Thread: Range Report – IMR 4227 behind 55g SPBT in my Oly AR 15.

Range Report – IMR 4227 behind 55g SPBT in my Oly AR 15 - DONE

I found the recipe for IMR 4227 on the Hodgdon’s website back in December. None on my manuals have 4227 in their tables. I looked online again today and it is gone. I think I know why, read on.

Back in December, Hodgdon’s recipe started with 16.0 g and ended with 17.0 g.

II really like the ease of metering IMR 4227. Much, much easier than IMR 4198 or 4064 – that’s one of the reasons for me trying IMR 4227.

I also liked the idea if using less powder. Figured it would make my pound of powder go farther.

So, I reloaded five recipes for IMR 4227 and none of them were satisfactory to me. All would make the Oly AR 15 eject the spent case, but most of the reloads would not drive the bolt back far enough to pick up the next round. I had to cycle the bolt by hand, using the charging handle.

Here’s the range report: I fired 10 rounds of each.

14.7 g of IMR 4227
Highest fps – 2402
Lowest fps – 2184
Average – 2329.86 (+/- 72.12 fps)
All ejected, bolt never went back far enough to pick up the next round.

15.0 g of IMR 4227
Highest fps – 2381
Lowest fps – 2252
Average – 2332.74 (+/- 48.25 fps)
All ejected, bolt never went back far enough to pick up the next round.

15.3 g of IMR 4227
Highest fps – 2495
Lowest fps – 2262
Average – 2372.44 (+/- 122.56 fps)
All ejected, bolt never went back far enough to pick up the next round.

15.7 g of IMR 4227
Highest fps – 2530
Lowest fps – 2331
Average – 2397.00 (+/- 133.00 fps)
All ejected, the bolt went back far enough to pick up the next round 2 times.

16.0 g of IMR 4227
Highest fps – 2560
Lowest fps – 2408
Average – 2501.00 (+/- 59.00 fps)
All ejected, the bolt went back far enough to pick up the next round 5 times.

I’m going to reload 16.5g and 17.0g to see if they will chamber the next round.

Do any of you guys have any experience with IMR 4227?

PS

While I was at it, I chronied 10 Remington Factory 55g loads, here’s the results
Highest fps – 2867
Lowest fps – 2724
Average – 2801.4 (+/-65.60 fps)
AR functioned flawlessly.

Later, I chronied 10 more of my 55g reloads, they were a recipe from my reloading manuals, 24.8 g of IMR 4064:
Highest fps – 2739
Lowest fps – 2597
Average – 2674.93 (+/-64.07 fps)
AR functioned flawlessly.

Hack

I've never used that powder.......keep us posted.

try some of the ball powder it all meters well.
the Imr is stick and doesn't
blc2 H335 w748 are all ball

Originally Posted by jeclif

try some of the ball powder it all meters well.
the Imr is stick and doesn't
blc2 H335 w748 are all ball

I can't get my hands on any H335, but I'll sure look into W748.

Thanks
Hack

ck with powder vally they sell pull down and new cheaper than one lb.
And if you are going to reload stock up, It aint gitting any cheaper

Originally Posted by jeclif

... It aint gitting any cheaper

True BPS now has IMR4350 back in stock a few bucks higher than it use to be.

Actually they had all their bins back in stock of the powders they carry.

I need to go by BPS on my way home then!

Originally Posted by BigBlack

True BPS now has IMR4350 back in stock a few bucks higher than it use to be.

Actually they had all their bins back in stock of the powders they carry.

Pardon my ignorance, but who is "BPS"?

Hack

Thanks guys for all your help.

I'm not going to pursue the IMR 4227 charges any longer. I don't see any reason to possibly harm my AR, or me, or foul the works up.

I'll use IMR 4198, IMR 6064, W748 and H4198 in my AR .223 reloads - I have those on my reloading bench.

I'll use my IMR 4227 in my 44 Spl and 44 Mag reloads - that's why I even have it.

Hack
Edit/Delete Message

BPS = Bass Pro Shop