What ever happened to 4227?

[davet]

I have about a pound and a half of 4227 out in my shop/gun room and was looking for data for 44 Mag and 45 Colt on the internet. I haven't used this powder for at least 10 years but it appears alright (not deteriorated) and I was going to load up some big revolver cases with it. Thought I would get the latest data out there but that's my problem. The Hodgdon web site doesn't list it and even the "Load Data" site doesn't have any loads for either cartridge.

Was 4227 not selling well and they dropped production or was it found wanting in some other capacity? In some older Lyman manuals they list 4227 as giving top accuracy in some loads for both the 44 Mag and the 45 Colt.

Dave

[taffin]

Jul 26, 2017 15:01:45 GMT -5 davet said:

I have about a pound and a half of 4227 out in my shop/gun room and was looking for data for 44 Mag and 45 Colt on the internet. I haven't used this powder for at least 10 years but it appears alright (not deteriorated) and I was going to load up some big revolver cases with it. Thought I would get the latest data out there but that's my problem. The Hodgdon web site doesn't list it and even the "Load Data" site doesn't have any loads for either cartridge.

Was 4227 not selling well and they dropped production or was it found wanting in some other capacity? In some older Lyman manuals they list 4227 as giving top accuracy in some loads for both the 44 Mag and the 45 Colt.

Dave

GO TO THE HODGDON'S SITE AND LOOK UNDER IMR POWDERS. FOR YEARS WE HAD H4227 AND IMR 4227. NOW ONLY ONE AND THAT IS H4227 SOLD AS IMR4227--THEY WERE THE SAME STUFF ANYWAY. STILL GOOD STUFF. SO WHY HAVEN'T YOU USED IT IN 10 YEARS??

[sixshot]

I've shot 4227 every day for the last 11 days straight in my 357 Maximum & I'll shoot it again today if I get this new dishwasher installed! It's a great powder in many different calibers, I also use it in my Ruger 480 & it's always been a favorite load in the Colt 45 for many shooters. The 250-260 gr. Keith bullet & 20 grs of 4227 is what you might call a standard load for many Silhouette shooters in Ruger Blackhawks.

Dick

[davet]

Jul 26, 2017 15:39:50 GMT -5 taffin said:

Jul 26, 2017 15:01:45 GMT -5 davet said:

 SO WHY HAVEN'T YOU USED IT IN 10 YEARS??

Got away from shooting large bore revolvers with one exception. My reloading has been predominately 45 ACP for both semi autos and M25 & M625 S&Ws. About 10 years ago I got interested in the 38/44 cartridge and the guns that shoot it and found 2400 worked better in those original +P 38 Specials (lol) than the 4227. Hence the two cans setting on the shelf all those years.

My pound and a half are both marked H4227. I had forgotten there was a IMR version back in the day. Thanks for the reminder and I'll do some more digging. (smile)

Dave

[Ken O'Neill]

4227 has been my powder choice for 32 H & R and of course .357 Maximum for many years.

[dan]

Well I have 8lbs in my gunroom.

[Yetiman]

I was going to say, I didn't think I bought ALL OF IT a few years ago.

When powders started showing up after the most recent shortage, IMR 4227 was the first 'magnum' powder I saw start showing up in quantity and I bought a few 8 lb jugs of it.

As stated, Hodgdon web site for data.

[oddshooter]

Another vote here for the 4227. My 357 Maximums absolutely loves this stuff.

4227 is incredibly versatile.
If you only had one powder, this is it. It is a slow, magnum powder; but it downloads beautifully.
Fast powders will not get you to higher velocities so they are less versatile.

The other slow, magnum powders (110/296) do not download well at all.
I've even run 4227 in my 38 specials with good accuracy.


The only tiny caveat is that it can leave a few granules in the cylinder and barrel. I now use magnum primers and 4227 cleaned right up.


Prescut
PS  I'm a real fan of many powders each matched to the application.  So I don't really use the versatility myself.