Why #$%^&&**# 800X ?

[rognp]

I hardly ever see the use of Dupont HY Score 800X without the use of various and sundry curses and defamation of the manufacturers ancestors. I had used it a limited amount and took the warnings to heart and dipped and weighed. A couple of weeks ago I borrowed my son's P220 in 45 to try out the platform. For whatever reason my Lil' Dandy measure was sitting there with a rotor that corresponded to the chart for 6.8 gr of 800. Tried it out and with my technique it het 7.0 grains , which is the top load in many manauls. Filled it and ran about 20 throws and about 80% were dead on at 7.0 grains. the other 19 and 1 percent were 6.9 or 7.1. One out lier was 7.2gr. That was still in the envelope for some data. Went ahead and loaded about 30 rounds and fired them. All did well, and if Id closed the barn door and locked myself in it . I'd have hit the barn. After about 50 rounds I was able to wing the barn occasionally from the outside.
Anyhow spot checking as I was loading and checking befoe and after every session I didnot find any variance beyond the 6.9 to 7.1 gr range. My technique that Ive used a lot is to tap the rotor multiple time with flake powders. 800X calls for 4 taps on the charge phase and  usually 3 "taps" on the dump phase. Im always cautious with flake powders and do the 3 tap on dump so there are no hang ups. Critical eyeball on charged cases too.
  Ive found the Lil' Dandy very versatile and really provides repeatable results. Its major limitation is the fixed rotor system. They print a capacity chart for most popular handgun size charges.Fot the ones that fall n between I sue little plastic "freeze plugs" that I cut out of poly food containers. some trial and error but I can get most any load I want. A curiosity is the change in loads that can occur with the same rotor and same jug of powder. Verified with 2 scales.

[sqlbullet]

Man that was a suspenseful read.  I kept thinking a gun was going to blow up

800X is a great and terrible powder.

[rognp]

Im glad it was enjoyable!! I see so many posts where they are going to feed the 800 to their tomatoes. Hey guys send it here I think its fine.

[The_Shadow]

The main problems with 800X were the early posted data which the upper data for 135 grain bullets was shown to be problematic pressure spikes.
That being said, hand weighing of 800X can produce some great velocity numbers and results, when all the components are matched up for the task.
I use the RCBS Uniflow dropper, dropping just short of the scale weight and tap my trickler dropping a flake or two to balance the beam.  This method has worked for me since 1978...
800X can be very accurate with this kind of match grade powder weights, at least for me.

[Graybeard]

Man that was a suspenseful read.  I kept thinking a gun was going to blow up

800X is a great and terrible powder.

I was thinking the same thing Glad it worked out. You can call me paranoid all you want, but I still won't load 800X without weighing each charge. Fortunately, my RCBS Chargemaster does it for me.

[Kenk]

Very suspenseful and an awesome read. I have not tried 800X, but will be soon, as I hand weigh every load without fail, regardless of the powder type. I guess a bit of OCD behavior isn't a bad thing when it comes to loading, I'm just thankful I'm not plagued with this behavioral disorder in all areas of life : )

Ken

[Bongo Boy]

I would most definitely be one of the guys cursing it.  Can't argue with the final results...but life is way too short for me to be messing with that stuff.  I was limiting my use of it to 10mm and abandoned that after just getting tired of it, but when I started loading 44 mag, I used it there.  With a relatively 'rare' Lew Horton 629-4 Hunter II in hand, I did proceedeth to the range.  Nothing really special, except I do believe an otherwise unused prized wheelgun was already showing signs of gas cutting under the top strap after an hours worth of shooting.

I can't grow tomatoes here at 8800 ft elevation with any hope, but I got plenty of Mugo pines it might be helping with.

[woods_walker]

OMG! This cracks me up!

I've been using 800-x for nearly 40 years- shotgun and handgun alike. Why people get so bent out of shape over this powder is bizarre. It reminds me of the guy who screams at the TV when a show comes on that he doesn't like. Uh... change the channel??? If you don't like the powder, use something else! There is nothing fundamentally wrong with 800X- consistency with it requires hand-weighed charges.

I have a Uniflow on my bench- it gets used occasionally with other powders. But the norm on my bench is hand-weighed charges and cartridges assembled one at a time. Call it OCD- I don't care. I call it precision, and my ammo reflects that precision.

800-X isn't the powder for you? That's ok- I don't use Blue Dot.

And for the OP-

800-X is way down the list for preferred or even decent .45 acp powders. Try it in yor .45 Colt, .357 or .44...or even your 10mm! That's when you'll see it shine!

[sqlbullet]

I don't use Blue Dot.

Blasphemy!  Where is the "ban" button!



I hear you.  800X doesn't have it's long history by not being useful.

[woods_walker]

I don't use Blue Dot.

Blasphemy!  Where is the "ban" button!

I know, I know!
But several years ago I reached the point where I decided that fireballs and firearms don't go together. Blue Dot has some great applications. My preference lies in other powders.
I think my last can of Blue Dot was just that- a can, not a plastic bottle, and it says Hercules on the label. I still have it and haven't opened it in 15 years or more!
But then again, I also load Winchester 571 in my 10mm loads with a 200 gr jhp. Most accurate powder I've ever seen in the 10mm regardless of the the gun make.

[TODDXUSMC]

What kind of velocity are you getting with W571 and a 200gr bullet? My old Win manuals don't show it to be a top performer for velocity but it actually should be as it's slightly slower than BD.


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[The_Shadow]

Yep 571 was shown in the older load data here

[woods_walker]

In my Delta I can get a consistent 1145 fps while staying within loading manual loads. My G20 shoots them about 30 fps slower. For years I've wanted to do a progression on this loading to see if there is more velocity available without losing accuracy. Pretty cool to get great accuracy from the lightest book load to the heaviest.
Sadly, my supply of W571 is limited and none of my friends will give up what they have hidden away! I'm still on the lookout for more when I go to gunshows but I haven't seen any in the last couple years.

[TODDXUSMC]

That's more in the realm of where it seemed should be. That was a great powder, I was sad to see it go. Still have 4lb but I relegate it to heavy shotgun and 28ga loadings, its even appropriate for certain steel loadings.
Interestingly I have some Alcan 8 I came into. It should work well in 10mm. It's burn rate is between BD & AA9 but it should compress better than those two if needed. Shadow and I discussed this one some years back but I still haven't gotten around to trying it in the 10mm(still trying to procure 3# more from a source that has it before I start using it). The Alcan line was another great line of powder that was DC after SW had it a few years in the later 1970s until around 1983.
Another great one, SR4756 although a tad too fast for 10mm it does work fabulously for a subsonic 215 SWC(Travis Frick) in 10mm(5gr). It's a very very accurate load and perceived recoil is about that of a light 38 load from a 686.
Don't know what Hod was thinking when they DC the lines they did.


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[rognp]

Ive got a small drum of AL7 that is great for moderate target loads in 357, 45C and a couple of others. Its absolutely great in large capacity rifle cast bullet loads. Loads under 1600 FPS. 330 mag, 7mm mag, 375R- groups <1'.    Dearly would loved to have tried AL8 in 10mm and others. If its as consistant as the 7 it should e a great accuracy powder in the 10mm.