IMR or Hogdon 4227 in the 357 magnum ?

Guys, I've been enjoying shooting hardcast 180 grain LSWCs over 2400 for quite a few years out of my Python with great accuracy. Aside from the accuracy standpoint, I really enjoy the soft recoil and a nice BOOM instead of the 357s notorious blast that this loading offers.

Thinking of trying some hard WNFP 200 grainers over either of the 4227s.

We'll leave H110 for another thread.

As usual your thoughts are welcomed.

Denny.

H-4227 is the only one made today, but it's sold as IMR 4227. Some cans of IMR 4227 you find will be at least several years old, but the "new" IMR 4227 is actually the same as the "old" H-4227. The change was made not too long after Hodgdon acquired the rights to the IMR powders. The practical performance difference was always pretty slight between the two.

With regard to the comparison of 2400 vs 4227 in the .357, it wouldn't hurt to test a bit of both in your guns. A couple of my .357's have preferred 2400 over the years. Most have clearly preferred 296/H-110. With my 35 bores, only the Maximums preferred the 4227's. All of this has nothing to do with how YOUR gun will perform.

I think it was the H4227 that was discontinued. I haven't seen H4227 for sale around here in a long time but IMR-4227 is readily available.

They stopped marketing H4227 and now you can only get IMR 4227. HOWEVER the current IMR 4227 is the old H4227. Hodgdon for a while listed both and they had the same weights, velocities, and pressures. Comparing them to the old manuals, they were the same as the H4227. Now they only list IMR 4227.

7P's and herrettman are correct. I did a lousy job of explaining the change in my first post, and just corrected it.

I have used H-4227 in a 30 Herrett for years and love it. Never tried in 357. I have a trooper that feels like it is coming apart with any loads except mild 38 type loads. I wonder if some 4227 would scare me to death?

Not sure about a 357, but in a 44mag and 460S&W, 4227 is very heat sensitive...it is fine if you only shoot a few rounds (1or2) at a time.

If you run your loads over a cronograph you can watch every round run just a little faster than the shot before it. I suggest you save the money and buy some 296, 2400, or Unique.

I do shoot unique, but it seems pretty hard on frames.

Cambellkids - please explain further...I shoot Unique in several of my revolvers, and find it to be one of the milder-recoiling powders that I use, especially in the .357. The only gripe I have with it is it seems a little "dirtier" than my heavier loadings, with almost an oily residue on the guns. But it has been a great plinking powder for me in multiple calibers.

It feels like things loosen up like they are coming apart.

If that is the case I would not trust any powder/loads until I had the gun looked at by a good smith.

Ditto on Landrum's comments - my 110/296 loads are MUCH more "sporty" than my Unique loads (in all calibers)