Low price Hi-skor

[Orcon]

I will soon start reloading for 9mm Luger and 45 ACP but I have not decided on powder yet. Today I popped into Big R and took a look at their powder selection. They had several 8# jugs of 700X marked at 77 bucks, my eyes about popped out of my head. I understand 700X is primarily used for shotshell reloading but there are several pistol calibers that have load data. Is there any reason not to buy a jug or two?

 

[ewlyon]

Doesn't meter well but I have gotten some good loads out of it for both 45 and 9mm. 8lbs will go a long way and at that price why not

 

[lauderdale]

Doesn't meter well but I have gotten some good loads out of it for both 45 and 9mm. 8lbs will go a long way and at that price why not[/QUOT

 

[Reefinmike]

Its a good powder for a lot of pistol loads but as another said, it meters horribly. Worse than unique. You will likely have to hand weigh all charges, I havent found a powder measure that meters it good.

Its sold in 4lb jugs also, some hodgdon powders come in the same size jug but hold 8lb. Be sure they are 8lb before buying because when the deal seems too good to be true...

 

[bocefus78]

Yep...it meters like cornflakes, but as stated, good loads can be had. I used it in 40sw when I was out of unique.

That's half price so yea....I'd be buying it and use it, or flip it for a profit.

 

[cfullgraf]

I've used 700-X in 45 ACP for decades. I like it.

I've used it in other cartridges here and there with good results but in the past, I shot so much 45 ACP that I have just gotten in the habit of saving the 700-X for 45 ACP. But of late, I've got some nice loads in 327 Fed Magnum, 44 Special and 45 Colt.

Metering can be variable. I've found using a good drum style measure with a baffle and keeping the operation consistent from charge to charge keeps the variability to a minimum.

I've never tried it in shot shells.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Even though it is a good powder for the 45 Auto 700X does not meter well. I think one of the best powders for the 45 Auto is W231/HP-38. I use it for most of my handgun loading from the 32 Auto to the 45 Colt.

 

[cfullgraf]

Its sold in 4lb jugs also, some hodgdon powders come in the same size jug but hold 8lb. Be sure they are 8lb before buying because when the deal seems too good to be true...

700-X is a low density powder. The "one pound" bottles that Hodgdon uses only holds 14 ounces of 700-X. When duPont made 700-X and used metal tins, their "one pound" tins only held 8 ounces of 700-X.

So, check the bottles for how much is in them.

 

[Bayou52]

I've used 700-X for several years beginning a couple of years ago when 231 was unavailable. I use it for 380, 9mm, 38 SPL, 357 Mag, and 45 acp. It is too fast to be a true magnum powder, however.

It burns fast and clean. Being a larger flake powder, however, as others have said, it doesn't meter well. I use a Uniflow for dispensing powder. I bought it 40 years ago. It came with both a large and small cylinder back then. All these years, I've used the large cylinder not even thinking about the small cylinder.

Then, reading on the forums, I saw where folks were getting better throws of flake powder like 700-X and Unique using the small cylinder in the Uniflow. So, this weekend, I cut open a 40 year old plastic bag containing the small cylinder and installed it.

I reloaded about 150 45 acps using the small cylinder with 700-X powder this weekend. The small cylinder does throw 700-X more consistently than the large cylinder, so I'll keep it in the Uniflow. The charges were not all spot in but the degree of variance was less. The variance was such that I felt confident enough not to weigh each charge. Checked every 3rd to 5th charge or so. I load well under max, so there is some safety "freeboard" there to account for some slight overage in charges.

I've never used a powder baffle, but others say that helps consistency, too.

I've never used 700-X for shotgun.

$77 for an 8 pound keg must be a mistake. 4 pound jugs go for about $79 or so, at least that I've seen on-line and around here. Thus, if you can load up on the 8 pound kegs for that price of $77, you're in the chips, my friend, and I wouldn't look back.

 

[Walkalong]

It's good stuff. Meters poorly, but it doesn't show on target. No need to weigh charges. Not good for things like .32 ACP with its tiny charge weights.

It will make light 9MM target/plinking loads, but I can think of better options.

"one pound" tins only held 8 ounces of 700-X.

