IMR 4227 for .44 magnum -- anybody with experience?

[Uni-Vibe]

I picked up a pound of IMR 4227 on a whim at the gun show. I'm loading 240 grain hardcast for Smith 629.

Hogdon website says 22 grains of this stuff gives you 1310 fps. at moderate pressure.

Will this powder do anything that AA9 won't do? Any experience?

[1_click_off]

I worked up some loads for a buddy. His rifle seems to like 23.4 grains in Starline brass topped with a Hornady 240gr XTP.

He doesn’t bench shoot for groups, but said at 75yds he can hit the end of a coke can all day long.

He has a ruger 77/44. That is all he uses for deer hunting. Said it just drops them in place.

I weighed each charge on a balance beam and trickled the last bit in. Took forever, but it is the most consistent and accurate he has ever been.

If I ever go up to his land, I’ll take my chronograph and check the FPS.

Edit: we chose 4227 because it was during the shortage and the only thing on the shelf at the time.

[gaijin]

4227 and H110/296 were the go to powders for top end .44 mag loads.
The only thing it won’t do that AA9 does- is download for moderate loads with the consistency (velocity) that AA9 has.

[lowprone]

NO, But I did find a 8 pounder of 2400 at a sporting goods store in Rapid City this summer.

[Coal Dragger]

I use 4227 in .454 Casull niceand accurate, doesn’t seem as snappy as H110.

[Coal Dragger]

Where are you in the Hills lowprone?

[gaijin]

You can substitute reload data from 2400 to AA9 pretty safely.
My only issue with 2400 is it meters inconsistent, compared to AA9- which meters beautifully.

[Uni-Vibe]

Is 240 grains at 1300+ too much for a 629? Are we in Redhawk county here?

[biggfoot44]

At one level , 4227 can't do anything that AA9 can also do . But I really like 4227 because with certain parameters , it always gives good to excellent accuracy . ( Cast bullet of more or less standard weight for cal , 90 % load density , will range from 1.25in to sub 1 inch @ 25yd from iron sighted revolver .)

[lowprone]

Whitewood

[Coal Dragger]

That’s a bit of a hike from me, I’m down in Hot Springs.