Does anybody use this powder for reloading handguns? I know it's listed slower than Unique but it looks like it would cover the same area Unique does. I was wanting to use it as an all around powder for shotshells as well as handgun reloading. I know it doesn't flow very well through a powder measure as I currently have an 8 oz. container. According to the No. 212 Handloader IMR has "modified the flake surface" to make it flow through measures more smoothly. I was wanting to get more opinions on it before I bought any more. So far I've used it from the .38 Special with a 158 gr. SWC at 672 fps. to a .44 Mag. with a 44-240GC at 1300 fps. It works very well in everything in between that I have too. I know I'm kind of answering my own question but I would like any and all opinions either for or against.

I tryed 800x in my necked down 25ACP and was disappointed. A full case was 1.8gr and only achieved 900fps with a 35gr 22cal V-max in a 22" bbl. Unique achieved 1262fps and BlueDot achieved 1304fps. 231 gave the highest MV at 1850fps. It's a shame you don't live in Arkansas, I'd consider a trade for the 8oz can I have for something else to try.

I shoot trap and load the 12 ga. with 700X. For the pistols, I have been getting good results using the Bullseye powder in .38 and .45 Calibers. In the .44 H110 works fine. Too bad one powder isn't best in everything. Unique comes closest to having a load for just about everything, but it's not always the "best" load. I have used HP-38 in the .38's and 2400 in the .44's as well. Sometimes it depends on the bullet weight and what you are using the gun for. Bullseye pistol shooting only requires accuracy, so a light load is fine, as long as the bullet goes into the same hole every time..Ha. In my shotguns, I have been using the 700X for about 15 years. I tried changing around, and found some different wads, and tried Royal Scot powder, but came back to the Winchester AA hulls, and AA wads (actually a generic form of same) and the 700X powder.

Thanks for the replies guys. I've been reloading for 24 years and been looking for that mythical all around powder, for handgun and shotgun, for quite a while and haven't found it yet either. 800X seemed to come real close but like I said I don't like the way it flows through a measure. With my RCBS Uniflow, with the small cavity, I got 0.9 grain swings. I made a rotor with a 0.375" hole, and while it cut down the swing to 0.5 grains, that's still too much for my tastes. I was hoping the new version of 800X metered better but I don't know if I'll hold my breath. Thanks again guys.

IMR 800X is a very useful, if not well known powder. The large flake size makes it a pain going through a measure; I do wish the manufacturer could do something about that.

I have gotten some very interesting velocities using it to propel 170 grain jacketed bullets in my .41 mag., but I wish it was a tad more consistent shot-to-shot. That could be more of a chamber size issue than a powder issue, though. I haven't determined if I have fast & slow chambers in that revolver yet.

I'm looking forward to using it for lots of other things along the way.

The Speer reloading manual #11 lists a 200 gr. .44 Mag. max load of 21 gr. for 1636 fps. I DO NOT recommend that load. It's WAY too hot. My max is about 12 gr. I can't remember the velocity, but I remember that it varied +/- 100 fps. You'd also find the circular flakes lying around on the ground on white pieces of target paper near the muzzle, clearly showing that only the flakes near the flash hole were burning. 800X worked in .the smaller 45 ACP case (8.0 gr. max with 185 gr. JHP), but I never checked the velocity. I think it won't work in larger capacity cases. I prefer something like H110 or WW296 in .44 Mag.

Yesterday I was shooting my Ruger P90 with 7/WAP/200gr Lee tumble lube and CCI 300 primer. I was only getting an average of 745.1fps at 15' but I must have been holding my mouth just right for the groups I got. They were so good, for me, that I'm afraid to try it again cause I know I won't be able to do it again. They were both three shot groups, the one at 25yds was 5/8" and the one at 50yds was 1" even. I'll probably go back down to my range today and burst my bubble. I don't know if the new 800X burns any more completely or not but, according to IMR's add, it meters better. It looks like I may just go back to H110 in my .357 and .44's for magnum loads.