So, check the bottles for how much is in them.

Yep.

 

[Orcon]

Thanks for all the info, guys.

$77 for an 8 pound keg must be a mistake. 4 pound jugs go for about $79 or so, at least that I've seen on-line and around here.

Yeah I thought so too. They all had orange rather than the normal green price tags on them, indicating some sort of sale or clearance. In the chips, indeed.

 

[noylj]

Of course you should buy them at that price.
I wouldn't use them for 9x19, though, but rather post them for sale at any trap/skeet ranges near-by.
(Actually, some Bullseye shooters who are using 9x19 for service class or such have actually claimed that they get great accuracy with fast powders and they might want some 700X).
For 9x19, watch for Power Pistol, Silhouette, True Blue, N340, N330, AA5, BE86, Unique, Herco, and others in that burn rate--unless you are shooting action pistol, in which case 700X would do just fine with a 147gn bullet, as accuracy is not a prime requirement.
Now, if you were shooting .38 Spl or .45 Auto, you would keep them and hug them and name them George, as they would most likely give you great accuracy.

Metering is NOT that big an issue. You simply learn how to use a measure consistently, or trickle each charge, or use a powder dispenser.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

I will agree with Bayou52 and recommend you go buy some before it's all gone. I'm a confirmed user of 800-X, which makes metering 700-X child's play. But with a baffle in the Uniflow, I can throw charges that hold +/- .1 gr. Good enough for anything larger than a .380 ACP.
Get in the truck and go back to the store.

 

[lauderdale]

Using it now for light 38 loads out of my .357 D.Wesson w/ a 7" plus barell length. HORN.xtp 158g. #35750 6.1 g 6.2 w/ sellier&belliet spp. according to Horn .mannual. did not chrono yet but second shot was @ 40 a black bird off rest. Burnt clean should be around 800fps according to H.manual. Like the fellas mentioned hard to meter using my charge master to learn more about flake and roll crimping,i like it in a few other calibers but im also working the bullet weights from heavey to light/and loads from light to heavey as the smpp will come into play. Another order from RMR.

 

[rsrocket1]

Is there any reason not to buy a jug or two?

Yes, there is a reason you should not buy a jug or two. You should buy three or four. With the chances of the Hildebeast getting elected, reloading components may be the next scarce commodity. Here in Kommifornistan, there is an initiative to make buying ammo much more inconvenient. Eventually, they'll make it as hard as it is to buy a gun here behind the cannabis curtain.

At the very least, you'll have a very good long supply of pistol and shotgun powder at a great price where one day you'll tell everyone when you found powder for less than $10/pound.

 

[TfflHndn]

I like 700-x for accurate .45 auto loads, but hate having to hand-weigh each load. But at that price I might change my mind on never buying that powder again. I'd still hate hand weighing it, but I'd have to try it out in 12 gauge loads also, where some variation is no big deal.

 

[Orcon]

Yes, there is a reason you should not buy a jug or two. You should buy three or four. With the chances of the Hildebeast getting elected, reloading components may be the next scarce commodity. Here in Kommifornistan, there is an initiative to make buying ammo much more inconvenient. Eventually, they'll make it as hard as it is to buy a gun here behind the cannabis curtain.

At the very least, you'll have a very good long supply of pistol and shotgun powder at a great price where one day you'll tell everyone when you found powder for less than $10/pound.

I could probably sell it to some "preppers" at 20 bucks a gram

 

[lpsharp88]

Buy as much of that as you can! I love using that powder for 9mm and 45ACP. It meters pretty well out of my Uniflow too. Wish I could find it at that price around here.

 

[Bayou52]

Well, the vote's in, Orcon -

Buy as many $77 eight pound kegs of 700-X that your checkbook allows. Even if you don't want it all, you can always later offer your "THR forum buddies" a good deal or two!

 

[Orcon]

No kidding, thanks guys!

 

[Walkalong]

I have used a bunch of it in .38 Spl and .44 Spl with lead. Never did anything but throw the powder and go. +/- .1 or even .2 Grs won't show on target until 50 yards at least. I popped many a soda can at that and longer with my Model 14 using 700X.