Opinions on Hi-Skor 700X

[v-man]

A friend gave me a 15lb can of 700X. It looks quite old but still has about 7 or 8 lbs in it. I tested with some .38sp plinking loads and it burns just fine. I am not a big fan of the fast burn small dose powders so I wondered what some of you thought of this stuff. Other than a some HP-38 loads for a .44sp I don't normally use anything faster than Unique. I load many handgun calibers and try to shoot pretty regular. What is the best way to take advantange of this gift? What caliber, experience, opinions, etc?

[Dand]

I'd go thru my manuals, work up some loads and use it. Sounds like a wonderful opportunity given the price of powder these days.

I believe its a good shotgun powder too.

[Siskiyou]

I have burned a few pounds of it in the shotgun years ago, more currently in the 9MM.  It is a good powder.  I like it in the 9MM.

[Land_Owner]

I bought 8#'s of 700-X and 8#'s of Hodgen Clays to attempt to counter Unique's less than complete burning in my hand guns.  I shoot 700-X in 380 ACP, 38 Spc, 357 Mag so far.  Not much shot for accuracy's sake at this point.  Just making sure it all goes bang.  Am satisfied with that and will try for some accuracy now that I am through with making noise.  You and I are on the same trek.  Keep me posted on your results.  I will likewise for you.

[v-man]

Land Owner, I've always used a lot of Unique but also found it very dirty and incomplete burn on light and mid-range loads. Because of the dirty aspect I don't use it in amy of my semi-autos. For me it's a revolver only powder and when I load in the upper range in 38+P and .357 it seems to give me a more compete burn. I'll use this 700X to handle my plinging loads for now. I've just always been uneasy about powder charges of only 3 or 4 grains. I prefer to work with charges in which an accidental double charge will overflow and be impossible to miss.

[Dand]

My habit has always been to seat the bullet right after dispensing the powder to avoid double charges. That may not work for everyone but its served me well for many years.

[cybin]

I agree with seating the bullet right after dropping the powder--I have used 3 grains of bullseye in .38 special for many years that way-----as for 700x--many years ago I shot trap and skeet for most of a year--700x was the cleanest burning shotgun powder I ever used. I could shoot 200 rounds on a sunday and the gun was about as dirty as if only 25 rounds was fired using green dot. That made a big difference to me.
Never tried it in a pistol round before--though I do have a pound in my reloading room.

cybin

[Dand]

Last night I checked the Hodgdgon powder website and they list HS700 for many different bullet weights in 38 special. The powder weights didn't seem hugely different than a lot their other popular quick handgun powders. The part I REALLY enjoy about small charge weights is how many loads I can get out of a pound of powder. But I agree, tiny charges keep me a little more nervous and observant while loading.  A good measure like my RCBS has never been a problem - I usually rap the handle firmly to discourage bridging etc.

[tony212]

I had the same thing happen, a friend gave me a 12# keg of 700X.  I use 3.4 grains in .38 special under a 158 lswc and 5 grains in .357 under the same 158 lswc.  I have been doing this for years and I still have a lot of powder left.   These are nice mild loads that are about 700-750 fps.  Great for plimnking and target practice, recoil is low and they don't beat up your gun.  I thik you will be pleased with that powder.
Tony212

[Land_Owner]

Weekend results...I made 100 rounds of 380 auto and 100 rounds of 357 "Mag" ammo (actually 180 grain gas checked lead boolets in 38 SPC cases) on my RCBS Piggyback II progressive loader with 700-X for plinking.  Every round went "BANG", all of them shot to point of aim, some even hit the target!  

I was shooting each of Walther PPK 380 ACP; 357 Mag. Ruger SP 101 revolver, and 357 Mag. Handi-rifle (a great gun).  

Significant differences between Unique and both of 700-X and Hodgen Clays is the amount of powder (700-X or Clays is small), the load manual (Hodgen) says "...not to exceed..." and I don't so the 38 SPC cased round is nowhere near the intensity or power of a full 357 Mag load - particularly in the Ruger.  I would not want to be on the "Business End" though.

I didn't target shoot this weekend, just burned primers and powder launcing projectiles down range having fun plinking.  Add those to four 223's, a 280, three AK-47's, a 35-40 Krag, four 9 mm semi-autos, two 40-cal. semi-autos, three 10/22's, a "Noisy Cricket" 25 cal. semi-auto, and six "Scare Crows", means we made a mess!  But we had fun and picked up after.  Dang it was HOT!