800-X pistol loads: .45acp vs .44mag

[Bama Drifter]

In the spirit of speed is fine but accuracy is final [emoji2] I will share my experience with above powder. The best way to try new load recipes is to have inconvenience of no powder options.

Over the last 6 months I have found pleasure in tight little groups pushing 230gr plated bullets out of mixed brass over 5.5gr of 800-X. No such luck in my attempt with .44 mag experiments running (7.5 to 9gr). These were tested in GI 1911A1, Kimber Custom, and Ruger SBH respectively.

Anyone else have similar problem or success? Thx!

 

[kcofohio]

Bama Drifter, I gotta ask, you're not trying to use the same bullets from 45 to 44, are you?
Just that you listed only the 230 gr. plated, but left out the bullet used for 44.

Assuming you used correct bullets, did you have more than one type to use?

I know nothing of the 44 mag. or 800x, but thought more info would be helpful.

 

[Toprudder]

In my load workup for 45acp, using RMR 230 HM bullets seated to 1.200", I started at 6.2gn and worked up to 7.0gn, going from 708fps to 810fps respectively. My accuracy node was at 6.6gn.

This was from a 4.5" barrel, Witness steel-frame.

Powder meters terribly, I use my RCBS Chargemaster to drop this powder. Some ash residue in the barrel, chamber, and on my arms after shooting.

 

[Bama Drifter]

Sorry left out pertinent details. 240gr hardcast in the Magnum with mediocre accuracy @ 8.0grns of 800-x. The stuff meters like corn flakes but burns clean. As I have 3/4 pound left, I intend it to be a "Bullseye load" substitute. When I have tons of free time on my hands, I will use it up. Just got a pound of 231 and 8lb jug of Unique. These meter smoothly, don't require running each charge over my scale.

Any other comments and data points warmly welcome!

 

[grandpawj]

Yep, I thought Unique was sometimes difficult to meter until I tried 800-X. I will never complain about Unique again.

 

[dragon813gt]

800-X would not be anywhere on my list of powders to use for those cartridges. But I understand working w/ what you have. I use 800-X for 10mm loads and it performs great. Does take a good bit of time to load them because each charge is thrown w/ a Chargemaster. I'm going to try dippers and see if there is any discernible difference in accuracy and SD/ES. I have a feeling the dippers will work just fine which will speed up the process a good bit. If they added 800-X to Quickload I would be very happy

 

[rsrocket1]

If you mean "bullseye" as in light recoiling target loads, 800-X is the wrong powder.
If you mean "Bullseye" as in similar to Alliant Bullseye loads, 800-X is the wrong powder

800-X has a burn rate closer to Herco which is on the other side of Unique (slower) from Bullseye.

For you to get a good consistent burn with a low ES and SD, it needs to be loading. That means in the 20-25,000 psi Pmax range at least. Your loads are in the 13-19,000 psi range which is OK for 45ACP, but will get you pretty inconsistent velocities in 44 mag particularly when you have that gap between the cylinder and forcing cone letting a lot of gas escape at the critical time of Pmax.

If you want 800-X to work well, you need to load it to where it likes to burn. The 2000 Alliant manual says 12.5g Herco as a max load for a 240g GC lead bullet for 33.8 kpsi. Personally, that seems a little hot for me, but you can see how far that is above your loads. If you want a lower recoiling load, go to a lower charge using a faster powder. 800-X should give you awesome performance at the high power loads so long as you get it to meter properly.

I was getting great consistent loads with 800-X in 9mm. At first I was hand trickling every load, but found that using the rifle rotor on the LnL AP powder measure and flipping the meter bar on every drop, I got good consistent charges. At least good enough that each shot felt similar to the others in the box.

800-X certainly is a very large flaked powder. Just a few flakes add up to 0.1g

 

[8emem]

I just started loading 12.0 gr 800-X in 44 magnum with a 240 gr coated SWC from S&S. This was my idea of a starting load by taking 10% off Hodgdon's max load of 13.4 on their website. Due to the rough metering (varies by 1/2 grain in my Dillon SDB) I decided to weigh each charge and trickle up where necessary.

I don't have a chronograph so I don't know what the velocity was. Shot the loads from a 3" Smith 29-4. The powder burned completely (rather clean) and there were no signs of excess pressure. There was enough recoil to know that you were shooting a magnum, but nothing excessive. I don't see a need to go any higher.

 

[Bama Drifter]

Thanks for the input dragon & rsrocket1. I had nearly forgotten about my experience w/ the 13.5gr (above listed max) in my magnum. It is a good, clean thumper. Not any issues w/ bullets jumping crimp in my 7.5" SBH, nor flattened primers. I have about 15 rounds leftover from the first run where I had loaded some "hot" and color coded the heads with red sharpie. No chance I'd want to run that in a 29 or Anaconda. Just felt too powerful.

Again, this is all pointing to my need to invest in a chrony! :banghead: Felt recoil isn't always the best indication of true velocity.

And yes, yes, yes. I know I muddied the waters saying "bullseye load" As that is a reputable powder, and shooting sport sub-genre. I used it in the loosest sense: as in "a load that I can hit the bull's eye with easily". My apologies for doublespeak and confusion. Many thanks!

 

[joneb]

I've been playing with WSF a bit and it does fair in 45 acp. I will try it soon for 44 mag in a RRH with some coated 210gr rnfp. WSF meters very well much like W-231. This WSF I have is a left over from the powder shortage
800X will work well in 357 mag with 158gr plated.