Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles First impressions Power Pro 4000 MR

Gee that is nice that they offer a power that is moderately sensitive to temps. I wonder WHY They even bothered to offer this line?

I was told it is very close to the burn rate of RL-22. My experience so far puts it slightly faster.

I hope to try the 234 with a 100 gr, 284 with a 160 gr and repeat the best 160 gr load with the heavy 7mm. Temps will START at 80 degrees.

Try that 300 WM when you get the chance..

I wonder if it is similar to Winchester Supreme 780?

I was holding up any load work till that one was available, now it seems not worth the wait.

I have some Supreme 780, and unlike the photos in this thread, Supreme 780 is most definitely a Ball powder. Couldn't really address the burning rate aspect of things, though.

I wonder what hornady is using in their new ammo line. I thought it might be something like these power pro powders but it doesn't look like it is.

Bb

Went out this morning to try some other rifles with Power Pro 4000 MR, began shooting at 6:30 am, temperature was 86 degrees.

First rifle 24" 243. Non moly coated 100 gr nosler partition. OAL 2.665" Each velocity listed is an average of four rounds.

243:

40 gr 2850
41 gr 2925 had best accuracy @ 3/4".
42 gr 2955
43 gr 3060 group opened up

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Second rifle 284 win with 23" barrel and 3.1" mag box. Moly coated 160 accubond OAL 3.085" Temperature 89 degrees

284:

53 gr 2735
54 gr 2765
55 gr 2815
56 gr 2845
57 gr 2875

55-57 shot nice 1/2" groups

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Retried the most accurate load with that 30" 7 rem mag. It was
64 grs. Today it didn't shoot at well even though the temperatures were the same. Velocites were the same approx 3118 or so. Four shot group approx 1 1/2".

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Will be testing a 300 win mag next.

That 284win data looks promising. That could be a good powder for heavier bullets in the 270 and 280 also. A guy might could make 2900fps in a properly throated 280Rem with moly 160's.

While I haven't tried it YET I think RL-17 will smoke the 4000 MR load with a 160 in 284. When I do try it i'll share it here.

Im trying some RL-17 in a STW tommorrow. I'm starting at 70 grains and working up to 72 with 140 acc. Did you use IMR4350 data for your 7mag loads?

Yes the consensus around here was to use either 4350 load data. I'll be interested to hear how RL-17 works in your STW.

This thread was started because I THOUGHT this 4000 MR was the slower version of RL-17. Now that it has been determined NOT to be the case, I have been using it up and learning its characteristics. I think I'll use it in the 243 with those 100 grainers. I don't care about speed as long as I can get 1/2 MOA or so. It will be used for javelina next spring.

The thread continues

The Power Pro 4000 MR tests are now over. The last rifle to try was my friend's newly rebarreled 300 win mag.

I wanted to do a few "one shot and clean" to help break in the new barrel so I shot another rifle first.

First rifle was that 23" 284 win mentioned earlier. All loading factors were the same as the 4000 MR test. Wanted to show that RL-17 would soundly beat 4000 MR. I had never tried any 160s in this rifle with RL-17. When RL-17 came out last year I built a great load with a moly coated 150 nos bt. Worked up to 3200 fps but the accuracy load was at 3100 fps using 57 gr of RL-17.

Moly coated 160 accubond, temperature 90 degrees:

54 gr open groups
2905
2938
2895

55 gr open groups
2963
2978

56 gr began tightening up
3020
3023
3016

57 gr most accurate no pressure signs at all
3074
3067
3069
it was now 92 degrees. This load had two cutting into each other with total group size 3/8". It was 1/2" lower than the 150 nos bt with same windage. Will wait for cooler temps to try it again.





300 win mag with 180 nosler pt, temperature now 93 degrees

73 gr
3012 ave
74 gr sun angle messed with the chronograph, no velocities but two shots cut into one another
75 (suggested max load) 94 degrees, hard bolt lift, quit testing.
Sorry it wasn't much of a test. Too darn hot!


There IS going to be a slower powder with RL-17's formulation coming out in about a year.

STW using RL17.
1st 3349 3/4 high and left
2nd 3337 off right in the bulls
3rd 3320 1/2 left from first shot 1/4 high
4th 3316 1/2 high slightly right of first shot
5th 3377 ?? 2 3/4 high of bullseye 1/4 right??
Using 70 grains and 140 accubond 85 F
Next load coming up

Thanks for sharing all this info, Azshooter. I can't say that I'm super-anxious to buy a whole bunch of PowerPro powders based on this work. OTOH, I'd be more inclined to use this series in lieu of most of the Reloder series just because it's American-made (well, at least maybe it is? It's supposed to be spherical, too, but it's clearly not. ).

With 72 grains RL17 140 accu Fed 215... my max load. Slight ejector marks etc..



1st 3405
2nd 3441
3rd 3442
4th 3445
5th 3444

Not sure what happened with that first round. Speed is close to 100 fps faster than a max load with imr4350, however group was all over the place as barrel was warm etc...

This rifle has not proven to be much more accurate anyway.
Its next in line for a new barrel. I think the average speed of the last four rds was pretty impressive. Will try a cold barrel next.