Anyone ever use Hi Skor 800x in handgun cartidges?

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I just had someone give me a lot of hi skor 800x. I don't reload shotgun stuff anymore and was wondering if anyone had actually used this in any hand gun cartridges. I reload .380, 9mm, .38, .357, and .45acp.

I have heard that it doesn't meter well and is harder to use in smaller cartridges but I really want to hear from people who have actually used it and have good or bad to say about it. Any tips would be appreciated as well.
 
It's worked okay for me in .45acp when I weigh each charge out but since I load all of my handgun calibers on a progressive I don't like using it due to it's poor metering. With Unique my Hornady powder measure always stays within .2gr (which I find acceptable with Unique) of my target weight but 800X is more like .5gr (which I don't find acceptable). Long stick powders measure better for me than 800X, even if the stick powders get cut a bit in the process.
 
Yes 800X ... in 357 SIG and 44 mag...

Metering is not the best ... I threw each charge low and trickled up ...

Accuracy is very good in both as well as velocity...
 
I haven't tried 800-X in 9mm or 380. Probably won't try 380 due to metering.
My best load for 357 mag is 7.5 gr behind 158 SWC, magnum primers.
Best for 38 spl 5.4 gr behind 158 SWC, magnum primers.
My favorite load is in 45 Colt, 9.0 gr behind 255 SWC, magnum primer. This is my carry load at home.

My experience shows 800-X as having heavy recoil in the higher loads, just past unpleasant. Best with magnum primers, I had large flakes of residue with standard. As for metering it is difficult, but possible. Best after thorough cleaning of the meter, using a solvent to clean the cylinder.

I bought the powder for handgun loads during the previous shortage. I hadn't read about how hard it was to meter, probably good that I didn't. I haven't regretted the purchase.
 
It meters like cornflakes, but will give the highest velocities in 10mm and a few other calibers with heavy bullets.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
Works great in a Uniflow for 10mm. I use it as my standard "full power" 10mm powder. I find that my press operation (Pro2000) shakes the uniflow in a way that is very reliable. +/- 0.1 grn routinely. Just keep the powder reservoir full and use a baffle.

Great stuff. It was like it was made for 10mm.
 
I used it many years ago for 9mm and really liked how clean it burned. But now days I pretty much go with either HS6 or Longshot. Back then if I recall, HI Skor 800X was a bit more expensive than some other powders, which had some bearing as to why I stopped using it. I don't ever recall any problems in how it performed, and since I don't use volumetric measuring devices other than for shotgun, I wouldn't know about that aspect.

GS
 
Per my experiments:

The most power possible with 40sw and 10mm with 200 grain bullets will be with compressed 800X.

The most power with 32 S&W Long with 85 gr is a tie between LIL'GUN and 800X.

800X is almost impossible to meter, and I have to weigh each charge.

800X muzzle blast send out burning corn flakes that will burn right through the paint on the hood of your Rolls Royce... or Yugo.
 
I used it for working up some loads for a .357 Desert Eagle, and had great results with it. Like others have said, because of the poor metering, you will need to throw the charge a little low and then trickle up to the desired weight.
 
Peter M. Eick said:
Works great in a Uniflow
Click to expand...

That appears to be the secret to metering 800-X. I use a Uniflow with good results.
Mine has the Quick Change rotor, which is a little harder to set.
 
As above I have used in 10 mm but metering is the drawback but I will say this , when I was careful and smooth on my dillon would measure accurate but the velocities were so consistent! All around pleased with it.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
Could someone provide more information for HiSkor 800x in 38 special or 9mm?
I will be using 125 plated flat point berry's bullets, and I'm having trouble locating any new data for 800x, much less anything for plated bullets.
I found the max load for 38 spl : 125 Rem SJHP is 6.9gr using imr 800x. the manual says to reduce to 10% then work up, but I'd like to know if anyone could point me to another source, or more info.
I have Alliant Blue dot, and IMR 800X.

