Best use for IMR 4227?

[David Sinko]

What good is this stuff? I bought a pound because the seller was literally throwing it at me to get rid of it. I know it's used as a magnum revolver powder, but is it any better than either 296 or 2400 which I already use? It looks like its other redeeming quality is the .22 Hornet, which I do load on occasion. Is there anything else?

Dave Sinko

 

[OFT II]

I've used it in 30 Carbine years ago. I recently loaded some 44 Specials with it and it did okay but it won't replace Unique.

 

[Gamer]

I was researching loads for 7.62 x 39 and it was listed in the Lyman manual pg 242 for use wth a Hornady 123 gr sp #3140. Start load 20 grains. I have also seen it listed in the Lee, Hornady and Lyman manuals for use with various weight 357 loads.

 

[TSQUARED]

It's also used for 32-40 and 38-55 loads with lead bullets at ca. 1200 fps. and 410 shotshell loads.

 

[scattershot]

I have a buddy that swears by it for .44 mag loads.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I use it for my 25-20 Marlin. Works fine.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

357 Maximum and 4227 are made for one another. You can burn it up in the 357 Magnum, but I only use it in my Max's. Works great!.

In the magnum it is a bit slower than 2400 and needs a good crimp to get it going. Think max loads only!

 

[USSR]

I use it for .30 Carbine, .357 Magnum, and .45 Colt. There will be a few unburned kernals in the handgun loads, but accuracy is so good that I can easily overlook it.

Don

 

[GypsmJim]

I switched to 4227 in all my .38, .357 and .45 Colt loads. Big improvement in accuracy. Always had trouble finding a good load for a snub .38 and this solved the problem.

 

[2152hq]

Works good in the .401 Winchester S/L.

 

[Snapping Twig]

It excells for trapdoor loads in 45-70.

 

[alwslate]

I found it to be very usefull in teaching me to appreciate 2400 and 296
when I tried it in the .357 mag and .44 mag.

 

[Hammerdown77]

If you load 44 magnum, try 22 grains under a 240-250 grain lead bullet. This is a slightly compressed load (it's ok, Hodgdon lists it as a compressed load in their load data). This load under 240 gr. lead truncated cone bullet from Penn Bullets is superbly accurate in my 44s. I got the load from Penn's website.

Doesn't seem to be as "sharp" in recoil as most other full 44 mag loadings. Quality of the slower burning powder, I guess.

 

[armadillo]

I use it in my 22 Jet - 13.5 gr. with the Hornady 40 gr Jet bullet. I prefer it to H110/296 because it doesn't have as much muzzle flash.

 

[buck460XVR]

It is my preferred powder in .460S&W and hunting rounds for .44mag and .357mag, both in revolvers and carbines. While it does not give me quite the velocities that H110/W296 gives, it is just as accurate and is much less temperature sensitive. Best accuracy comes from loads that are nearly to slightly compressed.

 

[625smith]

40grs in a 500 S&W with a 350gr bullet. Also good results in 44 mag and 357 mag.

 

[silentflyer]

Great in a .22 Hornet Contender barrel, very accurate..

 

[safarihunter]

It's my all time favorite in 44 mag

 

[David Sinko]

I guess I'll try it in the .22 Hornet and maybe 7.62x39. I load very little Hornet (it's my brother's Contender barrel) and it seems I hit the magic load on my very first try with 296. I find that the 7.62x39 is a tough one to load with softpoints. Very few handloaded softpoints produce acceptable accuracy in my AKM, so I'm willing to try anything different.

Does it need a magnum primer in the revolver loads? I have never used a single magnum pistol primer and have no intentions of starting now.

Dave Sinko

 

[aphelion]

I've been using 23 grs with the 429421 in 44 mag for many years now. It gives 1250 in a 6 1/2" M29, 1300 in my Redhawk. It is accurate in every 44 I've tired it in, including a Marlin carbine. Primers are round, cases eject easily. Like Hammerdown said, recoil seems to be less sharp. As I've said here many times, I believe 4227 is easier on the revolvers than 296/H110. I saw enough back in the silhouette days in magnum revolvers to know it is true. It gives a little up to 296/H110 in ultimate velocity, but not enough to matter. A magnum primer isn't necessary.