Has anyone used the load from the old IMR handloader's guide for smokeless powders - max of 17 gr of 4227 behind a 55 gr Hornady jacketed bullet, Remington 7 1/2 primer, 2.260" oal, start at 10% lower charge weight? It was also published in Lee's Modern Reloading. The velocity was given as 2810 fps from a 24" bbl, 51,200 cup. Read a range report from someone who stopped at 16 gr, they said 5 of 10 rounds fired would cycle well enough to pick up a new round, the other half just had enough oomph to eject the spent brass (2501 avg. fps). I have a pound that I probably won't use otherwise, so just inquiring.
4227 for .223
- Thread starter hardheart
- Start date
- Status
I didn't use that particular load, but I tried a similar load (formerly) published by Alliant for their powder 2400.
It worked well in the bolt gun, but didn't cycle the AR15. Clearly those are loads for non-semiauto guns.
It would appear that you learned the same about 4227. Maybe that's why they aren't published anymore.
It worked well in the bolt gun, but didn't cycle the AR15. Clearly those are loads for non-semiauto guns.
It would appear that you learned the same about 4227. Maybe that's why they aren't published anymore.
Wish I was close enough to you to buy that pound of 4227 off of you.
When I got my first Mini-14, I had oodles of 4227 because it was my go-to powder for 30 Carbine. I started with 15 grains and kept going until I started getting pressure signs which was around 17 grains and that still wasn't enough to cycle the action. I concluded it was just too fast for the cartridge and moved on to 4198 which worked in both cartridges.
When I got my first Mini-14, I had oodles of 4227 because it was my go-to powder for 30 Carbine. I started with 15 grains and kept going until I started getting pressure signs which was around 17 grains and that still wasn't enough to cycle the action. I concluded it was just too fast for the cartridge and moved on to 4198 which worked in both cartridges.
Elkins45
Member
I would think there is very little "headroom" when using a powder that fast in a bottleneck case. Kind of a race to see whether the bolt locks back or the case ruptures first.
- Status
