Need an SR7625 replacement

D

dogfood

New member
As we all know, quite some time ago Hodgdon announced this discontinuation of SR7625 (and I believe the rest of the IMR SR line as well). Why? Undoubtedly a cost/benefit problem ... as in not enough people buying it to justify the cost of production. Perhaps I was the only one using it.

As a side note, SR stood for "Sporting Rifle" - and there is virtually no rifle application for SR7625 (except for reduced cast bullet loads). I would suggest this was not the best marketing.

Nonetheless, I now need a replacement with about the same burn rate. I liked the larger "granular" shape (for lack of a better term) of SR7625. It metered extremely well, unlike many flake powders in its burning range - and unlike some micro-grain powders that seem to be more susceptible to static (and sometimes leakage) in an auto powder drop.

Is there something out there similar - perhaps Vihtavuori N320?

Thanks,
dogfood
 
Assuming this is for reduced rifle loads, how much reduced are you trying to get? Trail Boss loads are a good way to go, especially for youth loads of one kind or another. Also, Hodgdon says H4895 is safe to reduce to 60% of any maximum load they list and it will still function well and not spike pressures. If you want something between a Trail Boss and a full power load, that may be the way to go. If you don't like the velocity spread from a poorly filled case, try a magnum primer and/or a small tuft of polyester pillow ticking to hold the powder back against the flash hole.
 
I miss 7625 and 4756, very nice powders that metered well and burned clean.
I use Bullseye for most of the 7625 applications. Meters just as well, burns more consistently than 7625 with reduced loads.
 
Uncle N -

Oops ... I guess I should have qualified that I use (or was using) SR7625 exclusively as a handgun powder for .380, 9mm, .38 Special and .45 ACP - and even .357 light loads. It worked universally and metered really well (a major concern with the small charges required in .380).

(Side note: I never tried 7625 in a rifle cartridge. For reduced rifle loads, I always felt well served by having Red Dot, Unique, 2400 and Accurate 5744 on hand.)

dogfood
 
Doghouse, Win231/HP38 would be my first choice. Another would be CFE Pistol. I learned on 7625 because it was all I could find, but both of these other choices meter better.
 
Well, Unique falls right below 7625 in the Lyman 50th burn rate chart and Unique is a popular handgun powder. And 231 is two above 7625 so either of those two should be close. Trail Boss is about seven steps above (faster) 7625 and is used for reduced handgun loads.
 
I didn't know it had been discontinued :( I'm working on what's left of a 12lb. keg of SR7625. I use it for 12ga. and .357 SWC target loads.
 
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