Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 800X for suppressed hunting loads?

As above the question is have you a successful hunting handload for suppressed rifle with 800X powder? Be Well Brothers, RZ.

How about cast.bullets in a 358 Winchester? RZ.

The only use of 800 X I find is just in shogun loads. 700 X is used here and there in metallic loads, but not many.

This is not factual.

What's not Factual? That I can't find (I didn't say there aren't any) any loads for 800 X other than shotgun loads or 700 X (which I use in both shotgun loads and 38-40 and 45 Colt) is not commonly used in metallic cartridge load?

800X is just as versatile as Unique or Accurate #5. Tons of data from IMR

http://www.castpics.net/LoadData/Freebies/RM/IMR/IMR_handgun.pdf

From 380 up. As to whether or not it will go subsonic in a 358 is debatable but ~18 grains max gives about 1900.

Well guys like me use 800 and 700 X in rifle loads.

1. Working with youth shooting programs in Boy Scouts ( so a 12 year old can handle the 30/06 or 300 Win Mag Grandpa just gave him )

2. Use powders like that, particular in 223s, for high volume of shooting sage rats, equaling anything from a 22 Hornet and 218 on up....

so my only question to Rusty is what caliber is he shooting, and how far does he plan to shoot with it...

These loads have less distance capacity before you have to start playing with your elevation turrets, but anyone who knows how to do that, its not a real problem. I've posted this a lot, but last time this year thru May or early June, I was using 50 to 55 grain bullets ringing steel at 300 and 400 yds with a 223, with loads that varied between 8.5 to 9.5 grains of Unique.

Did about 750 rounds total, and used a gnat's hair over 1 pound of Unique... for economy and volume shooting.

so yeah Rusty, you using a low volume of powder, that is very bulky so it will fill the case and needs no filler
you can even get by in many cartridges using pistol primers if that is all you can find...

and with 700 and 800 X, you'd be surprised on how accurate they are. No down side if you want to shoot suppressed.

Just figure out your distance and the appropriate load data and bullet weight...

Cast bullet manual would be your friend. My Lyman Cast Manual # 3, shows data for 700 X in cartridges from the 22 Hornet, all the way to the 375 H & H. 800 X was just a hair or two slower, so you'd be safe using 700X data in about any cartridge in between those two calibers.

I use to use a lot of both 700 and 800 X, but have finally used all that I ever had ( which was a lot ) in youth loads and out shooting sage rats....with ran into the 5000 to 8000 rounds down range in the average spring/summer season.. March to August.

Good luck with your project Rusty Z.

The Calhoun bullet website has two articles on 800x and Blue Dot loads for 223.sized.cartridges.

Hodgdon's new reloading data website is interesting. You can select rifle, pistol, or shotgun. Then you can select the powder maker and powder to see what they tested it for. You see 700 X is in the powder selection for rifle cartridges but not 800 X.



If you refine it a little and select the powder you want to use, the program will list the cartridges it's been approved in.



Under rifle cartridges, they don't approve it for much.



If you go to their website and plug in 800 X under the pistol data you fine want they think of it. You may have your opinion and I respect that, but I have mine.

Aww cmon, did you really expect Hodgdon to list a powder in the reloading center that they discontinued 4 years ago? 😳

So the data they provided means nothing, so why are you promoting the use of it? And I presume that the data they provide is just crap? Ok, there's nothing to see here,,, just move on.

This +1

I was gonna suggest to the OP to make sure they had a bunch of 800x on hand if they planned on working up loads for it, since they quit making it quite a few years ago.

Lee has load data listed for it in quite a few cartridges, but the only ones I ever really remember monkeying with it for were 32 H&R and 45 Colt back before it got the axe.

just because it is not listed by the factory, you are insinuating that no one should try it out anyway?

If 800x is slower than 700 X, and 700 X is listed, but 800 X, then NO ONE should use it?

We are all on our own anyway when we hand load. Use your head and work safely, there isn't as much risk as some folk insinuate.

So if a load is not factory tested, we shouldn't use it huh? Well even if we used something they listed, and it went wrong, do you know of anyone personally who has sued the manufacturer or distributor, and won damage compensation?


well Mick, you do what you feel is right for you and some of us will feel what's right for us... and we who do, both own the benefits and/or consequences of our testing and use. Goes with the territory. Myself, I've done a lot of load development using different powders, not necessarily listed for reduced loads. But then in marketing, companies list what they want to, and ignore what they want to not test. Business experience tells me that, not some wildass guess.

Why do you feel the need to make other people's decisions for them? Handloading is a risk each one of us takes...so what really is your issues, with others?

I'm working up and looking at reduced load data with AA 9, that I am in possession of 3 pound of it.

so at approximate charge of 14 grains, this is enough powder for 1500 rounds total.

Is it worth my time to do a little testing to see if it would be useful in an application that would work for me?
In my book it is... whether they still make it or not.

If I had say 3 pounds of 800 X, and even if it is no longer available. That would still be a little under 2000 rounds I can shoot out of a 223 case. So would it be worth my time? Yeah, as opposed to just throwing it out or let it just sit in the powder locker and let it go bac, and then throw it out.

3 pounds would absolutely fall into the plenty category when it comes around to futzing with cast bullets. If the guy has half a pound sitting around, that falls more into the waste of time category. 🤷‍♂️

Amount on hand is just always a consideration when it comes to messing around with discontinued stuff.

The fact is you got your nose bent out of shape is that you got called on this false statement. Promoting? Naw I dont give a sh*t what powder people use, but fact is 700X is IMR’s Bullseye, 800X was their Unique. When I run out of 2.50 a pound Red Dot i will use up my 10 buck a pound 700X and 800X.

I've used Red Dot, Unique, 700-X, 800-X, PB etc in cast bullet 30-30 loads

I thought 800X was fairly dirty (sooty). Not exactly a great thing for a suppressor, unless you like cleaning it a lot.

They said the same thing about Unique which again isn’t entirely factual.

I have most of an 8# keg of 800. Some of you knotheads come here to cause problems? Thanks for the real answers.
Haven't rebored the Mauser for a 35 cal yet. But there are several 358 win and two 350 RMs in my circle of friends. Right now I have 247 gr and 280 gr cast in .358. Looking for a bullet mold for a heavy 35 cal bullet now. I have 150 tipped bonded 225 gr in factory seconds. Don't think they are candidates for subs. They need speed. Thanks again for the serious answers. RZ.