I know guys, bullseye & unique, but times are really tight reloading wise and beggars cant be choosers. I picked up a hornady reloading book at cabelas and definitely saw 125 gr jacketed will work with 800x, but I'd feel more comfortable if you guys could maybe give me the gift of your experience, before I have to learn on my own mistakes. I'm not looking to hot loads, I just want to cycle the gun reliably at this point (glock 19) and have some fun at the range.

Thank you
 
Dr.Zubrato said:
Could someone provide more information for HiSkor 800x in 38 special or 9mm?
I will be using 125 plated flat point berry's bullets, and I'm having trouble locating any new data for 800x, much less anything for plated bullets.
I found the max load for 38 spl : 125 Rem SJHP is 6.9gr using imr 800x. the manual says to reduce to 10% then work up, but I'd like to know if anyone could point me to another source, or more info.
I have Alliant Blue dot, and IMR 800X.

I know guys, bullseye & unique, but times are really tight reloading wise and beggars cant be choosers. I picked up a hornady reloading book at cabelas and definitely saw 125 gr jacketed will work with 800x, but I'd feel more comfortable if you guys could maybe give me the gift of your experience, before I have to learn on my own mistakes. I'm not looking to hot loads, I just want to cycle the gun reliably at this point (glock 19) and have some fun at the range.

Thank you
Click to expand...
I actually found a loading chart from IMR earlier today. You might be able to use this.
 

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I have to disagree about the blanket statement of progressive presses.

My Pro2000 and a good well worn in uniflow will drop routinely +/- 0.1 grn 800x charges with 10mm. Other Uniflow users (see above) seem to agree.

My opinion on 800x is it is very dependent on the hardware you use it with and the personal techniques applied. I just happen to have a good combination that works well. 800x is my go to powder for 10mm right now.
 
In Pet Loads Complete Volume from Handloader, Ken Waters stated that, as far as the 45 ACP was concerned, "You want it boiled down to a single powder? OK, I'll go you one better and choose a single powder and load: 7 grains Hi-Skor 800-X."

Of course that was 1990. He was using a Colt Double Eagle. He claims 7 grains to be near max load with 230 grain bullets btw. But otherwise a very, very accurate load. YMMV

I hadn't tried it before, but with the shortage of some powders around here, I did find some 800-X and intend to give it a try.
 
45acp-800X

Used in the 45acp with 200gr cast. It will bridge in my measures. Watch for a light charge then the other 1 1/2 charge in the next drop.
 
These are exactly the responses I was hoping for so thank you guys! I am really encouraged that some of you have used it with .357 too. I probably shoot more .357 than anything else.
I will end up with around 8 pounds of it and was kind of wishing I still reloaded shotgun. It sounds like I might have some luck with this after all. I have a lee pro 1000 (queue laughter), but actually have very few problems with it. I think the closest thing to the hi skor that I have used in my lee disk powder measure is probably unique. I have had absolutely no problems with unique metering and I get very consistent drops.

Could anyone speculate on how well it will do with the hi skor? I don't currently have a baffle but am planning on building one or maybe even 2 and staggering them in the hopper.
 
I don't know about 800x, but will tell you a trick someone here told me.
It sounds like 800x meters as poorly as the 700x.
If you purchase some powdered graphite and mix it with your powder it will meter much better, and doesn't affect burn rate or velocity.
Using this technique, I was able to get 700x to meter +-.2 gr.
 
Alliant's Unique-IMR 700X- IMR 800X

Could anyone speculate on how well it will do with the hi skor?
Click to expand...
Weight variation is about the same for all 3 powders, about 2/10th gr. Just watch for bridging with the 800X. This may not be a problem for your measure?? aPowder1.jpg
 
I can't speak for 800-X, but 700-X meters beautifully in my Lee powder measure. I was pleasantly surprised after reading about it here.
 
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