Just wondering ,Has anybody ever tried to use some rifle type powders in pistol rounds? Say like 4064 or rl 22 something like ( not exactly these) in say a.41 mag,.44 mag .38 sp?Can it be done or do they burn to slow and make to much pressure.Just curious.

I doubt it would work. They need big cases and long barrels to be effecient. They probably wouldn't have enough pressure. I would be concerned about a hang-fire. I don't know if it would be dangerous or not, but I would always err on the side of caution and assume it would be.

And if you did it the other way around (pistol powder in a rifle case), you may just blow up the gun.

They burn too slow, they won't build enough pressure, you could get squibs. There are some powders that work in a rifle, like 'lil gun which you can use in .44 mag and in .22 hornet. Mostly the burn rates needed are too different.

For each case volume, there is a burn rate that will produce max pressure and a full case. Faster burning powders produce max pressure, with less powder. This produces less gas to push the bullet and therefore lower velocity.

Slower powders fill the case, but won't reach max pressure, so velocity is lower.

Check out a max charge of H4895, imr4350, and H4831 in .30-06 180 grain bullets (Hodgdon Website)

H4895 is too fast, you can only put in about 47 grns to reach max pressure.
imr4350 is about perfect, a compressed charge is close to max pressure.
H4831 is too slow, a compressed charge doesn't reach max pressure, velocity is lower.

Using rifle powder in a handgun cartridge is like using H4831 in a .30-06, only about 10 times worse. I suspect you'd have problems even getting it ignited properly.

Thanks guy's ,I kinda thought it would bun to slow .Just wanted to hear it from you guy's.Had a guy ask me why all of the different powders.

burn too slow and not enough pressure more like it. I bet performance would be poor. These powders are designed to run at certain pressures. And besides the 460S&W and 500, most like 44mags can not be loaded to 50KPSI.

It can be done, but the problem is that the rounds you listed won't hold enough of those slow rifle powders to give you a decent muzzle velocity. It is NOT dangerous to do this, (unless pressures were so low that a bullet got stuck in the bore!!),but you gain nothing by so doing.

The best rifle powders in handgun rounds are IMR 4227, H110, and Alliant 2400- powders originally made for the .30 Carbine and rounds like the 22 Hornet, 218 Bee, etc.

Hey eldeguello,was just checking out some reloading sites .low and behold I saw some posts by this gentleman?[8D](J/K) that went by the handle of you guessed it eldguello.Figgured if it was good enough for you it was good enough for me accuratereloading .com.Seems like a pretty good place.


BTW that post on guns the other day when that guy was trying to give you a hard time really pissed me off .I usually don't crack on those idiots.But I almost did that time. oh yeah I'm not slurping you neither

It is a pretty good place-full of guys who are really knowledgeable, including some well-regarded custom gun builders! Also some double rifle and combination-gun lovers.

yes that is a good site. I used to use 2400in my 44 magnum, but i found it dirty. I think it was originally shotgun powder though.

I do know 2400 has applications in shotshell reloading-I believe for .410's and maybe 28's? But it is also used in the .22 Hornet & .218 Bee as well. Don't know which it was originally developed for, though. It is a bit dirty, but I use it in my .454 Casull.....