Hodgdon 800x

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Looking up load data for 800x and loading .40 S&W
Min 7.2 grains Max 7.2 grains.
This leaves no room for forgiveness.
This will be my first attempt reloading.
I'm using a RCBS 5.0.5 beam scale, loading each load by hand.
Should I be attempting with such powder?
Or am I stuck with two pounds of 800x?
 
What load are you considering? We need to know bullet weight and if it's lead/plated/jacketed, at a minimum.

800x is often regarded as one of the worst metering powders out there. However, that is about the only complaint you will ever hear about it (though it seems that was enough, as it is now discontinued). The powder is noted for its great versatility in hot handgun rounds, including the .40 S&W. According to some of the people I have "heard" type on the subject, who seem to know their stuff, Titegroup, 700x, W231, or any such faster powders are the wrong way to go with the .40, if you are trying to make cartridges that approach the intended ballistics. They definitely seem to prefer Blue Dot, Longshot, 800x for this purpose.

Last weekend I chronied incremental charges of four powders (Herco, SR4756, Longshot, AA#7) that were all very close in burning rate to 800x. With a ~165gr cast lead bullet I ran each powder from loads so soft they wouldn't work the pistol to as scary hot as I dared. With any of them a 7.2 grain load would have been very workable, maybe a little hot in the first two powders and a little light in the last.

I don't know why the published data gives you so little room to work, maybe IMR figured there wasn't enough demand for an obsolescent shotgun powder in a whiz bang new pistol cartridge to justify a full development program. I've never used 800s but frankly this is a place where I would ignore the data you have. I would start with a load likely to be very soft, and load one or two of various increments up to and maybe a little over that number you found. I would shoot every one of them over my chrony, and check every single case for signs of pressure, stopping the test if any appeared. Then I would note which charges gave me the velocityrange I wanted and I would start to experiment for accuracy within that range.

Of course, I would be relying on my experience to make the many decisions along the way. Since you state you don't have much reloading experience, this strategy might not be a good idea for you. You might need to let the 800x gather dust for a little while until you gain some experience with the procedure and the cartridge. I sympathize, its tough to be a beginner without any experience or published data to work with.
 
Check the hodgedon website.

Have you done so yourself? There is only one load shown. Mind you, it's a different one than the OP mentions, so I guess it's something.

Bullet Weight 200 GR. HDY XTP

Manufacturer.........Powder........Bullet Diam.........C.O.L.........Grs.........Vel. (ft/s).........Pressure.........Grs.........Vel. (ft/s)..........Pressure
IMR 800-X .400" 1.125" 5.6 903 28,300 PSI 6.1 951 31,000 PSI
 
Looking up load data for 800x and loading .40 S&W
Min 7.2 grains Max 7.2 grains.
This leaves no room for forgiveness.
This will be my first attempt reloading.
I'm using a RCBS 5.0.5 beam scale, loading each load by hand.
Should I be attempting with such powder?
Or am I stuck with two pounds of 800x?

Load a test of 10 each from 5.5 to 7.2 in o.3 gr increments. See what works best. You can make good ammo with 800X.

Time to treat yourself to a powder thrower.
 
Since when is 800X discontinued? My LGS just got some in this week... It is awesome in the 10mm, .40 should do very well with it. It certainly does meter terribly though. I'd imagine the limited start/max data is due to the low pressures it generate for the rather high velocities it produces. It is notorious for pressure spikes. A simple change of primer produced some very wild results while I was developing certain loads.
 
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What load are you considering? We need to know bullet weight and if it's lead/plated/jacketed, at a minimum.

800x is often regarded as one of the worst metering powders out there. However, that is about the only complaint you will ever hear about it (though it seems that was enough, as it is now discontinued). The powder is noted for its great versatility in hot handgun rounds, including the .40 S&W. According to some of the people I have "heard" type on the subject, who seem to know their stuff, Titegroup, 700x, W231, or any such faster powders are the wrong way to go with the .40, if you are trying to make cartridges that approach the intended ballistics. They definitely seem to prefer Blue Dot, Longshot, 800x for this purpose.

Last weekend I chronied incremental charges of four powders (Herco, SR4756, Longshot, AA#7) that were all very close in burning rate to 800x. With a ~165gr cast lead bullet I ran each powder from loads so soft they wouldn't work the pistol to as scary hot as I dared. With any of them a 7.2 grain load would have been very workable, maybe a little hot in the first two powders and a little light in the last.

I don't know why the published data gives you so little room to work, maybe IMR figured there wasn't enough demand for an obsolescent shotgun powder in a whiz bang new pistol cartridge to justify a full development program. I've never used 800s but frankly this is a place where I would ignore the data you have. I would start with a load likely to be very soft, and load one or two of various increments up to and maybe a little over that number you found. I would shoot every one of them over my chrony, and check every single case for signs of pressure, stopping the test if any appeared. Then I would note which charges gave me the velocityrange I wanted and I would start to experiment for accuracy within that range.

Of course, I would be relying on my experience to make the many decisions along the way. Since you state you don't have much reloading experience, this strategy might not be a good idea for you. You might need to let the 800x gather dust for a little while until you gain some experience with the procedure and the cartridge. I sympathize, its tough to be a beginner without any experience or published data to work with.

The Bullet is jacketed, plated at the least FN.
155gr .... I have no issues investing in time to test and learn. I don't currently have a Chrono.
 
I distinctly recall seeing discussion on a shotgun website that it was being discontinued, and it doesn't show up on IMR's product list on their website.

It's under the Hodgdon label now, that would explain why it's not listed with IMR. I can't find anything at all about it being discontinued. I certainly hope it isn't, I use it in several cartidges.
 
IMR 800X was "discontinued" and replaced with Hodgdon 800X; practically speaking they switched manufacturers for the same product but technically it was a discontinuation since IMR and Hodgdon are legally different entities (even though one owns the other).
Apparently there were issues with several batches of flake powders from the Canadian plant in Quebec (forget name) that Hodgdon contracts with so they discontinued ordering all flake powders from there (IMR rifle powders are still made in Quebec). The burn rates were way off from what they were supposed to be or so the story goes. They now make 800X with the same formulation at a plant in the US (I think the state is a "C" name; Connecticut? One of the Carolinas?) but it's under the Hodgdon name.

The package looks almost identical but the IMR logo was changed to a Hodgdon logo and it no longer says "Made in Canada, Packaged in the USA" but just "Product of the USA". They are of course totally interchangable.
 
Info is scarce, seems like. I found this book, back page says 06/00. Since I had it before I moved to AB, I guess it's from 2000. Powder manufacturer's pamphlet. They used to do this...

_20150706_153427_zps33e8f40b.jpg


Data for you...

_20150706_153451_zps29e8ab61.jpg


or maybe too late...
 
Load a test of 10 each from 5.5 to 7.2 in o.3 gr increments. See what works best. You can make good ammo with 800X.

Time to treat yourself to a powder thrower.

this. I bought a dozen lbs of 800x for .38,.357, 45 just because it was that or nothing. Works fine for all of em. Benrest rifles need to be meticulous in powders. handguns for most folks just need to go band safely and reliably. 800x will do this. If we had a choice you could find a better watch for a 40. These days be greatful you have powder.
 
Info is scarce, seems like. I found this book, back page says 06/00. Since I had it before I moved to AB, I guess it's from 2000. Powder manufacturer's pamphlet. They used to do this...

_20150706_153427_zps33e8f40b.jpg


Data for you...



_20150706_153451_zps29e8ab61.jpg


or maybe too late...

That's one of my favorite loading books, compare that book with the new books. Everything new is fluffy!
 
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