Hodgdon 700-X

[Vigo]

I am working through several pounds of 700x and of Trail Boss. The 700x is consistent, clean, and accurate in .38 spl. It does not meter well for me, at least compared to the Trail Boss. I suggest weighing each charge of 700x if using in a similar handgun charge.

700x was one of few powders available when powder was short generally. It works well for .38 spl, but keep an eye on each charge.

 

[29aholic]

Years ago a friend of mine turned me on to my pet 44 magnum load. 7gr. 700X and a 240gr cast bullet. Out of a 6-6.5" barrel 29 I get about 985fps. Easy load to remember and it gets you 1000 rounds per pound. More of a manly 44spl load, but I have shot 1000's of rounds of that load and killed plenty of deer with it.


I use the same load in 45 Colt, I drop back to 6gr in 44spl, and 5gr in 357. The 44sp and 357 load may be a dab over listed but still safe.

 

[Pondoro]

I like it but I load slow 38's for indoor fifty-foot shooting. I accept +/- 0.1 grain. Does not seem to matter and pressures are low. In the 357 there are powders that give more velocity with lower pressures - I never found a listed 357 load that I couldn't do with lower pressure by using some other powder. My 45 ACP also loves 700x.

 

[len917]

I've used 700-X. Great for .38 spec. 158gr LSWC. MUST LOAD EACH LOAD USING A SCALE. Try it-you will be happy with it

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Probably one of the most versatile, available & economical powders out there. I've loaded 380ACP, 9mm Parabellum, 9mm Makarov, 38 S&W Special, 357 Magnum, 40 S&W, 45ACP, 45 Colt & 44 Magnum with it, all with success.

I weigh each powder charge individually, so metering is not a problem for me. An accurate scale is a must as some loads are pretty small, as in under 3 GR. I can see where to spectre of a double charge could cause concern for some using an automated drop.

This is also not to say that it is the "best" powder for all these calibers: just that there are published loads for these calibers that work. Magnum loads at true magnum velocities are often beyond the reach of 700-X.

Because many loads with similar velocities typically use between 1/4 & 1/3 less powder once you find a "sweet spot" for a caliber it is hard to ignore the potential $avings, especially for "target velocity loads", or even higher, i.e., 4.2 GR 700-X vs. 5.4 GR Auto-Comp for an approximately 1,100 fps load with a 115 GR GDHP 9mm Parabellum.

Cheers!

 

[schuebob]

700-x in 38 Spec.

Totally ok; 148gr. HBWC in my Model 52. Use data published by manufacturer. Only measure I use is RCBS l'il Dandy powder measure. Tap the hopper each time. Run a ground wire to a water pipe. Too messy in Dillon 650 ( bloopers ). It's really economical, too.

 

[DWalt]

Last weekend, I loaded and fired about 100 rounds of .38 Super using 100 grain West Coast frangible copper bullets and 5.5 grains of 700-X. It produced perfect functioning and very good grouping in my Colt 1911 using the lightest recoil spring I had. Tried some of the same in my EAA Witness, but I didn't have a light enough recoil spring to get reliable ejection. I'm going up to 6.5 grains of 700-X for use in the Witness.