP will expand to about .530" and give me about 18" of penetration.
The 9 grain charge also makes it a light recoiling load compared to a max charge of colloidal ball powder like Win 296 or H110 and you lose little or nothing in terms of velocity a 2 1/2" barrel.
800X isn't ideal from a measuring perspective, but it does give maximum velocity for a 125 gr .38+P load compared to a large number of other powders I've tried.
I'll hand weigh a 7.5 grain load since it's a max load, but I'll just measure the charge for a 7.3 grain practice load, since a heavy dropped charge still won't exceed 7.5 grains.
However, the measure stays set at 7.3 and I just trickle up to 7.5 grains when loading self defense loads. It's quicker to always trickle up, and I can still load 110-120 rounds per hour on my Dillon 550B when hand weighing charges.
I do the same thing with Unique for my 125 gr .357 magnum practice and self defense loads.
Two boxes of 50 each in under an hour's time keeps me in self defense ammo for a month or two, expending the current carry ammo on each range trip.
Rogeronimo
Member
800X is my glory hole for 124gn 9mm ... pretty much says it all.
2ndtimer
Member
WORST METERING PISTOL POWDER EVER. The only powder I ever threw away because it was so frustrating to load with. I weigh every charge and trickle IMR-4064 for rifle rounds, but don't load hundreds of rounds at a session for rifle. (Don't use 4064 for .223 Rem.) Power Pistol seems close in burning rate and flows just fine in an RCBS Uniflow measure or Dillon RL-550B, so that's what I use for 800-X applications.
