700-x

700X is more suitable as a shotgun powder...than a handgun powder in my view....it just doesn't meter well enough for handgun applications.

700X has also changed a lot since it was mfg'd by DuPont in the 80's where it was widely used by Trap shooters for 12ga shotshells.....its been reformulated a number of times..and of course Hodgdon distributes it now.

Its not a go-to powder for many applications today in my view. Use up what you have ...and move on to something else..
 
I have loaded over 5 lbs of it for 45 acp. It works fine but at max load it can cause leading ..either back down the powder or go to fmj or plated. It makes a great plinking round when loaded at the midrange. I found that a good crimp helped with consistency and a clean burn FWIW.

It also works great in snub 38s and 357s....good velocity out of short barrels generally speaking.
 
I've been using 700-X for 45 acp for years now. I don't recommend powder loads to anyone, but for me, my go to load is 4.7 grains behind a 230 grain plated projectile

That is my exact load for 45acp, except I use Darda's Cast LRNs. I use a Lee auto-disk, and it meters well enough (within a .3gn range, or +/- .15gns). Accurate load for me, it'll do 4" groups at 25 yards (off-hand) if I do my part.

It works fine but at max load it can cause leading ..either back down the powder or go to fmj or plated.

I have the exact opposite experience in that I suffer no leading issues (pretty much no leading at all, whatsoever) with 700x, even with max charges. I do not question your experience, however, as different components and barrels can produce really different results.


There honestly are better powders out there, but 700x does shine in some niche roles. It is very economical, and it is a very soft recoiling powder. I made some minimum charge 9mm loads with it when I moved my daughters up to center-fire handgun, and it literally almost feels like shooting a .22.
 
Tried the new powder baffle for the Uniflow with the 700-x. Still using the large cylinder until I get a small.
The difference is incredible. Nearly all the loads were within .1gr. I weighed each charge I threw just to get an idea of how it would behave. I confess that I had a few but only a few (in the first handful)that felt like it was going to chop the powder and those would be a little off but I chucked them back in the powder measure.
I got consistent when I would lift and tap the handle down a few times (I'm sure it settled the powder a little better). 4-5 taps.
I am very happy with the results but will buy the small cylinder just hoping to eliminate the need to tap the handle. We will see.
 
I have been loading 700x in .38 spl for my Cowboy Action ammo. 2.8g under a 125g bullet. Probably 30,000 rounds so far. Meters fine in my Square Deal, no issues. I like it. A lot.
 
I tested the new loads that I loaded with the new baffle. 3.9for the 45 with my 230lrn was good. I also loaded up some 38 specials at 3.8 and 4.0. The 3.8 was very good. The 4.0 with 125gr fp Berry's were amazingly accurate. I never cared for Berry's out of this gun. Did not expect a group that good.
 
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