Universal Versus IMR-SR-7625

[Jeff82]

I have been shooting primarily Universal powder in my 357 carbine and Blackhawk. Due to the powder shortage I started looking for a nearly identical substitute and was able to find IMR-SR-7625. Sure enough, it produces nearly identical muzzle velocity and 100-yard accuracy as Universal. I only needed to make modest sighting adjustments to be on target. They should be similar as the primary difference seems to be that one has nitroglycerin and the other doesn't. I was shocked to find how much less fouling IMR-SR-7625 produces, night and day difference! I think this is going to be my number one go to powder.

[kenyerian]

I've used it for years in 12 guage 11/4 field loads and for 158 grain cast boolits in my 357.

[FergusonTO35]

I would love to give it a try but 7625 has vanished here too. Powder selection nowadays is dictated by what I can find. I use less favored but available powders for practice loads so I can save the good stuff.

[Jeff82]

I totally agree with your comments. As luck has it I was just able to order 5-lbs yesterday. Mid-South has it in stock at the moment.

[wrench man]

I'll be burning lots of it too (several #'s), I got all of the FIL's reloading stuff when he passed this summer, it seemed to be his favorite in his 38 Special.

[Hammerhead]

They should be similar as the primary difference seems to be that one has nitroglycerin and the other doesn't.
I was under the impression both powders are single base. I know Universal is for sure, and thought all the IMR SR powders were as well.
SR-7625 is a great powder, clean, meters well, always good accuracy.
Universal is my favorite, and I've been substituting SR-4756 for it. Very happy with 4756. I went with the slower choice because I'm loading more plated and jacketed these days.
7625 is my primary powder for auto pistol rounds.

[Outpost75]

Back in the day, SR7625 was the powder which Remington used for loading both .38 Special and .45 ACP match wadcutter ammunition. I have also used it with good results in plainbased rifle loads reducing charges 10% by weight from Unique data. A charge of 9 grains with a 150-170 grain, cast, soft lead plainbased bullet is a great gallery or Junior training load in the .30-'06 which approximates .32-40 ballistics, about 1200 fps from the '03 Springfield.

[Jeff82]

I'm going to try loading it for my snubnosed revolver. I suspect it may be a bit slower burning than I'd like for this application, but since I'm out of faster burning powders, I'll give it a try.

[Hammerhead]

The only downside to 7625 is it's position sensitivity.
With light loads and light bullets in long brass (357) it can give wild velocity swings depending on whether the gun was pointed up or down prior to the shot.
More so than other powders like Clays or Titegroup.

[Buckshot]

...........I've always used SR7625 interchangeably with Unique in loading cast in the 357 mag and 45 Colt. I've never bought SR7625, but years ago was given 6 or so pounds leftover from a friend of a friend :-) Worked fine but it seems to me to be one of those powders like IMR4320. It's great for certain things but only truly excells in a narrow range of applications.

............Buckshot

[9.3X62AL]

I haven't used either SR-7625 or Universal, as best I can recall. It's good to read this info about both, with our current Third World reloading component acquisition mode in effect you never know what sort of adjustments need to be made to keep shooting. Thanks, y'all!

[Hammerhead]

For some reason you just don't hear much about the IMR SR powders, very underrated.
I could live with just 3 powders if I had to, SR-7625, SR-4756 and SR-4759.

[Newtire]

I found 7625 to be super-clean burning and use it in 20 gauge and 10 gauge. I have a bunch of it so now I will give it a try in .357 I reckon. It would be one of those powders to grab when you can. SR4759 is about the Cadillac of powders for some cast boolit loads and SR 4756 is also great in pistol and shotgun loads I have tried it in. I've even seen some data for .410 shotgun with SR4759 using cardboard and fiber wads in an old loading manual I have somewhere. Just make sure you don't get your numbers mixed up!

[9.3X62AL]

I got steered onto SR-4756 by Ken Waters' writings in Handloader, specifically to load the 32-20 WCF for revolver usage. It has become THE powder for that caliber in the rollerpistols--it really does fine work in that otherwise cranky and contrary application. I've tried it in 38 Special and 45 ACP intermittently, where it does fine work--but not any better than my old stand-bys like Bullseye and WW-231. I kind of reserve the SR-4756 for the 32-20s, since I shoot a lot of that caliber in 3 revolvers now.

[robertbank]

How do you think these two powders would work in 9MM (SR-7625, SR-4756 ). We are looking, like everyone else, for substitutes for powders that are not available right now.

Take Care

Bob

[9.3X62AL]

Bob, I have no experience using SR-4756 in either 9mm or 40 S&W, but give me a short time to "develop" some more empties in those calibers--dive into the data stream--and we'll see what results. :)

[robertbank]

Thanks Al I appreciate the assistance. We are looking at the powder to replace 231/hp38. Our powder choices are narrowing more and more up here. Lots of primers for a change but little to light up. :>) Will use the powder in .38spl as well for IDPA.

All the best

Bob

[jameslovesjammie]

7625 is stellar in 9mm. Over at the reloading section of czfirearms.us, there has been quite a bit of research the past year using it.

The Bad: it's discontinued as of 2015. All the SR powders are. Hodgdon says they are too expensive to have made. They are a product of Canada.