IMR SR 7625

[S&W HE]

What's your favorite 9mm, 40 S&W, (other?) caliber loads using SR 7625?

One burn rate chart shows it's slower than Accurate N0.2 and faster than HP38/Win231. Another chart shows it slower than Power Pistol and faster than HS-6... a large variation. What's the deal? Educate me.

 

[Bruce51]

You may want to read a previous thread concerning SR 7625 in the .38 Special.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/reload...lts-sr7625-38-special-w-125-grain-bullet.html


This just may give you some insight into its working parameters.

While it is faster than Unique and slower than Bullseye it behaves differently than either powder.

While I would not use it in the 38 Special or 45 Colt or any other large capacity case it is ok in the 9MM, 45 auto and the 40 SW.

I have a write up on my tests and will post it shortly.

BLM

 

[Bruce51]

write up

Here's an informal write up that I did last year.

I have used 7625 before in the 9MM and the .32swl. It produces a very clean loading in the .32.with zero unburned powder residue.

I finally got around to loading some 9MM today. My RCBS powder measure has been set on 4.5 grains of Bullseye for years.

I poured in the 7625 and settled the powder and checked the weight. It was dispensing 4.5 grains exactly!

I reset to 5 grains and start loading. This powder meters even better then BE and all thrown charges were on the money at five grains.

Ok how did I decide on five grains? I took a Beretta 92 and some hand weighed charges of 4.5-4.7-4.9 grains behind a 115 grain Rainier bullet.

The 4.5 grain load would not cycle the action. Cycling was better at 4.9 but still lighter than a 4.5 grain load of BE.

Ken Waters Pet loads and Sierra list loads up to 5.2 grains. This powder needs to be loaded near the top.

Now a little different take on the 45 acp. I try not to load full power, it just takes the fun out of target practice.

All these loads were tested in a 945. My normal plinking load would be 4.5 grains of BE behind either bullet.

Using both 230 grain Berrys and 185 grain Rainier I started at 5 grains of 7625.

While the 230 grain bullet at five grains cycled the action the 185 grain load did not.

At 5.5 grains the 945 was still a single shot and finally at six grains the casing was ejected.

I still don't feel the same recoil pulse as when I'm using Bullseye or Unique.

I went up to 6.5 grains of 7625 with both bullets. At 6.5 grains the 230 fmj is starting to feel like a full power load.

Six grains will be enough for that bullet. I'm thinking 6.2 for the 185 grainer as that should function all my .45's.

Obviously the load data for that bullet goes even higher. I'm only trying to hit the bullseye and save a little powder.

That's all I have. Most of my data was taken from the Hodgden website and a few loads from my manuals.

There is a starting load of 4.5 grains for the .357 and a 158 grain bullet. I wouldn't load that one after my first test.

Most likely I will continue to use BE and Unique in the 38 until I have additional information.

Update today.

It's interesting that my 745 does not like this powder combo.

With 6 grains of SR 7625 and a Berry's 230 fmj I get patterns not groups.

With six grains of Unique or 4.5 grains of Bullseye the 745 performs very well.

Somewhat the same issue with the 945. Normally 4.5 grains of Bullseye with a 185 plated flatnose bullet produces nice groups.

However it takes 6.8 grains of SR 7625 to really function the gun and the groups are larger overall.

It does seem to work well in the 9MM. I load five grains in with either 115 or 125 grain bullets.

Accuracy is decent and all the 9's I have will fully eject at 5 grains.

If I can ever get back to using Bullseye, AA2, AA5, Unique I would prefer to use those powders.

The only good thing about SR 7625 is I was able to get a few pounds and it will hold me until the day other powders are available.

It would not be my first go to powder.

BLM

 

[2152hq]

I tried it & didn't have very good results with it in 38sp. I load conservativly to say the least. The 7625 loads didn't even sound consistant.
So I went back to B/E and RedDot. Those work fine for what I want to do.

I saved the 7625 for my low pressure 12ga loads for the damascus bbled guns. Works great there,,w/IMR recipes in the 3,4,& 5K psi range using common cases and components. 24gram and 7/8oz loads.
Some say it doesn't burn well at low temps and you get 'bloopers' with it in these. But I haven't experienced that w/it.
I don't shoot much when the temps are in the single digits or below Zero either, so maybe that's where they are finding the problem.

I understand production of 7625 has been discontinued along with a couple other 'oldies'.
So many specialty powders on the market now it's confusing. Can't buy much of anything anyway so I guess it doesn't make much difference.

 

[scooter123]

I am the one who posted the warning about it's position sensitivity in 38 special and it is rather extreme. However, for my 40 S&W and 45 ACP range loads it's been a fantastic powder, enough so that I've worked to accumulate a stash of 20 lbs. of it. That should last me for a few years and I'll use that time to try and find an alternate.

In the 40 caliber with a 180 grain plated bullet my pet load is 5.4 grains, it yields a soft shooting 950 fps. In my 45 ACP my pet load is a 230 grain plated bullet over 5.8 grains at 820 fps. Both at clean shooting, accurate, and seem to feature a noticeable reduction in muzzle flip.

BTW, after that failure in 38 special I've moved to using Vihtavouri 3N37 based on a suggestion from another reloader at a gun show. While it is a bit on the expensive side it has proven to be a superb powder for 38 special if a bit flashy. However they are not powder puff loads, it's a distinctly slow powder and the velocity produced with a 125 grain plated bullet is nearly 1000 fps. That said it's still a nice shooting load and accuracy is superb.

 

[S&W HE]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the experienced-based information you provided.

I'll be loading 9mm, 40 S&W and perhaps .45 ACP with the 7625. I won't be loading .38 Special with it.

 

[webfarmer]

4.8 grains behind a 115 grain bullet (RMR plated or Sierra 115 JHP) works in my three 9 mm's (Beretta 92, Shield, XDM 5.25). OAL is 1.100" for RMR and 1.050" for Sierra (same exact seater plug setting I believe). Good luck!

 

[S&W HE]

What's your 7625 pet loads for 40 S&W 165 grain and 180 grain plated bullets?

Update: 6.8 gr of 7625 under X-treme's 165 gr plated RNFP bullet is indeed impressive.

 

[David Sinko]

I used 5.1 grs. with the 180 gr. plated bullet to make major power factor in .40 S&W for USPSA Limited and L-10. It was a very nice load in the Glock 35 and never gave me any trouble.

Dave Sinko

 

[zeke]

For 9mm, 5.2 grains IMR-7625 under Win 115 fmjhb, at 1.155-1.560 COL, Win brass and Fed sp primer.

one of the most accurate 9mm loads tried so far, based on Ken Waters load work ups.

 

[Golphin]

I have loaded and shot about 200 rounds of 38 Special loaded with SR7625 with good results. Using Berry' preferred plated bullets in 158 gr round nose. Loading them at 4.2 gr makes a sweet and mild bullet for target shooting I think. I have loaded some at 4.4 gr and they are a little hotter but still good shooting. I have no issues using this powder and following the published loads. I should add that I have been shooting a revolver and have not tried them with a semi auto pistol.

 

[Moonman]

SR7625 BEING DISCONTINUED then end of 2014.

 

[Tinn-Can]

I've only got 3lbs left... I would love to get my hands on 20... Use it 4.8grains for a 124 grain xtreme 9mm and 5.5 for 170 grain coated 40... Kind of expensive in one pound cans...