700-X in .44 Spl?

[hanover67]

I have 7 lbs of IMR 700-X powder and a new .44. Does anybody have a recommended load using this powder with 250gr LSWC's or 200gr. lead round nose bullets in the .44 Special?

[MMCSRET]

This information is from a "DUPONT" handloaders guide dated January 1978. Hi-skor 700X
44 Special
246 Gr, lead RN bullet
5.4 grains, 765 fps, 13,000 cup
6.5" barrel

Good shooting!!!!

[Hatman1793]

700X was my powder of choice for many years. I used it for all my handgun loads. Really everything. Some years ago I transitioned to Alliant's PROMO powder because of cost. A 5 pound keg of 700X went to C$135.00. I could buy an 8 pound keg of PROMO for C$95.00.
A big difference.
For those of you who don't know PROMO, it is a primarily a shotgun powder but has the same burning rate as RedDot. But back to your question.
5 grains of 700X with a 240 or 250 grain lead cast SWC in a 44 special case is target quality. If you want more velocity, go to six. Never to seven!
BTW, my friend Rick, at R&R bullets.com used to cast a very nice 180 grain cast full wadd cutter for target work in my 44special. 5.5 grains in that case was also target quality.
If PROMO was discontinued, I would probably go back to 700X. It is a very good powder.

[hanover67]

Well, I made up two loads for my Colt SAA New Frontier, 7 1/2" barrel, .44 Special with 700X powder: 1) 5.5 gr. of 700X under a 200gr. lead flat-nose bullet, and 2) 5.0 gr. of 700X under a 245gr. lead SWC, 20 rounds of each.

The 245gr. bullets were the most accurate, and printed about 6" higher than the 200 grainers. I was happy with the result because I have never had good results with this powder in a .32-20 or a .38 Special, although it does do well in my .45 Auto. I guess it is a better powder for big calibers/bullets.

[Steel]

I have 7 lbs of IMR 700-X powder and a new .44. Does anybody have a recommended load using this powder with 250gr LSWC's or 200gr. lead round nose bullets in the .44 Special?

250 gr. 4.5 gns-713fps TO MAX 4.9gns-726fps- 15,400 cup/psi



200gr. 5.2gns-788fps TO MAX 5.8gns- 844fps - 14,900 cup/psi

By the way this is a good .45 powder also, i have alot also from my skeet loads.