I don't like flakes

[duman444]

Powder that is. However in the shortage times you buy what you find.

3 lbs 700X will load 4,800 115 9 MM, or 4,200 ACP, both mouths that I need to keep fed. $26 per lb. so I think I did OK on price.

Have beaucoup primers and can still get bullets, so powder is the determining factor on my loading. Now good for a while, can save my Power Pistol for the 10MM and magnums.

 

[glenwolde]

Great powder but be certain it's throwing consistent charges if you use a powder measure.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Great powder but be certain it's throwing consistent charges if you use a powder measure.

But when you handweigh (I typically use LEE Dippers & then trickle onto my Ohaus) each load it is a very versatile & thrifty powder. Greatly reduces the possibility of a "no powder" or a "double load"!

It was one of the 1st powders I used when I 1st started reloading and I bought a bunch of it: it may not drop well (consistently?) but it sure WORKS!

Cheers!

 

[Sevens]

Some flake powder meter very well. Titegroup is a great example.

Now I'm not specifically recommending Titegroup (I have a love/hate relationship with it) but as a true flake powder, it doesn't cause me grief with the Lyman 55.

Hodgdon Longshot is another flake powder that meters beautifully for me.

 

[78bagger]

Except Titegroup is spherical

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

If you have a Lyman 55 measurer, the "Hammer" is used before you remove from the case mouth! Most other power drops, I whack with a screwdriver handle. This gets all the flakes out of the tube and a more consistent throw each time.

If you use the Hammer (that little door knocker thingy) when the handle is up, it settles the powder in the drum. Together they make flake powder charges as consistent as ball powder.

Ivan

 

[MyDads38]

Powder that is. However in the shortage times you buy what you find.

3 lbs 700X will load 4,800 115 9 MM, or 4,200 ACP, both mouths that I need to keep fed. $26 per lb. so I think I did OK on price.

Have beaucoup primers and can still get bullets, so powder is the determining factor on my loading. Now good for a while, can save my Power Pistol for the 10MM and magnums.

$26 pound? I feel pretty good that I got 16 lbs. of the stuff during the last shortage at $15.99 Lb. Actually, I don't think it is a full pound bottle, seems like it's either 12 or 14 ounces.
Haven't opened the first container yet, but knew when I bought it: 1) It would load most all my handgun ammo and 2) I'd probably have to hand weigh each charge. Other than that, I was happy to buy it when it was available.

 

[alwslate]

Try shaking the container before you pour powder into your measure. Helps prevent clumping and maintain consistent density.

 

[teletech]

I took advantage of the shortage to sell about 20Lbs I was never going to use. I was seriously tempted to keep it "just in case" but luckily a friend had 4Lb of Green Dot and another couple Lb of Unique he was happy to sell me so I managed to avoid having to resort to the 700X. I'm told the accuracy and cleanliness is excellent if you can get over the metering issues.

 

[stansdds]

Small flakes like Bullseye usually meter well, large flakes usually require a larger charge weight for consistent metering.

 

[duman444]

Uniflow

I use a Uniflow with an adjustable rotor and give it a firm clunk on the downstroke to fill case. Then visually inspect every one of the 100 cases I have just filled.
Has worked well with flaked powders in the past. Have used the 700X before, but if I had my druthers, would use ball powder only.

 

[gwpercle]

Flake handgun powder was all I loaded untill the 2012-2013 powder shortage ...no Bullseye , no Unique ...700X or Red Dot ...
Dealer got in a shipment of Accurate Arms ( Western powders) powders ..
I had never heard of the stuff but he had shelves full ...Got #5 to stand in for Unique ... OH My these powders measure so nicely , #5 did well so went back for #2 ...not quite ball powder but not flakes ...nice stuff.
Bottom line ...nothing beats my two favorite cast bullet powders Bullseye and Unique ... you only need to learn how to measure them .
The powder measure for the flakey powders ... Lyman #55 , works like a charm !
Gary

 

[glenwolde]

I used 700-X the first time about 40 years ago for .38 wadcutter loads and but decided to stick with W231/Bullseye due to the metering.

Fast forward to the Sandy Hook Shortage and I picked up two pounds because it was there and cheap. The only bullets I could find were some 125gr cast & coated LRN from SNS. Turns out that bullet and 700-X shot like wadcutters out of my 66. I shot a lot of those last shortage.

I still have some 700-X, and I just ran into the remnants of my 125gr LRN stash. Looks like about 300 bullets.

My solution to get 700-X to meter is a little different. The idea is not original to me, others have done somewhat the same. Some with hilarious results. The difference is what you use as a "source"
.
I have an older Lee Auto-Disk with the rectangular hopper. I found some elastic velcro straps in the sewing department at Walmart and the Pet Dept. had a $8 aquarium air pump. I strapped the pump to the hopper and that thing jiggles the powder more than enough to keep the charge weight +- .01.

You could use anything that vibrates. A cellphone vibrator would probably be the most compact. I'll leave other potential sources to your imagination.

Oh, and if you think 700-X is bad, try 800-X. Though I think 800-X has been discontinued. Too bad. 800-X is great in the .41 Magnum.

 

[teletech]

Oh, and if you think 700-X is bad, try 800-X. Though I think 800-X has been discontinued. Too bad. 800-X is great in the .41 Magnum.

This reminds me I have a 5Lb can of 800 on the back shelf, time to break it out and part ways while there is a market!

 

[glenwolde]

This reminds me I have a 5Lb can of 800 on the back shelf, time to break it out and part ways while there is a market!

Some love it. It's good for trap loads, the 10mm auto, and magnum revolver cartridges. Now that it's discontinued charge extra! It works for me but I have to dip & trickle. I don't shoot much in the way of full house loads any more so that's ok.

 

[dave1918a2]

When I was packing up to move I had an old 700X 12 LB can. Thought it was empty. Guess what. 4 LBs in it. Put it in a smaller can and relabeled it. Guess I'll have to get another 38.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Way back, I use that powder for my trap loads and for my 38 special loads.

With all flake powders that I use for my pistol and revolver loads with a powder drop.....

I tap the unit at the top & bottom, so that the powder gets dropped and settled for each loading......
and the full cases are also double checked in the loading block before the bullet seating.

Have fun.