IMR 700X? is this a good beginners powder?

[Budda]

I am looking for a good powder over a 125 grn semi wad cutter in. 38. I was going to start with about 3.7grn ina 2" snubbie and 4" Colt trooper. It looks like a high volume powder so I can notice a double charge easier. Thoughts and comments?

B.C.

[rexherring]

I've shot a lot of it in my .38. It was leftover powder from my trap shooting days. That is the starting load from the IMR website for that grain boolit. I was shooting a lot of plinking loads with a 110 gr SWC and 3.5 grs of 700x and it's a good starting load.

[Aces an Eights]

4gns of 700X works good for me in 38spc 124gn LRN. Also had success with several gns 308 plinking.

[Le Loup Solitaire]

Good question and yes it is a very good powder. Can work very well in the 38. I have used 2.6 grains with 148 grain WC's and other loads ranging thru 3.4 to 3.9 grains with 158 grain round noses; also with the 357's. It can be used for plinking or target. Its not a slow powder, so you would be well advised to observe what is published in reliable loading manuals. It is not what is considered a high volume powder in that you don't need very much of it to get good results, nor does it take up a lot of space in the case; too much of it will get you into trouble. It, with proper loading, will produce good results with 120-125 grain RN and conical (truncated) bullet designs). It has to be watched carefully along with quite a few other powders for double charging so work into your loading format a system for checking and preventing that. Always start low and work up with your eye always on grouping/accuracy and of course.. safety. It is also an economical and efficient powder. Powder is not classified according to who is using it, i.e. a beginner or a pro, but rather to its burning rate, application, and suitability to a particular caliber/cartridge etc. LLS

[C.F.Plinker]

When I started loading for 45ACP I found that my 45 didn't like Bullseye. 700X was the next powder I tried. My gun liked it for both functioning and accuracy. It is a larger grained powder than Bullseye and, for me, was more difficult to measure with the CH measure I was using at the time because of the necessity to cut the grains using the measure. When I fininshed that pound I tried 230 (yes, it was that long ago) liked it, and have used 230 and later 231 ever since. YMMV.

[MT Gianni]

Yes it is. Red Dot is fluffier, easier to see if you have not charged or have double charged a case and has more applications. I would start there if it were me.

[badgeredd]

I've also used 700x in my 38 Special loads. A great powder for super slow loads in my 38 Special rifle too. A friend turned me on to using it in light 30-30 loads too. For plinker loads with a very soft 150 grain plain based boolit at about 1000 fps 700x excels.

Edd

[R.M.]

Trail Boss is a little more expensive powder, but if you're concerned about being able to spot a double charge, it's the way to go. It works well in the 38 also.

[Budda]

Thanks guys...I am going to load some with my father in law this weekend...with trail boss and some 700x. thanks for the help...I will post more newb questions i am sure.

B.C.

[Bad Water Bill]

700X

Last month I picked up a HI POINT carbine in 9MM.

Not being sure how strong my new plinking thing was I decided to try a jug of 700X that has been hiding in a dark corner feeling secure there. An OLD manual said 3 GR under a 125 GR cast boolit. Well it functioned the action and did what I wanted from the gun in the hands of an OLD man.

What surprised me was that the same loads worked quite well in my Browning Hi Power. Next thing is try it in the LUGER.

[375RUGER]

700-X is an excellent powder to start reloading with. It just so happens that is the first powder I ever metered into a case, 44mag.

[prs]

Not sure if this holds true in cartridge loading or not, but 700X in shot shells gets very "lively" when its hot outside. Very reliable for cold weather hunting rounds. Also in shot shells, 800X is a ***** cat in the heat, but bad to give bloopers if temps are in low 20's F or lower. Again, not sure that applies to cartridge loads.

prs

[felix]

Yes, that is true for all pistol case loads as well. It burns exceedingly well at higher pressures and gives expert accuracy in the heavier revolters as a result. Watch the ambient temps at all times. If the load was developed in hot weather, then all is well. We are talking +P+ 700X loads here. ... felix

BWB's 9mm application seems very interesting. Across the board, the 9mm guns love high pressure, so I would not hesitate using top loadings. If fouling becomes too much for a days outing, I would exchange the 700X with Herco and load several rounds there at the very same volume. These loads can be used as chasers to bring the barrel back around for the 700X loads again. 700X and Herco have the very same density. RockyRaab might be of help here?? ... felix

[375RUGER]

my very accurate 9mm load: 115 LRN, 3.75 g of 700-X, CCI 500. Excellent in Firestar, SP101, Hi Power, and P89

My not cycle BWBs carbine though as carbines like a heavier payload, I should say tend to like a heavier payload, IME.

[243winxb]

700X produces more smoke & gives more variation in a measure then Bullseye. I only use 700X because its leftover from Trap/Skeet shooting. Should have kept using Red Dot.

[felix]

Yes it does. 700X enjoys a tight space. BE is more flexible in that regard. ... felix

[TCLouis]

Budda

As they say in the Black Powder shooting world . . .

First the powder

THEN the ball

[HangFireW8]

700-X is an excellent powder to start reloading with. It just so happens that is the first powder I ever metered into a case, 44mag.

375Ruger, you brought back a memory. I loaded my first 45ACP with Red Dot, for the simple reason I had a pound left over from reloading for trap shooting. What I remember about it is that last pound of Red Dot was damp or something, it kept fouling the shotgun forcing cone with unburnt flakes. But in the 45 the same powder burned clean and worked great. I guess the difference was it got to 25K PSI in the 45, but couldn't quite get to 20K PSI in the 12 gauge.

Recently I ran out of my usual powder for 45, and looking through my few choices I found some 700X. I tried it and remembered something about flake shotgun powders in handgun cases- it is easy to volume measure 20-22 grains of flake powder with acceptable variance, not so easy to do 5 grains with acceptable variance.

That's why we love BE, W231, AA #2i/5/7/9 in handgun- it all meters so easily.

That's my only caveat for recommending 700X for beginners. Small amounts can be tedious to hand measure, or inaccurate to volume measure.


HF