how does 800x stack up?

riverratt · July 18, 2014, 05:29 PM

In my .44 mag i usualy use win 296 and i have a backup load for 2400 juat in case. Well im out of 296 and nearly out of 2400. I was at the lgs today and they just got in quite a few pounds of imr 800x.

I was wondering if any of y'all have used this powder for full house .44 mag loads, if so how did it stack up to the 296 or 2400?

Clark · July 18, 2014, 05:57 PM

I have not tried it in 44 mag, but the late gunsmith Randy Ketchum said that he worked up 200 gr 44 mag with 800X and could never find pressure sign.

That may be like me in 357 mag with LIL'GUN 158 gr, I never could find pressure sign, it kept kicking harder and getting louder, but the chrono data was going down, not up. I was just making bigger fire balls.

But in 32 S&W Long, 800 X gives the same results as LIL'GUN, just use half as much.

800X has worked well with heavy bullets in 40sw and 10mm for me.

800X works in 25acp, 380, and 9mm.

riverratt · July 18, 2014, 06:11 PM

Clark i havnt seen any data for a 9mm. Ive seen .45acp and .44mag but not 9mm. How did it do in the 9mm side

mikejonestkd · July 18, 2014, 06:26 PM

800x works well for 44mag, but it meters absolutely awful through a Lee PPM and Lee Autodisk measures.

win 296, 2400 and 4227 are better for 44 mag max loads if you can find them.

Cabelas has 4227 in stock today.

Brian Pfleuger · July 18, 2014, 06:50 PM

800x stacks up like corn flakes.

That's it's real downside. Unless you'v got an electronic dispenser, it meters like crap.

However, it does tend to produce velocities on the highest end, often THE highest, particularly with heavy for caliber bullets. Sometimes it makes near the highest velocity for light bullets too, other times not, but it's at the high end more than the low, IME.

I've used it a fair amount in 10mm and 357sig. It's practically made for them. It is top of the heap for speed in those cartridges but it's terrible metering keeps it less popular, I think.

Hunter Customs · July 18, 2014, 06:57 PM

I have not loaded 800X in the 44 mag but I love it in 45 Colt loads.
It does not meter well thru my RCBS Uniflow powder measures so I made a powder scoop for the charge weight I wanted and it works great.

I just acquired 16 pounds of IMR 4227, tested a little in the 45 Colt, it shows the best accuracy of any loads I've loaded so far.

In the 44 mag I've always had excellent accuracy using 2400, however I've not had great results with 2400 in 45 Colt.

Best Regards
Bob Hunter
www.huntercustoms.com

riverratt · July 18, 2014, 07:47 PM

Thanks for the heads up on the metering issue, i wont get it for my higher volume loads. On the other hand my full power .44mag loads i consider low volume loads (as in i only use them for hunting, sighting in and showing off

) so each and every charge is weighed . Looks like it may be good stuff ill probably get some. Who knows it may be better than my 296 load, but that will be hard to beat with 3" 100yrd groups out of a 7 1/2" bbl.

Brian Pfleuger · July 18, 2014, 08:04 PM

The metering issue may or may not be any issue at all, it depends on if you're going for dragon breath loads or just mid-range plinkers. The loads range is so wide (something like 2 1/2gr in 10mm) that I just set the Lee Auto-disk for 8.5gr and I get anywhere between 8.2-8.7. Close enough.

For true screamers, yeah, I weigh every charge anyway so it's not really an issue. I wouldn't use 800x, metered at max charges, without every round verification.

riverratt · July 18, 2014, 08:21 PM

Well brian with my 240gr i like to see 1400fps and with my 200gr i like to see 1600fps so my loads are on the upper end for sure.

mikejonestkd · July 18, 2014, 08:26 PM

RR, 800X will get you to your desired velocities, and you should be OK as long as you weigh every charge and watch for pressure issues.

It burns clean, and has consistent velocities, I just prefer to not use it because its poor metering characteristics.

Clark · July 19, 2014, 12:20 AM

Quote:

riverratt
Clark i havnt seen any data for a 9mm. Ive seen .45acp and .44mag but not 9mm. How did it do in the 9mm side

~ 12 years ago I worked up to as much as I could get to fit with 124 and 147 gr bullets.
No problems with the Kel-Tec P11 with case support over the feed ramp at 0.190" and the web of RP primed brass 0.160" thick.

