Missing Powders

[Hondo 60]

The horrors of it all!
My LGS has run out of titegroup.

All during the shortage somehow they always had titegroup.
So it's been my go-to powder for 5 or 6 calibers.
But the last 2 times I was in there, they didn't have any.

They had 700-X, which I've been tempted to try in the past.
So I bought some this time.
I loaded some 9mm - 2.9 gr under a 125 gr LCN (actually they're cast closer to 127-128 gr).
According to Hodgden's website, that's the lower limit - (2.9 to 3.4).

Does anyone have experience with this powder?

Does it meter well for you?
In what powder measure?

Does it work better with lower or upper limit charges?

I'm probably headed to the range this afternoon & will report back.

thanks!

 

[gunnels]

700x does not meter well. Using most powder dispensers you are going to have problems dispensing that small of amount of 700x powder.

 

[243winxb]

700X

Works ok in both my vintage Ohaus duel chamber and Dillon RL450 powder measures, using the small chamber for 38 & 45 acp. It has not bridged for me. It drops within +/- .1gr It will produce more smoke than Bullsey or Unique. Works ok with light or near maximum loads for me.

 

[627PCFan]

My buddy just got 8lbs of 700 for 45acp. He is getting .4gn variations on his hornady press. I advised him to to meter by hand or give it up. That powder has a narrow range, seemed too risky to me.

 

[243winxb]

photo

 

[bocefus78]

700x is a good powder but it meters horribly for me in a lee auto disc on charges at or below 4gr. Above that, meters fine.

My glock 23 loves some 165gr loaded with 700x. I won't use it for 9mm, due to the metering issues.

 

[FMJBT]

I've used charges of 700x as low as as 2.8 for 38 special. Never had a problem with metering of my uni flow.

Using the Lee cast 356-124-tc (sized to. 357) mould, I use a charge of 3.8 gr of 700x for my ppq and my shield. Still meters fine using both the uniflow and the Hornady powder measurer when I'm going full progressive.

 

[cfullgraf]

I have used 700-X in 45ACP for decades. Meters fine for me, plus/minus 0.1 grains or less. I have also loaded 380 ACP with 700-X but I like to save my 700-X for the 45ACP so the 700-X load is an alternate.

The key metering flake powders is to settle the powder column first by throwing 20 - 25 charges before measuring anything. Then thow each charge the same way every time.

I've used an RCBS Little Dandy, Redding 10-X, and a Dillon on an SDB.

As I recently got an 8 pound jug of 700-X, I have started loading 44 Special with 700-X on a Hornady L-N-L using a modified 10-X. Others will follow as 700-X is less position sensitve in the case as with Unique.

 

[SwaneeSR]

700x works fine in my Dillon 550b. No metering issues.
I have loaded 9mm and currently load .40sw. It also works great in my 12gauge trap loads.
I have purchased 8lb containers and a few 14oz ones.

700x is my go to powder at least until Clays and other powders return to the shelves.

I have scored some tight group recently and I will be trying that out, although based on comments on this site, seems like Tight Group has a lower case fill and you need to watch double charging cases.

Swanee

 

[Toprudder]

With my Uniflow measure, I had better luck with the optional baffle.

With my Dillon, I had good luck using an aquarium pump attached to the hopper to vibrate and settle the powder. I got +/- 0.1gn doing that.

 

[Hondo 60]

Using the Lee cast 356-124-tc (sized to. 357) mould, I use a charge of 3.8 gr of 700x

CAUTION
That's above Hodgdon's maximum!
Their load data for that bullet is 2.9-3.4
3.4 produces 33,500 PSI

SAAMI max is 35,000

If you're using more than max, please don't be so cavalier about publishing your load.
There are plenty of new people who see that & think it's OK to always go above max.

PLEASE stay safe my friends

And thank you to those who are responding - great job!

 

[TfflHndn]

700x is a great powder for .45 performance. I never could get it to meter for me. IMO it's no better than Red Dot/Promo in performance, and I have a lot of Red Dot so I will not be buying 700x again.

 

[Toprudder]

If anyone thinks 700x does not meter well, don't even bother trying 800x.

I bought some 800x just to try. I used my Chargemaster to dispense/weigh each charge so that I could get consistency with my load workup. I tested RMR 230 RN (hardcore match) seated to 1.200" COL, with 6.2, 6.4, 6.6, 6.8, and 7.0gn loads, ten rounds each.

My best 10 shot grouping was 0.85" at 10 yards. This was using a green laser (daytime visible) from a benchrest. That is one of my best groups with that gun, a Witness steel frame 45, 4.5" barrel.

The problem I see is that the best I can do with a powder measure is with my Dillon, using the aquarium pump vibrating the hopper, +/- 0.25gn. I can get much better than that with 700x.

 

[Rogerl830]

Have loaded and shot a few thousand
9mm
4.0 gr 700X
115 plated or fmj is a very good load in Glock 17, P95
Used a Little Dandy with and adjustable rotor

 

[Hondo 60]

No range report yet.
It didn't measure well in my Dillon PM

I got 1/2 a box done at 2.9 & then noticed one at 1.7.
So I'm gonna have to pull 'em & measure each one.

I think I might get some 124 gr FMJs
I can bump up the charge & see if that evens it out