4227 is gone

M1fuzz.  I was checking the Hodgdon load data this afternoon.  They did not list IMR 4227 and H4227 was listed as discontinued.  I did not check any load data beside 30/06.  Let us hope it is a typo.  But I checked Midway, Powder Valley and Graff.  All were out of 8 lb jugs some still listed 1 lb cans.  I am set for now, probably have around 12 pounds, glad I ordered a jug of 4227 and also 5744 about 3 years ago.  I have not fired a round in over 3&1/2 years.  My wife of 53 years is terminal and I have been taking care of her.  Now have hospice coming in twice a week to bath her and the nurse once a week now to check on her.  Will not be firing anything till after she passes and I get everything straightened out.  Also I will need to get my mind straightened out I don't want an to have an "accident". 

Ed Harris.  Thank you very much Sir.  No need to worry about me running hot on the loads.  On all my .30s & 8mm excepting the M1 Grand and the carbine I start a new gun out at 15 grains of 4227 and the U311291 and work up a grain or 2 at a time till the groups start to open.  The hottest one is my 7.62 NATO in a 40X, it is at 20 - 21 grains 4227 and the U311291.  I don’t like to brag about the accuracy it gives because I will jinx myself for sure.  But I have had flies and bees that have landed on the target. They didn’t stay there too long.  It doesn’t take much powder to punch paper at 100 yards.  I don’t do matches, there aren’t any down here and I don’t travel, I just shoot against myself seeing if I can still do it.  I have a few pounds of 4198 but the groups aren’t as tight, sorry.  I just use 4227 and 5744 aka Buffalo Rifle aka D060.  My fallback powders are 2400 and H110 but neither one shoot quite as closely as 4227.  I am hoping there are new powders on the market that others have had good luck with.  I do crazy things to tighten the groups like using a .32 ACP as a dipper to put 3F black in place of my usual over powder wad etc.  Still use a Dacron wad, it works the best, for me.

I am getting a collection of half full cans of discontinued powers. Let’s see DuPont bulk, 700 with no x, DuPont black, Curtis & Harvey black, H375, a few other I can’t think of right now.  I had 3 or 4 pounds of DuPont IMR 17 & ½ that I spread over the yard because it was turning, it was only 80 or 90 years young.

Sorry if I babble on but I have no one to talk to except my son who calls once a day to see if I need anything.

Jim