IMR-4227 in 357 mag

ruger357w · January 25, 2015, 02:02 PM

This powder is not my first choice in the 357. I normally use Alliant 2400 but this is all I can find at the moment. So I've been working on a load with the 4227. I'm at max charge by the hornady manual 14.5gr behind a 158 gr JHP. I'm not showing signs of pressure but I'm seeing a lot of unburned powder in the barrel, which I've seen from the starting load has well. My question is should I work the load a little hotter until I see pressure signs and if I do will the unburned powder problem go away?

skizzums · January 25, 2015, 02:22 PM

that's about all I use for 357 anymore. I don't see ant unburned powder even on the lower end of the spectrum. all I can say, is I am using a CCImag primer and a heavy crimp. I find it to be a great powder if your not chasing the super high velocities.

I cant say I have used it with 158gr jacketed bullets though, it may just be that I can use a roll crimp into a groove and you cannot. Hodgdon lists max for the XTP at 16.0, but it has away to go before max pressure, I would assume case capacity may come into play there.

buck460XVR · January 25, 2015, 02:29 PM

Which 158 gr JHP? Lyman shows a max of 16.1 under a Hornady JHP. I would think you would be safe at least working up to that if done properly. FYI, Speer shows a max of 17 under all of it's 158 grainers. It's starting load is 15gr. In most of my applications with IMR4227 the best performance comes just at or slightly above compressed. IMR4227 is notorious for leaving "kernels" especially at the lower end of it's parameters. While I only use IMR4227 occasionally for .357, I use it often in .44 mag and it is my go to powder in .460. While it does not give me the velocities of H110/W296 in those calibers, it does give me excellent accuracy in all of them. Velocities are similar to 2400.

ruger357w · January 25, 2015, 02:36 PM

I'm using hornady xtp's and speer jhp. I'm starting to go hotter now. we will see

**Unclenick** · January 25, 2015, 02:54 PM

The unburned powder is a low pressure sign. The Hornady manual's data does not appear to be pressure tested, so they tend to err on the low side with just about everything. The Hodgdon data shows 16.0 grains behind the 158 grain XTP. They develop the loads with a pressure gun and reference lot of the powder, so its generally the most accurate data for the powders they distribute. But they did use a WSP primer and not a magnum primer.

January 25, 2015, 02:02 PM	#1
ruger357w Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2012 Location: Maine Posts: 161	IMR-4227 in 357 mag This powder is not my first choice in the 357. I normally use Alliant 2400 but this is all I can find at the moment. So I've been working on a load with the 4227. I'm at max charge by the hornady manual 14.5gr behind a 158 gr JHP. I'm not showing signs of pressure but I'm seeing a lot of unburned powder in the barrel, which I've seen from the starting load has well. My question is should I work the load a little hotter until I see pressure signs and if I do will the unburned powder problem go away?

January 25, 2015, 02:54 PM	#5
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,743	The unburned powder is a low pressure sign. The Hornady manual's data does not appear to be pressure tested, so they tend to err on the low side with just about everything. The Hodgdon data shows 16.0 grains behind the 158 grain XTP. They develop the loads with a pressure gun and reference lot of the powder, so its generally the most accurate data for the powders they distribute. But they did use a WSP primer and not a magnum primer. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

January 25, 2015, 02:22 PM	#2
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	that's about all I use for 357 anymore. I don't see ant unburned powder even on the lower end of the spectrum. all I can say, is I am using a CCImag primer and a heavy crimp. I find it to be a great powder if your not chasing the super high velocities. I cant say I have used it with 158gr jacketed bullets though, it may just be that I can use a roll crimp into a groove and you cannot. Hodgdon lists max for the XTP at 16.0, but it has away to go before max pressure, I would assume case capacity may come into play there.

January 25, 2015, 02:29 PM	#3
buck460XVR Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Posts: 4,342	Which 158 gr JHP? Lyman shows a max of 16.1 under a Hornady JHP. I would think you would be safe at least working up to that if done properly. FYI, Speer shows a max of 17 under all of it's 158 grainers. It's starting load is 15gr. In most of my applications with IMR4227 the best performance comes just at or slightly above compressed. IMR4227 is notorious for leaving "kernels" especially at the lower end of it's parameters. While I only use IMR4227 occasionally for .357, I use it often in .44 mag and it is my go to powder in .460. While it does not give me the velocities of H110/W296 in those calibers, it does give me excellent accuracy in all of them. Velocities are similar to 2400.

January 25, 2015, 02:36 PM	#4
ruger357w Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2012 Location: Maine Posts: 161	I'm using hornady xtp's and speer jhp. I'm starting to go hotter now. we will see