Decided to Try Hodgdon (formerly IMR) Hi Skor 700-X

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markr6754

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Just came home with a new powder to try. Seems all the “good” powders have been grabbed, and I don’t have any other fast powders on my shelf.

Found data at Hodgdon for every pistol caliber I shoot: 380 ACP, 9mm, 38 Spl, 357 Mag, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP. I also noted that the Sierra load manual included numerous loads for 700-X, but my Sierra app doesn’t list any.

Anyone else using 700-X for handgun loads? I’ve already read that it meters poorly, but it should do fine in my FA Intellidropper.
 
Meters fine in through Lyman Accumeasures.

It is my go to,without question on 185g SWC 45ACP. Avatar commander will tear the X ring slam out with it. I don't shoot,that much lite 38 loads but would be the choice for it too.
 
I use 800-X for some specialty loads. Works well for .45 Super and .45 Colt heavy. 700-X is a similar flake powder with similar characteristics. Make sure that you are getting consistent charges from your powder measure.

I pulled this .45acp example from LoadData.com. Notice that between min and max charge there is only a 4/10ths of a grain difference.

Wt. Bullet Powder Manufacturer Powder Charge Velocity (FPS)
185 Speer TMJ Match SWC IMR 700-X 4.3 731
Remarks: start charge
185 Speer TMJ Match SWC IMR 700-X 4.7 798
Remarks: Maximum charge

.40
 
markr6754 said:
Just came home with a new powder to try. Seems all the “good” powders have been grabbed, and I don’t have any other fast powders on my shelf.

Found data at Hodgdon for every pistol caliber I shoot: 380 ACP, 9mm, 38 Spl, 357 Mag, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP. I also noted that the Sierra load manual included numerous loads for 700-X, but my Sierra app doesn’t list any.

Anyone else using 700-X for handgun loads? I’ve already read that it meters poorly, but it should do fine in my FA Intellidropper.
Click to expand...

I use it for 38 special and it meters pretty good in my Dillon measure.
 
I've used 700x in 45acp and 38spl and it worked well. It did not meter the best for me, but if you are using the Intellidropper that should not be much of an issue.
 
I use a lot of it in 41 and 44 mags and 45 acp and Colt for target loads. Meters fine, very accurate and economical powder, and bulky too, with excellent case fill.
 
Some years ago I bought out a reloader of 4 kegs of 700X in the square tin cans. I shoot a fair amount of 45ACP 230 grain loads. I load it all with 700X and it is the cleanest burning most accurate propellant for me so far. Also several K 38 SPL a year. Just getting to the bottom of my first keg. I find it easier to scoop the load than use a measure but my Ideal 55 was fairly accurate when I did it that way.
 
It's the first powder I ever bought. It was the cheapest and the most user friendly across the board for the calibers I was loading. It's good powder. I like my Hercules/Alliant powder, but 700 and 800X are both good choices.
 
Large flake, poor measuring is the only thing I have against 700X in pistol loads, which will not be a problem in a dispenser.

Originally an IMR product, Hodgdon has been getting 700X from Alliant for several years. Look on the can and see if it says Made in USA. (IMR is in Canada.)

They are also getting Clays from IMR, ADI in Australia revamped their lineup and quit making the powders sold here as Clays, International Clays, and Universal Clays.
 
700-X has been main powder for 45 ACP/230 RN loads since 1980. I do have back up powdwes if I cannot get 700-X but that is rare.

I’m using it in 44 Special and 380 ACP at the present as well.

Yes, it is difficult to meter but the larger charge variation does not seem to effect accuracy.
 
800x metering vs 700x is very different. 700x meters fairly well in my measures but for 800x i am resigned to using my chargemaster.
 
Yeah 800X is quite a bit crankier to deal with when dropping small charges. That's why I like to dip my charges with a scoop/dipper much easier to deal with when using 700X/800X.. I do use a single stage and load in batches though so take it for what it is worth.
 
I picked up a pound of it the other day too. I was just glad to find powder and recognized it as useful from reading my reloading books. It looks like a candidate for 9mm loads (Luger and makarov). If it doesn’t work I’ve got a sack of #8 shot and a bag of WAA12 wads waiting to dispose of it honorably.
 
In my case I just didn’t want to waste a trip. I traveled to a medium distant gun shop where I found some primers a few weeks ago. Hoping to find more small pistol, standard or magnum. All they had was large rifle and large pistol. So I eagerly sought out powders, and saw an 8lb jug of 700-X and figured, why not? I’m actually well stocked with powder, but one never knows. As the man said, if you see something, buy something, as supplies may never return to normal. At least in this regard, powder prices are still pre-COVID. That may change, but I won’t care for a while.
Primed 400 9mm and 200 380 ACP tonight, will begin ladders tomorrow.
 
I put a vibrator ($6 Walmart aquarium air pump) on the Dillon powder measure to prevent bridging and the occasional one grain powder charge. Before that I never had complete blockage and a zero powder "squib" and one grain will clear the bullet out of the barrel, but it will land about a foot and a half low.
 
Hey, why all the hate for 800-X?

Granted it meters like "cornflakes" (thank you Toprudder), but it is extremely versatile and for single-stage users like me, it's not a major inconvenience to set up the Uniflow to throw light and then trickle up to the desired charge. You get really consistent charges that way.
 
I like both 700X and 800X - they meter like crap, but I like them and have many loads made up with them both.
 
Been using 700x instead of Bullseye for reloading wadcutters in .38 spcl. I find it meters well in a RCBS Lil Dandy and in an older Ohaus measure. The powder burns clean and reloads are accurate. No complaints about 700x.
 
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