300 blackout - imr 4227 or w296

[trigga]

i recently picked up a lb of 4227 and was going to load some 125 gr nosler bt but looks like the lgs has some w296 in stock, the powder i had wanted in the first place... i haven't loaded any yet but might switch to the w296. is there a lot of difference? according to some load data including hodgdon's site, the w296 with the same load (even powder weight) the w296 has more velocity and it's not a compressed load... any reason why i might want to go with what i have?

if i do decide to try out the w296, i see that the 4227 is more for magnum or short cased rifles. is this a good powder for 44 mag? might get one in the near future... also read that you have to use more powder to achieve a velocity other similar powders would have with less... if anything i might just make light 300 blackout loads out of them...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The velocity difference is minimal so if it were me i would load up some test rounds with both and see which delivers the best accuracy and go with that powder.

 

[trigga]

125gr nosler bt

as per Hodgdon...
IMR 4227 - 17.7grC @ 1,965 fps MAX
W296 - 17.8gr @ 2,118 MAX

as per Nosler...
IMR 4227 - 18grC @ 2003 fps MAX
W296 - 17.5 @ 2,128 MAX

 

[trigga]

i was thinking that too but this will primarily be for hunting so maybe the powder with more velocity? range typically would be within 100 yards but realistically 90% of the deer I see are under 50 yards... Hopefully they still have some left this weekend..

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Don't let the velocity hype decide for you. Rarely is the most accurate load the highest velocity load. If both powders will generate enough velocity to reliably expand the bullet an extra 100 fps will make that deer no deader than dead.

BUT... In reality there aren't many hunting bullets that will reliably expand @2100 fps or below. I would check with Nosler before you use that bullet on deer. Ask them what velocity range those bullets are designed to perform at...

 

[rg1]

I load the 125 Nosler BT with H110/Win 296 and it does well and is accurate in my 16" barreled carbine rifle. I use RP 7 1/2 primers in LC converted cases at 17.5 grains of H110. Oal for mine are 2.060" per Hodgdon's and Nosler's data. At 17.5 grains I get 2157 fps average and I wouldn't want to go any higher. My tests were at 60 degrees. Your rifle and components could be different. Haven't shot anything but paper myself but Nosler says the minimum velocity performance for the 125 BT is 1800 fps. That will work on deer and hogs for short range shots.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

4227 is a good powder, works best with mild compression. It is a very accurate powder. I have shot groups just under an inch in 300 AAC and 7.62X39. In 44 mag it does well, but the powder is just bulky enough that the case needs to big a tad larger.

 

[buck460XVR]

IMR4227 is a great powder for .44 mag. In most applications it will not give you the velocities of H110/W296, but as Jesse Heywood stated, it is very accurate. It also seems for me anyway to be a tad more insensitive to extreme ambient temperature swings as is H110/W296. One reason it's accuracy may be more consistent. It likes long pipes in revolvers and thus works very well in handgun caliber carbines also and is my go to powder for .460 mag.

 

[rbernie]

I'd favor the W296, unless you don't have any other way to consume the 4227.

Truth be told, I'd load both and use the most accurate one for hunting and the other one for plinking. I never pass up an opportunity to get powder and load up some fodder.

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

loads shot across a chrono for 300 blkout

I have documented many loads I have developed for 300 Blackout and shot across a chronograph.

http://www.dayattherange.com/?page_id=3817

IMR4227 has been the most accurate for 125gr Noslers for me. But I have other loads on this site also.

 

[david bachelder]

I shoot 125 gr Hornady SST flat base bullets with H110 and magnum primers. I've had great luck with it.

Hornady SST Flat Base
17.8 grains H110/W296
Small rifle Magnum Primer

Haven't run them past a chrono, but 2000fps+ wouldn't surprise me.

Works for me.

 

[blarby]

Given the difference in harmonic resonance between both powders, you will need to try both if you want to find "better".

You have 4227 ? Load that first, then go get that 296... and while you are at it, send me a #, too !

Still don't understand this new fangled rage for 300 blackout SUPERSONIC loads, but hey.

If you want an underperforming, overpriced AR-10- thats all you folks !

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

As you stated you don't understand it


300 Blackout is built on the AR15 platform much more maneuverable, ah nevermind I am not going to try and explain

 

[trigga]

ar10's are nice don't get me wrong, but they are way too heavy when fully equiped (Scope, full mag, ect)... I grew up with a semi auto 30-06, (even that thing was heavy) very powerful round for deer except for the gun wasn't reliable and only the first shot was true. after the barrel would heat up and groups opened up. I killed so many deer with that gun but again I lost so many deer too because of malfunctions. If there was a one hitter quitter, it was definated the 150 gr remington bronze tip. but you never knew when it was going to jam. bolt actions? not really my type except for paper targets.

I bought a 223 ar15 a few years back. very impressed with the accuracy and reliability. Sure it's a factory xm15 but I could out shoot my friends who were using .308 - 30-06 hunting rifles with scope and here I was with iron sights. Could just be technique but I've grown to love the platform. I could justify the 300 blackout given it's limitations but again i don't need a 800-1k yard gun to kill a deer at 50 yards. like any hunter, your gun is part of your gear, just like your boots. do your research and find what's best for you. just my .02.

thanks everyone for the replies, i think I'm going to try both. Hopefully there is a 1 lb jug left for me this weekend. at least powder is coming back....

 

[trigga]

lol i have some hunting stories about weekend hunters but we'll save that for another thread. my dad just bought an ar10, we'll see how he like that thing.