IMR 4227 Powder In a Rifle

[345 DeSoto]

Here's a question I'll bet you all can answer. If I can use IMR 4227 in my M1 Carbine, why wouldn't it be able to be used in my .223/5.56 AR...satisfactrily?

 

[Bongo Boy]

Well, the manufacturer claims it's wonderful in 22 Hornet and 221 Fireball. These days, I find one has to sometimes accept less-than-ideal, and sometimes one discovers good combinations no one knows about. I don't reload rifle so I can't say one way or the other for 223, but you may just find it 'works okay'.

 

[oldcelt]

4227 works very well in my .45 colt rifle and not bad in my 357 rifle as well as some other cast bullet rifle loads. Also use it for magnum handgun loads but not my first choice.

 

[chris in va]

My Lyman manual shows a 55gr lead bullet with 4227 at no faster than 2180fps. I've used it in my x39 155gr loads but I wouldn't try using it with full power AR loads. It's really designed as a magnum powder.

 

[rcmodel]

Because it is a fast burning pistol type powder, best suited to small capacity pistol type cases.
(Which the .30 Carbine is.)

The .223 runs at higher pressure with more, slower burning powder in order to provide proper gas port pressure & gas volume to operate the action.

You can use 4227 in light .223 loads in bolt-actions and single-shots.

But you will blow yourself up, (or Shoot your eye out) trying to get enough gas port pressure down the barrel to operate an AR-15.

Don't even try it!!!

rc

 

[345 DeSoto]

Thanks, RC...

 

[Jesse Heywood]

Because it is a fast burning pistol type powder

Whoa, partner. 4227 is a slow burning pistol powder, but a fast burning rifle powder.

Stop putting Bullseye in your coffee, you were running a bit off.

 

[BigBore45]

Because it is a fast burning pistol type powder, best suited to small capacity pistol type cases.
(Which the .30 Carbine is.)

The .223 runs at higher pressure with more, slower burning powder in order to provide proper gas port pressure & gas volume to operate the action.

You can use 4227 in light .223 loads in bolt-actions and single-shots.

But you will blow yourself up, (or Shoot your eye out) trying to get enough gas port pressure down the barrel to operate an AR-15.

Don't even try it!!!

rc

That is not correct. Sorry RC, but i run 4227 in a AR-15 16" barrel with 52 grain bullets without an issue. saves on powder per grain by alot for target shooting/ plinking, velocity is in the middle of the road with other listed loads, pressure is fine, the only thing i was running into ( which is a given with 4227) is mag primer needed for a good consistent crony reading. Cycles the bolt perfect and is pretty accurate. I would imagine that you might not have cycle pressures with a rifle length gas system on a 18"+ barrel AR. But maybe awesome results on a 7.5" or 10" pistol upper AR.

 

[345 DeSoto]

Is this what's called "Opening a can of worms"? All I'd like to know is if I can shoot a 62gr bullet out of my 9 twist, 20" barrel AR using 4227, or will it be a waste of 4227 and 62gr FMJBT's...or shoot my eye out...

 

[chris in va]

Short answer, no.

You can download it to around 2000fps but probably wouldn't cycle the action. Use another powder.

 

[Elkins45]

It's fast burning powder for rifles and a slow burning one for pistols. Burning rates are relative, and for this particular use 4227 is pretty fast compared to the 'normal' powder choices for 223.

 

[Sunray]

Cast bullet .223 loads use IMR4227. A 58 grain bullet maxes at about 2155 FPS. A 63 jacketed starts faster with any powder. Great deal less 4227 though.