My research with 700X in handguns

[kthomk]

Bought an old keg of 700X from a guy on the cheap. Started experimenting with it in 9mm and .38 special. Using 125 grain cast bullet. Worked up test loads with several different quality powders. Clays, 231, Titegroup, Bullseye, etc. The 700X outperformed all other powders in these 2 calibers for accuracy. Pretty amazing for a dirty, dinosaur powder. Also tried it for .45 ACP. This cartridge did not seem to like it. Just figured I would share my findings with fellow reloaders.

 

[FROGO207]

I have several 45 ACP firearms and the 700X works really well for me with lead or FMJ bullets at 230 grains. It is not so great with the lighter bullets however.

 

[swmp9jrm]

I've used 700X in 9mm, .38SPL, and .45ACP - I had a bottle of it that I was using for shotshells, and wanted to use one powder for everything. Didn't like it in .357 Magnum, though.

 

[ljnowell]

700x produced the most accurate 45acp loads I have ever loaded. You just need to do a little more work on that one.

 

[Walkalong]

My first 700X was in a brown paper bag. I bought it from an old reloader getting out of the game. It proved excellent in .38 and .44 Spl. W-231 beat it in .45 ACP.

 

[jjjitters]

I bought a lb of it a year or two ago to try when I was doing a bunch of testing in .40 and .45. I loaded up 4 different "recipes" with 700x and did the same with several other powders. All of my 700X loads were by far the worst, one .45 load used the entire target( some bullets were off the target)? Not just one or two but all of them? It just didn't jive.
I have twenty-something different powders and in each caliber(9,.357Sig,.40,45) I have used/tried most of those, plus numerous different bullets in all those calibers,I have yet to see any other combo do that bad. I have seen several people say how good 700x does for them(thats why I included it my testing), but after those four loads I shoved it to the back of my cabinet and haven't used it since. I should loads another combo with it someday and see if they do as bad again, maybe I got a bad canister of the stuff.

 

[cfullgraf]

700-X is my "go to" powder for 45 ACP with 230 RN (cast, plated and jacketed). 32 years and counting.

I have tried others but keep coming back to 700-X although AA5 is my alternate.

I use it in 380 ACP as well.

 

[TonyT]

My 25 yard bulsye pistol load in 45ACP was 3.8 gr. HS-700X, Rem PL behind a 185 gr. LSWC for ca 715 fps - very accurate and mild. HS-700X is a great powder with lead bullet loads,

 

[wolfe]

I used it a few times. Agree it is fine for 9mm but I got too much powder reside with 357 mag.

Now as far as shot shells go I won't use any other powder, period. Been using it for 20+ years

 

[GP100man]

It`s kinda position sensitive , that`s why ya did`nt like it in 357, 5-5.5 grs. has alot of room to play hide & seek in !!

CLAYS is a better choice in this application.

 

[ljnowell]

I posted above about the great results on paper I got with 700x in 45acp. I quit using it however, because I dont like the way cornflakes go through my powder measure.

 

[swmp9jrm]

It`s kinda position sensitive , that`s why ya did`nt like it in 357, 5-5.5 grs. has alot of room to play hide & seek in !!

CLAYS is a better choice in this application.

Yeah, I think that had a lot to do with me not liking it - seemed very variable. I went to 2400 for .357 Magnum - that pretty much eliminated the partially filled brass.

 

[twofifty]

4.2gr of 700X does a nice job filling a 9mm case topped with 124gr plated.