Experiences with IMR SR4756

Gregory Gauvin · January 9, 2017, 12:02 AM

Just curious if anyone has loaded 9mm, 40, 45 with SR4756 and your opinions on the powder. Cleanliness, metering, performance...etc. I did not know that this powder was discontinued until this past week. I have 5 or 6 lbs of it unopened I had nabbed up during the prior powder shortage.

Pathfinder45 · January 9, 2017, 12:54 AM

I've used it in 45 Colt perhaps a decade or longer ago. It shot OK, but with quite a bit of unburned powder. I think it needed more pressure than I was giving it. You'll be able to make better use of it than I did. That much powder will make a lot of pistol ammo. Play with it for a while and you will come up with some accurate loads and if you run it at higher pressure than I did, it should burn cleaner than it did for me.

Real Gun · January 9, 2017, 08:54 AM

Not what I would use for those semiautos. I would trade the powder to a revolver guy who likes to shoot 38 Special and light 357 Magnum. I use it on those because of its higher VMD allowing me to see the powder before placing a bullet for seating. It doesn't ignite well, so I use magnum primers, suggested to help with unburned powder.

LeverGunFan · January 9, 2017, 07:55 PM

A couple years ago I found a 1 pound metal can of SR4756 for $10, and at that price I couldn't pass it up even though I wasn't sure what I would use it for. I've since used it in 9mm for casual target shooting, and it works OK for me.

9MMand223only · January 9, 2017, 08:48 PM

This powder IMR 4756 is a favorite for bullseye shooters, it lends to very accurate loads.

Pet loads would be something like this for maximum accuracy.

jacketed copper, or Xtreme, or Berry's 115 grain, use ~5.6-5.7 grains at 1.145 OAL, 95 grain use like ~6.2. Play in that area, and you will see why so many people like this powder for shooting bulls.

Hammerhead · January 11, 2017, 03:11 PM

4756 meters very consistently and works well in 9mm, but is too slow for .45 auto IMO.
It's my old favorite 357 magnum powder, perfect for those 'magnum-lite' loads.
It likes magnum primers, Winchester WSPM seems to be the best for ignition with 4756.

January 9, 2017, 12:02 AM	#1
Gregory Gauvin Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2009 Posts: 368	Experiences with IMR SR4756 Just curious if anyone has loaded 9mm, 40, 45 with SR4756 and your opinions on the powder. Cleanliness, metering, performance...etc. I did not know that this powder was discontinued until this past week. I have 5 or 6 lbs of it unopened I had nabbed up during the prior powder shortage.

January 9, 2017, 08:54 AM	#3
Real Gun Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2004 Location: SC Posts: 2,743	Not what I would use for those semiautos. I would trade the powder to a revolver guy who likes to shoot 38 Special and light 357 Magnum. I use it on those because of its higher VMD allowing me to see the powder before placing a bullet for seating. It doesn't ignite well, so I use magnum primers, suggested to help with unburned powder. __________________ Not an expert, just a reporter.

January 9, 2017, 07:55 PM	#4
LeverGunFan Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 407	A couple years ago I found a 1 pound metal can of SR4756 for $10, and at that price I couldn't pass it up even though I wasn't sure what I would use it for. I've since used it in 9mm for casual target shooting, and it works OK for me. __________________ *Support the Second Amendment Foundation and the Firearms Policy Coalition*

January 9, 2017, 12:54 AM	#2
Pathfinder45 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Posts: 3,224	I've used it in 45 Colt perhaps a decade or longer ago. It shot OK, but with quite a bit of unburned powder. I think it needed more pressure than I was giving it. You'll be able to make better use of it than I did. That much powder will make a lot of pistol ammo. Play with it for a while and you will come up with some accurate loads and if you run it at higher pressure than I did, it should burn cleaner than it did for me.

January 9, 2017, 08:48 PM	#5
9MMand223only Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2014 Posts: 283	This powder IMR 4756 is a favorite for bullseye shooters, it lends to very accurate loads. Pet loads would be something like this for maximum accuracy. jacketed copper, or Xtreme, or Berry's 115 grain, use ~5.6-5.7 grains at 1.145 OAL, 95 grain use like ~6.2. Play in that area, and you will see why so many people like this powder for shooting bulls.

January 11, 2017, 03:11 PM	#6
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	4756 meters very consistently and works well in 9mm, but is too slow for .45 auto IMO. It's my old favorite 357 magnum powder, perfect for those 'magnum-lite' loads. It likes magnum primers, Winchester WSPM seems to be the best for ignition with 4756.