H4227, what calibers is this a good fit for?

[alamogunr]

I recently read something online by John Taffin where he said that if you were having trouble getting accuracy in a handgun, try 4227, I don't remember if he specified IMR4227 or not. He did say that 4227 could give accuracy in those instances where anything else would not

That is all I remember except I did think that maybe I should get a pound when things eased up.

[THG]

Started digging in my "library" and found a copy of the Modern Reloading 2nd Ed. Thank you for the tip.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

My preferred powder for full power 45 Colt revolver, fine accuracy in 44 Mag, 357, 22 Hornet, 218 Bee, use for mild loads with cast boolits in 30-30, 32 Special, 308. Like most IMR powders, predictable pressure rise, not spiky/temperamental for load development. If I need more power out of a 45 Colt or 44 Mag handgun than I can get with 4227 - I carry a rifle.

[Shanghai Jack]

I use it when breach-seating a 168 grain bullet in the 32-40

[beshears]

218 Bee, 17 Bee, 25-20 Single Shot, 32-20,32-40, 25-20 WCF, I use a lot of it.

[Jim22]

Interesting... I have loaded lots of different powders including IMR4227. This is the first time I have read where so many think it produces the best accuracy if not the highest velocity. Gonna have to look at it again.

Jim

[Castaway]

Best powder I’ve used for Ruger level 45 Colt loads. Not as much velocity as H110 but consistently accurate with cast or jacketed bullets. Outpost 75, do you have a reference stating 4227 was used by the government in the 30 carbine? Never heard or read that. Surplus WC 820 was sold by Hodgdon as H110 and Winchester as 296 and now are the same powder, differing only in lot to lot variation. WC820 (H110) was the original powder for the 30 Carbine

[Savvy Jack]

"Twenty two years after its introduction, the first .44 W.C.F. smokeless powder cartridge is found in Winchester's catalog No. 55, dated August, 1895. In its manufacture, Winchester used 17 grains of DuPont No. 2 "Rifle" powder which was a "bulk" type smokeless powder patented on August 22, 1893. DuPont's description of "bulk" smokeless powder indicated that it was to be loaded in "bulk" measure just like black powder.

​In the .44 W.C.F., 17 grs. of DuPont No. 2 Bulk Smokeless occupied the same volume as 40grs. of FFG. Velocity was cataloged at 1,300 f.p.s. To identify the new .44 W.C.F. smokeless powder cartridges from those containing black powder, which looked identical, Winchester put a "W" in a circle on the primer." Dupont #2 had a similar burn rate as today's IMR-4227. However, Unlike 17gr of Dupont #2, 17gr of IMR-4227 is not a case capacity load but is a published load. Also unlike Dupont #2, IMR-4227 is formulated in a way that retards burning which prevents high pressure spikes.

​Du Pont #1204, introduced in 1925, was directly replaced by IMR-4227 in 1935. 25gr to 30gr of #1204 was used in the 44-40 cartridge giving a 200gr JSP between 1,400 and 1,830fps (Sharpe 1937). IMR-4227 was superior and 29gr gave the 200gr JSP 1,890fps. No pressures listed for those loads but notes recommended by Dupont.

Lyman's 49th lists a max load, 17gr of IMR-4227 with a Lyman 427098. They claim 1,083fps with no pressure listed for Group I rifles like the Winchester 73'. I tested 17gr in my 20" MGM barrel I used for high pressure testing. 17gr with a 427098 resulted in 1,127fps (closely replicating modern Winchester Super-X ammo velocity) @ 9,500psi. I tested 20gr with a 43-215C (427098 replica) resulted in 1,418fps @ 16,500psi but also included .5cc of PSB shot buffer to keep the powder at the back of the case. IMR-4227 is position sensitive and could be why some of my early velocity tests were lower than the manual.

​Lyman's 49th handloading manual shows a max load of 18.5gr of IMR-4227 with a Speer JHP@ 1,212fps. This load only gave me 1,097fps. 20gr of IMR-4227 produced 1,297fps but also created 12,000psi, just a tad over the 11,000psi max. A caseload (26gr) of IMR-4227 with the popular Magma type 200gr lead bullet resulted in 1,733fps but produced 20,913psi....only safe for Group II rifles like the Winchester 92/94 and Marlin's 1894. I am getting consistent 10 shot 4" groups at 100 yards.

On a side note, IMR-4227 was a direct replacement for IMR-1204

Lightly loaded Magnum (Mid -Range Rifle) powders work well out to 100 yards but if your desire is to shoot further, using a flatter trajectory...and retaining energy, a heavier higher pressure load is needed for a desired tighter group but only safe for strong action rifles like the Model 92. Winchester already accomplished this with their High Velocity loads by 1903 and and was manufactured until 1938 as the 44 WCF High Velocity (not for pistols or weak action rifles.).

IMR-4227 is IMR's Magnum powder just as 2400 was Hercules's Magnum powder. Both were called rifle powders long before they were called Magnum powders and are mid-range slower burning rifle powders...not faster burning pistol powders. Perfect powders for the 22 Hornet.



Attachment 285326
Attachment 285327

[Outpost75]

No printed reference, only pull-down powder from RA42 ball.

[ubetcha]

It is suppose to be a popular powder for the 357 MAXIMUM. That's what I use it for in my T/C G2 with a 12" bbl.

[ebb]

I think i have loaded 30/30 with it. i will have to look to make sure.