Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Sensible replacement for IMR4320

4320 has been my “go to” powder for several 17 Rem rifles for decades. I’m down to less than a pound. I’ll probably switch to Benchmark.

I would add CFE-223 to that list. Turned out to deliver stellar accuracy for me in the .250-3000 with 87's.

I may be the last man standing who never had much use for 4320. Not by design, and I had/have nothing against it, but I've always had good stashes of other powders that delivered the goods and never felt inclined to try 4320 and it's not the only powder to fall into that category with me. Glad now I hadn't as I would've had to do the same thing I did with SR-4759 when that powder got discontinued - I scurried around and hoovered up every kernel of it I could find for I believe that no greater powder ever existed for the cast bullet shooting I'm addicted to. Net result: 20+ pounds initially that should see me through to the end.

How fast are you gassing those 87s with CFE223? The classic 3000 fps?

Yep. Right on the bean at 3000fps/24" barrel. Could sling 'em a tic faster with this powder and certainly with other more astute powder selections but the accuracy is there with minimal copper fouling, and 3K fps suits me. 35.0grains/Speer 87 HotCor/W-W brass/CCI BR primer/OAL 2.470"/chrono'ed at exactly 3000fps.

I wouldn't be looking to hot rod them either, 3000 is fine.

Benchmark works pretty well, but in my experience Ramshot Big Game groups at least as well, and often better--and flows far more easily into a .17-caliber case neck than any extruded powder. Since it's double-based (like all spherical powders) it also gets a little more velocity.

Thanks MD! I’ll try it.

I’ve got a lb I never got around to trying if someone near Lexington, Ky needs it.

I started using 4320 back some 30+ years ago when i a reloading rookie. Used it in my 1960 Savage 99 pushing 150gr Hornady bullets in my 300. After the usual tinkering that combo produced 1.5 MOA groups...... sometimes less. Didnt bother me that sometimes the feed thru the powder measure was clumsy. the load chonographed 2500+ fps.
Later used the 4320 for my 7 x 57 pushing 150 g Partitions and 150g Winchester PSP. If i was any good the result was often MOA. I was using mild loads. these also chronographed 2500+ fps.
Since my body is creaky old now i dont reload as often or as much. Do have some 4320 left.
During covid i bought some stuff from a guy who was selling his son's reloading kit. Got part of a pound of 4320 for $2. Got 2 lbs of 4064 for $40. [and a lot of cheap CCI primers ]
So far the 4064 has worked pretty well. Will find out more as i go along.

I wish someone would explain to use why the 4320 was discontinued.............