New Hodgdon Powder - Imron 7977

slimjim · Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2016 2:56 pm Post subject: New Hodgdon Powder - Imron 7977

I've been working a lot lately trying to find powders that are less temperature sensitive for both my 6.8mm and .270. I found my go to .270 powder, IMR 4350, did better with magnum primers and keeping magazine next to my body until I needed it when in cold weather.

Not like I need another powder but couldn't resist getting a point of Hodgdon's newest temperature insensitive powder, 7977. Anyone had any experience with this. The numbers look impressive compared to the other powders I use.

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3571 Location: Utah

It looks like you have to use a considerable amount more vs other powders. That would factor into overall cartridge costs.

-DallanC

slimjim

yep, looks like about 20%. I'm used to seeing this with CFE. If its temperature stable and returns good groups, it will be worth it.

Vince

IMR® SMokeless Rifle Powders wrote:

IMR 7977™

The slowest burn rate Enduron Technology extruded powder is IMR 7977, and is a true magnum cartridge propellant. It yields outstanding performance in such cartridges as the 300 Winchester Magnum, 7mm Remington Magnum, 338 Lapua and a host of others. Loading density is perfect for magnums, nicely filling the case at maximum charges, contributing to superb uniformity and accuracy. The 7mm Remington Magnum “never had it so good”!

This looks like a pretty reasonable powder Slim...but I wonder if it might be a tad slow for the 6.8 and .270, but then again if it lives up to their claims:

Enduron Technology Delivers
The Consistency That Serious Hunters and Shooters Demand

Copper Fouling Elimination
Shoot more rounds accurately between cleanings.

Extreme Temperature Stability
Stay on target, no matter the conditions.

Ideal Load Density
Maximize velocity and prevent pressure spikes.

Environmentally Friendly
Be kind to the earth with non-harmful ingredients.

and it delivers the accuracy you want, then I suppose that addition cost might be worth the expense. Only time and testing will tell mate.

I am wondering Scratch

if this "new" powder is actually a revamp of an older powder, similar to what ADI did with the introduction of Benchmark 8208 which, I believe, is a smaller granule version of AR2208 (Varget). It actually turned out to be a more accurate option in a number of calibres.

slimjim

Vince, it is a bit slow for the lighter bullets and a push for 130gr bullets but look at what it does with the 150 grain pills - 130 fps advantage. I thought that was worth investigating - plus I like temperature sensitivity and after using CFE in my 6.8mm, wanted to see if this keeps the copper out of the bore as well. A couple of times I've cleaned my 6.8mm and have had to ask myself, why am I not getting in blue on my patch - oh, I've been using CFE. CFE is pretty temperature sensitive however so I stopped using it for hunting.

PaulS

What I noticed was that it was run under higher pressures than the rest of the powders - 10000 psi more!
I wonder if it is really a better powder or they are just introducing higher pressure loads to sell it...??!!!

slimjim

PaulS, check the units. Modern powders are being tested in PSI. Older methods used CUP - copper units of pressure which gauged pressure by crushing a copper disk (if I understand the process correctly)

SAAMI maximums for 270 win
52000 CUP
65000 PSI

Thus the chamber pressure using 7977 appears to be lower than most of the other powders.

English Mike

No measurement using the classic 130gr bullet that works so well in the .270?

slimjim

IMR 7977 does not have a significant velocity advantage with 130gr bullets, especially with the Barnes which is my current go to bullet. I am preparing for 140 AccuBonds and the soon to be release Hornady 148gr ELD-X so thought I'd give it a try.