IMR 4227 in .38/.357 Short Barrels---

Prince55 · August 24, 2009, 01:14 PM

Is IMR 4227 a pretty decent powder to use in the shorter barreled
.38 Special & .357 Magnum Revolvers for speed ? I know the accuracy
is Great with that powder.

Thanks

GP100man · August 24, 2009, 02:11 PM

theres better choices for short barrels, 4227 is actually a fast rifle powder& a slow pistol powder
clays, titegroup,hp-38, bullseye , 700x would be better for short barrels.

think of burn time the bullet spends in the barrel

my 2 cent

GeauxTide · August 24, 2009, 08:18 PM

Too slow in a longer 38/357 barrel.

rn22723 · August 24, 2009, 09:29 PM

As pointed out 4227 in either flavor is not a good choice......231 / HP38 is great mid range powder!

**Unclenick** · August 24, 2009, 10:03 PM

The really short barrels (1 7/8" and 2" and sometimes even the 2 1/3") have a hard time with slow powders because the bullet can exit the barrel before the pressure peak occurs if the initial ignition did not go smoothly. That happens, so these guns often exhibit very erratic muzzle velocity with slow powders. On another site we had a fellow with a .38 Special snubby getting anywhere from 450 to 600 fps from his loads. That's variation of 25% of his maximum velocity. Pretty poor consistency. By switching him to a fast powder his peak velocity dropped to 575 fps, but it didn't vary by a lot anymore. 35 fps or so instead of 150 fps.

If you are running a .357, you can improve on that velocity simply by running higher load pressures with the quicker powders. Be aware that high pressure at bullet exit from a short tube can deform the bullet base with muzzle blast, so these are not normally accurate loads and jacketed bullets that kick harder will do better than lead in this situation.

August 24, 2009, 01:14 PM	#1
Prince55 Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2007 Posts: 472	IMR 4227 in .38/.357 Short Barrels--- Is IMR 4227 a pretty decent powder to use in the shorter barreled .38 Special & .357 Magnum Revolvers for speed ? I know the accuracy is Great with that powder. Thanks

August 24, 2009, 02:11 PM	#2
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	theres better choices for short barrels, 4227 is actually a fast rifle powder& a slow pistol powder clays, titegroup,hp-38, bullseye , 700x would be better for short barrels. think of burn time the bullet spends in the barrel my 2 cent __________________ GP100man

August 24, 2009, 08:18 PM	#3
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,424	+1GP Too slow in a longer 38/357 barrel.

August 24, 2009, 10:03 PM	#5
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	The really short barrels (1 7/8" and 2" and sometimes even the 2 1/3") have a hard time with slow powders because the bullet can exit the barrel before the pressure peak occurs if the initial ignition did not go smoothly. That happens, so these guns often exhibit very erratic muzzle velocity with slow powders. On another site we had a fellow with a .38 Special snubby getting anywhere from 450 to 600 fps from his loads. That's variation of 25% of his maximum velocity. Pretty poor consistency. By switching him to a fast powder his peak velocity dropped to 575 fps, but it didn't vary by a lot anymore. 35 fps or so instead of 150 fps. If you are running a .357, you can improve on that velocity simply by running higher load pressures with the quicker powders. Be aware that high pressure at bullet exit from a short tube can deform the bullet base with muzzle blast, so these are not normally accurate loads and jacketed bullets that kick harder will do better than lead in this situation. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

August 24, 2009, 09:29 PM	#4
rn22723 Junior member Join Date: December 10, 2001 Location: Burbs of Minneapolis Posts: 676	As pointed out 4227 in either flavor is not a good choice......231 / HP38 is great mid range powder!