IMR 4227 for .38 special

[Lee Barner]

just tried this load I got from an old Speer manual. DIRTY, lots of unburned powder in the barrel and gumming up under the extractor star. tried it in three different revolvers: 65, K38 and M&P 5". OK accuracy wise but not a clean load at all. in the 65 and K38 I had to brush out under the star every 10 to 15 rds. hope this helps someone NOT try this powder in a .38 special. lee

 

[cooperduper]

Can't say I had THAT much unburned powder, but agree IMR 4227 is a poor choice in 38 spl. Too slow and there are lots of better choices for this round.

 

[venomballistics]

Ive used it in a few calibers.
I dont see why folks like to gripe about Unique beings flammable dirt. 44 mag, 357 mag, 30-06 ... none seem to be able to burn completely.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Lee,
IMR4227 is a very slow powder and a lot like W296/H110 and even slower than 2400 so it's no wonder you're not getting a good burn at the low pressures the .38 Special develops. Sure IMR4227 is a good choice for the .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum but in the .38 Special,,, not so much!

 

[Nevada Ed]

In my 686 6" for only target use, I got good accuracy with the following with 38 brass:
110 & 125jhp 14.0c 945 fps, which was weird. (same vel.)
140 xtp 13.0 cci250 at 910fps....158 xtp 12.0c 826 fps.

In my M49 snub nose with a 125gr LRN cowboy and 9.5grs of IMR 4227 I got 507 fps and a accurate load but it also stopped the receiver from turning.

It will group well but it will also fowl up the revolver with unburned powder..........

In my 686 with a magnum load with a 125gr Speer Gold Dot
with 18.5grs and a f100 primer I got a lot of "Blow Back" and
I will not ever use this powder in a 38 or 357 for SD use !!

The rest of the powder will be used to make my lawn green..........

The 5/01 IMR data manual with 4227 loads for pistols is a joke............. I did not get even close to the fps listed.
Maybe if it was the only powder that you had..........but it is a lot better as a RIFLE POWDER.

 

[Lee Barner]

all I have used it in before is my savage muzzle loader and it didn't seem to foul it much at all. the only reason I tried it is i'm really low on W231 and can't get any for another two weeks. i'll wait now. lee

 

[ArchAngelCD]

all I have used it in before is my savage muzzle loader and it didn't seem to foul it much at all. the only reason I tried it is i'm really low on W231 and can't get any for another two weeks. i'll wait now. lee

You can use 4227 to load up some .357 Magnum ammo in the meantime.

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

Waaaay back when I started reloading, the only "pistol" powder the little local gunshop had was 4227 . I had the new (for 1972) Speer manual and it had IMR 4227 loads for the 38 special so I thought all was good. Loaded some loads with 158 gr lead and shot them out of a 4" Trooper. I got the exact same results everyone has mentioned here. I've tried it high pressure 357 and 44 mag loads, even with magnum primers, over the years and it still leaves unburnt powder in the barrel. I consider it a fast burning RIFLE powder and use it in small bore small case rifle loads.

 

[Bkreutz]

I use 4227 for my .30 Carbine reloads. (rifle, not pistol)

 

[2152hq]

I use it in 30 M1-Carbine. It's always been one of the go-to powders for that cartridge. Used to use it in 22Hornet when I had one of those.

Currently also use it in 401WSL. Seems to be the perfect powder for that cartridge which is an extra long semi-rimmed 41Mag in a blow-back action rifle.
Burns clean,,powder fouling isn't an issue.

It's marketed as a Magnum Pistol Powder, but I've never really thought of it as one.

I've heard powders described as 'flammable dirt' when they burn extremely dirty.

This one seems to earn that badge at least in certain loadings.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

4227 is what I load almost exclusively in my 357 Maximum's. It works "ok" in the 357 Magnum. I would not even consider it in the 38 special. Too many better options.

 

[TSQUARED]

IMR-4227 is only suitable for high pressure loads in the magnum calibers. Definitely it is not a choice for 38 Spcial or any other caliber at moderate pressures. The same can be said for Herc/Alliant 2400 or WW296.