Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles IMR 4227 in .44 Magnum?

Did a trade with a neighbor yesterday and got a fresh pound of IMR 4227 in the deal...anyone use it in the .44 Magnum?? It looks pretty good with jacketed bullets but not as efficent as H110/W296...

I've used the 4227 s in my .41 and .44 quite a bit . It works good .....I think maybe there is somewhat less muzzle blast and flash than H110 .

It works just fine in the .44 Magnum. That was the first full magnum powder I used in mine back in the 70's besides 2400. Being slower than 2400 at full power loads it generates a reduced perceived recoil impulse over 2400. So does 296 for that matter. IIRC the top end is around 25 grains under a 240 jacketed bullet (VERIFY THAT!) and I always had good results with cast and jacketed bullets in that top end range.

The nice thing about IMR4227 is that it works "well" if you load it down a bit, H110 and 296 specify that you use them at near top end.

I say "well" because you will get a fair amount of unburned powder granules when you come down say, 20% from max. And you use more powder to generate the same velocity than you would with a slightly faster powder.

But it stays very, very accurate at reduced levels in my experience using it in several .44 Mag and .45 Colt loads. One of the most consistently accurate loads I ever shot was 20 grains of IMR4227 under a Lyman 429215 in the .44. Don't know how fast it went, guessing it was around 1000 fps, but it was really easy on the shooter and would just stack those bullets almost on top of each other.

I still have a can of 4227 on the shelf right next to the 296, 2400, Unique and 231.

I have used IMR 4227 for thousands of reloads in my .44. I used a Lyman Gas Check bullet of, I think, 255 grains.

I tried several differend powders, and 4227 was the most accurate, by far. In my opinion, it is too slow with lighter bullets.

I also used it in my .357 Mag with 158 grain gas check cast bullets.

It was also the best powder I found for the .357. The problem I had with my .357 was that after about a box of full power cast bullets, the barrel was so leaded that you could barely see through it. After trying a bunch of different combinations, I finally eliminated the leading by using the above mentioned bullets cast from wheel weights and Alox lube, and IMR 4227.

I used the same alloy and lubricant in my .44 and I never had a leading problem with my it. My load was 25.0 grains for the cast bullets. It was very accurate. I won a bunch of thropies with it at handgun silloutte, and it never failed to knock the 200 yard rams over.

I bounced back and forth between 2400 and 4227 for a very long time. I recently took a sort of inventory of my ammo and powder and it appears I have settled on I-4227. Most of my loaded .44 stuff is loaded with 4227 and that's the only "large pistol powder" I have on hand.

I also use it for .25-20 and maybe some others.

Great powder for both .41 and .44. I prefer 2400, FWIW. Recoil sensation about the same. I have found 296 to have a sharper recoil sensation than either; I don't like it at all.

In October 25, 1995, I loaded up about 80 rounds of .44 magnum cartridges with varying amounts of several different powders (H110, IMR4227, 2400 & Winchester 296) in an attempt to find the most accurate load in my old style Ruger .44 magnum, semi-automatic Carbine.

But when I got to the range, got everything set up and fired several rounds, I found that my Ruger Carbine was throwing the new, once-fired, nickel-plated brass cartridge cases all over the place.

This had previously never been a "problem" since I usually took my two oldest Grandsons (ages 6 & 7 back then) with me to the rifle range, especially when I shot any semi-automatic rifles or pistols, so they could "chase-the-brass" for me.

I gathered up my empties and found I had "lost" 3 cases after firing about 10 rounds... I wasn't a "happy camper". After not being able to find those 3 almost new cartridge cases, I remember WHY I always took my two Grandsons to the rifle range with me when I shot the Ruger Carbine.

So I gathered up my "stuff" (including the chronograph) and went home fully intending to bring my two Grandsons back to the range with me within a day or so and finish the shooting session.

Weeeeellllllll... I recently "re-discovered" the neglected cartridge boxes still almost filled with reloaded .44 magnum cartridges that I loaded in October of 1995 and I got to thinking about EXACTLY what's been written here concerning the accuracy of IMR4227 which is one of the powders I used to load some of test ammo for the .44 carbine that I didn't ever get around to shooting through the carbine.

And so, I wanted to "thank" y'all for the generous sharing of the experiences you've had in using various powders in the .44 magnum.

Obviously, with the carbine, recoil is really NOT a factor to be concerned about, but accuracy is, especially to an "accuracy-nut" like me.

I just MIGHT have to get the ol' Ruger Carbine out again and find a younger brother or cousin of my two oldest Grandsons who are much older now... and not likely to wanna chase "empties" for Grampa anymore... even tho' I let 'em shoot, too. But then... jus' maybe....... (Hope springs eternal, eh?)

Time passes SOOOOOOO fast... it seems like it was only a few years ago that the two oldest Grandsons of my nine fine Grandsons were just 9 and 10 years old... and now they're young MEN. (Big SIGH)


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.