Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles IMR 4227 and 7x57

Guys:

I ran across some old DuPont handloader's guides that I have had since the early 1980s, and there are several listings for reduced velocity loads using 130, 145, and 160 grain Speer spitzers at 2080, 1840, and 1890 fps respectively. I don't think I have seen any current load data using 4227 for the 7x57. Does anyone have any experience with using 4227 in the 7x57? I think that would be a pretty interesting practice load at those velocities.

Thanks

Mike

How old are those DuPont guides? If printed within the last half century, I wouldn't worry too much about that data for reduced loads. I would get a little nervous were it for max loads, and the data didn't jive with up to date data. I haven't noticed a change in burn rate for 4227 over the last 35-40 years.

I don't see a date on them, but I picked them up in the early 1980s.

By the way, none of the CUPs exceed 46k.

Can you find SR4759 locally? Good stuff for reduced loads.

All the stuff here is still sort of hit and miss. But I'll keep an eye out.

I just thought it was odd to see 4227 data when I don't see it currently listed.

Those reloading guides were great. The one thing that you might consider is that they generally show nearly every powder they have for each cartridge, and many of the powders listed are less than ideal for any given example. But they show them anyway, and often the maximums, pressure wise, for a given cartridge. One of the things I liked about those pamphlets was that it showed that maximum pressures alone do not provide the same speeds in any example. So be careful with loads that don't necessarily show the highest speeds; the pressures are likely in the same ball park as the more ideal owners are. (Though the 7x57 data - since it is listed at older pressure maximums- likely won't be a problem in a strong, modern rifle.)

Rev,

It's not as surprising actually, since Hodgdon took over distributorship of IMR & Winchester there has been a fair amount of consolidation of powders and some dropping of powders that pretty much duplicate each other. Internet rumor has it that the SRs will be dropped, but others say they aren't - I don't know the truth of it.

What I do know is that one of the LGSs in OKC had SR4759 in stock a couple of weeks ago when I was there, but they didn't have it a couple of months before that.

Anyway, that is probably no help to you, but this might be, I compared 7x57 data from 2 old IMR/Dupont pamphlets I have, one from 1975/76 the other from 1990 and it was identical across 3 bullet weights for 4227. It was also identical for 4759 between the 2 pamphlets.

Best to you.

I have several of the old IMR Brown Sheets....

IMR 4227 and SR 4759, their load data is pretty interchangeable.

However, I have found SR 4759 to be generally a more accurate powder, in about any case...

Granted 4227 is a lot more user friendly at the load bench, but I've used SR 4759 since it has been consistently more accurate.

Load data for both is fairly common in Cast Bullet Manuals.

In my Model 70 Featherweight in 7mm Mauser, I commonly use two loads that have the same point of impact at 100 and 150 yds...

44 grains of IMR 4895 and a 140 grain ballistic tip with an MV of 2800 fps...

and 28 grains of SR 4759 with a 115 grain Speer HP...

the latter recoils like shooting a 223 or 22.250 at the most...

4227, RL-7, 2400, and 4759 all work well for reduced loads in medium capacity bottlenecked cartridges. I've used them all at one time or another for reduced velocity cast bullet loads, but 4759 is my all time favorite.

Thanks, I appreciate the comments. I know Seafire has posted a boatload of reduced velocity 7x57 load data in the past, especially with Blue Dot. I'll do a search to find some of it. These loads would be great for practice as well as taking some small porkers every now and then.

Thanks again.

Good luck finding Blue Dot, I've been on the watch for it for over a year and a half.

That's because I have it all.... don't ya know...

What do you expect the effective range is on deer-size game?

That depends on the bullet Mike....but the above load was with now discontinued Sierra 130 grain Bullets...don't have the MV handy, but know it is in the 30/30 velocity range.

the charge used there was 22.5 grains where max in a 7 x 57 case is 24 grains of Blue Dot... and that is using bullets 140 grains and under.

This is just me personally, so take it with how many grains of salt ya care to, but I'd have no problem using this load on local deer at 200 yds or less...as I say, 30/30 velocity ranges, along with the bullets not being round nosed slowing down as quickly...

I am a firm believer for my hunting, of the old adage that 90% of all game is taken within 100 yds..... and 95% + is taken within 200 yds...

If you look at any trajectory chart, just about any spitzer bullet, regardless of caliber, if the MV is in the 2250 to 2300 fps range, if zeroed 3.5 inches high at 100 yds, it will be dead on at 200 yds..

the average deer is 15-16 inches from backbone to breastbone...
cut that in half and that yields a window of opportunity at 7 1/2 inches....so I set my load at approximately 2250 fps ( with an appropriate bullet to perform in that window of opportunity)..
so it I hold my sights on hair, anything out to about 240 yds ( 3.5 inches low)...I'll hit the vitals.. and the rifle is shooting a bullet that is capable of opening up at that impact velocity...

has worked out just fine for me...

Thanks. When Blue Dot is once again available I'll give these loads a try. In my own hunting environment it's rare that I shoot in excess of 100 yards, although we do have one stand 127 yards from a feeder. Even at that range I think a 140 behind the ear will do the trick.

Until I can get some Blue Dot, though, I think I'll give the 4227 a try (once I get a new bench set up) and see how things go.

Again, thanks for all the information.

SR 4759 has about the same burn rate and data is interchangeable with 4227, it just fills the case more is all...

but 7 x 57 data, or 7/08 data will work just fine with 4227.. especially minute of whitetail at 100 yds or less...and recoil will be pretty negligible....

Seafire, what is your source that data for SR4759 and IMR4227 is interchangeable?

Can one of you fine gentlemen hook me up with a 120 gr SP or BT, IMR 4227 at about 1500-1600 fps? I need something to take out raccoons between 40 and 65 yards.

As an alternative, is there something in W760 that would give same velocity in same bullet weight?

This is for a modern 7x57, by the way.

Thanks

A .22 Hornet would be a pretty good raccoon shooter.