The 800X results are usually the same as LIL'GUN, except for the weight of charge of the LIL'Gun is twice as much. But in 9mm there is not enough room for that much LIL'GUN.

The 800X shoots out in burning flakes from the muzzle that can land on paint and make the paint look bad.

July 18, 2014, 05:29 PM	#1
riverratt Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2014 Posts: 314	how does 800x stack up? In my .44 mag i usualy use win 296 and i have a backup load for 2400 juat in case. Well im out of 296 and nearly out of 2400. I was at the lgs today and they just got in quite a few pounds of imr 800x. I was wondering if any of y'all have used this powder for full house .44 mag loads, if so how did it stack up to the 296 or 2400?

July 18, 2014, 05:57 PM	#2
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	I have not tried it in 44 mag, but the late gunsmith Randy Ketchum said that he worked up 200 gr 44 mag with 800X and could never find pressure sign. That may be like me in 357 mag with LIL'GUN 158 gr, I never could find pressure sign, it kept kicking harder and getting louder, but the chrono data was going down, not up. I was just making bigger fire balls. But in 32 S&W Long, 800 X gives the same results as LIL'GUN, just use half as much. 800X has worked well with heavy bullets in 40sw and 10mm for me. 800X works in 25acp, 380, and 9mm. __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?

July 18, 2014, 06:26 PM	#4
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,716	800x works well for 44mag, but it meters absolutely awful through a Lee PPM and Lee Autodisk measures. win 296, 2400 and 4227 are better for 44 mag max loads if you can find them. Cabelas has 4227 in stock today. __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

July 18, 2014, 06:50 PM	#5
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	800x stacks up like corn flakes. That's it's real downside. Unless you'v got an electronic dispenser, it meters like crap. However, it does tend to produce velocities on the highest end, often THE highest, particularly with heavy for caliber bullets. Sometimes it makes near the highest velocity for light bullets too, other times not, but it's at the high end more than the low, IME. I've used it a fair amount in 10mm and 357sig. It's practically made for them. It is top of the heap for speed in those cartridges but it's terrible metering keeps it less popular, I think. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

July 18, 2014, 07:47 PM	#7
riverratt Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2014 Posts: 314	Thanks for the heads up on the metering issue, i wont get it for my higher volume loads. On the other hand my full power .44mag loads i consider low volume loads (as in i only use them for hunting, sighting in and showing off) so each and every charge is weighed . Looks like it may be good stuff ill probably get some. Who knows it may be better than my 296 load, but that will be hard to beat with 3" 100yrd groups out of a 7 1/2" bbl.

July 18, 2014, 06:11 PM	#3
riverratt Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2014 Posts: 314	Clark i havnt seen any data for a 9mm. Ive seen .45acp and .44mag but not 9mm. How did it do in the 9mm side

July 18, 2014, 06:57 PM	#6
Hunter Customs Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2005 Location: Osborn, Missouri Posts: 2,697	I have not loaded 800X in the 44 mag but I love it in 45 Colt loads. It does not meter well thru my RCBS Uniflow powder measures so I made a powder scoop for the charge weight I wanted and it works great. I just acquired 16 pounds of IMR 4227, tested a little in the 45 Colt, it shows the best accuracy of any loads I've loaded so far. In the 44 mag I've always had excellent accuracy using 2400, however I've not had great results with 2400 in 45 Colt. Best Regards Bob Hunter www.huntercustoms.com

July 18, 2014, 08:04 PM	#8
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	The metering issue may or may not be any issue at all, it depends on if you're going for dragon breath loads or just mid-range plinkers. The loads range is so wide (something like 2 1/2gr in 10mm) that I just set the Lee Auto-disk for 8.5gr and I get anywhere between 8.2-8.7. Close enough. For true screamers, yeah, I weigh every charge anyway so it's not really an issue. I wouldn't use 800x, metered at max charges, without every round verification. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

July 18, 2014, 08:21 PM	#9
riverratt Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2014 Posts: 314	Well brian with my 240gr i like to see 1400fps and with my 200gr i like to see 1600fps so my loads are on the upper end for sure.

July 18, 2014, 08:26 PM	#10
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,716	RR, 800X will get you to your desired velocities, and you should be OK as long as you weigh every charge and watch for pressure issues. It burns clean, and has consistent velocities, I just prefer to not use it because its poor metering characteristics. __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.