Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles First impressions Power Pro 4000 MR

The powder has finally hit the market. Did some comparative testing this morning. Was curious if 4000 MR would best RL-17's performance.

Two 7 Rem Mags were used. 24" and 30" barrels.

Original loads:

24" barrel. moly coated 150 nos bt, 67 gr of RL-17 vel 3260
30" barrel. Moly coated 140 accubond 66 gr of RL-17 vel 3400

Temperature for testing was mid 80s.

Worked up loads for 24" barrel, with two cases per 1 grain increments using same components/loading methods except for change in powder

66 gr vel 3046 3047
67 gr vel 3077 3106
68 gr vel 3151 3163
69 gr vel 3186 3183 max load for conditions
70 gr vel 3254 3264 hint of bolt lift/ shiny extractor mark



30" barrel again same components/loading methods

66 gr vel 3351 3287
67 gr vel 3356 3386
68 gr vel 3402 3403 hint of bolt lift bullets touched
69 gr vel 3452 3450 same bolt lift bullets touched
70 gr vel 3501 3477 accuracy fell off/harder bolt lift
71 gr vel 3521 3527 same as 70 gr



Impressions: this powder didn't surpass RL-17's velocities in the short barrel but duplicated and slightly surpassed RL-17 in the longer barrel. Some velocities were very similar as seen above. Has accuracy potential.

The extruded kernels are smaller, approx 1/2 the length of RL-17 with same diameter. Even with the max loads there is an air space between the powder and base of bullet.

That is it for now. I intend to try 160 accubonds next.

Great report, thanks!

Where'd you get it?

Where did I get it? I had it on back order since last fall with Graff and Sons. I checked their website yesterday and discovered they had 1 lb and 8 lb containers. I asked why they didn't ship. The order disappeared. I also discovered that Powder Valley had it. So I called around Tucson and was surprised that Sportsman's warehouse had it. I drove over and got a few lbs.

As early as tomorrow I intend to try the 160 gr accubonds in both 7 rem mag rifles.


This powder was billed as being formulated similar to RL-17 with a longer burning curve. I am not sure that it is the case. I am awaiting an e-mail from a representative from Alliant. He is the person I talked to last September. Back then I was told over the phone that Nitrochemie would be formulating it to have similar characteristics to RL-17 with a longer burning curve. It was also supposed to be resistent to temperature changes. RL-17's canister says it is a extreme powder but 4000 MR's canister doesn't say it nor does it say it on Alliant's website.

To be continued.

Thanks for the report! Do I understand you correctly-- You're saying the 4000MR is an extruded, not a spherical?

AzShooter,was this the two accuracy loads for these two barrels?

24" barrel. moly coated 150 nos bt, 67 gr of RL-17 vel 3260
30" barrel. Moly coated 140 accubond 66 gr of RL-17 vel 3400


Thanks

The power pro 4000 MR is extruded with shorter but same diameter kernels as RL-17.

Yes those two loads were very accurate in my 7 Rem Mags. BOTH RIFLES USE MOLY COATED BULLETS.

Will be reporting on the 160 accubonds soon.....

Just got back from the second testing session. This time shot moly coated 160 accubonds from the longer barreled 7 Rem Mag. (30")

Didn't have any loads to compare as this bullet hasn't been shot before. Decided to compare RL-25 and Power Pro 4000 MR.


Conditions were 90-93 degrees. Bullets were seated approx .030" into rifling. Neck sized/neck turned win brass, 215 match primer. Two shots fired with each powder increment.

Power Pro 4000 MR
62 gr 3015 3015
63 gr 3043 3060
64 gr 3098 3114 most accurate with two shots cutting each other
65 gr 3122 3141
66 3148 3163 hint of bolt lift/pressure

RL-25

70 gr 3096 3077
71 gr 3120 3131
73 gr 3235 3261
74 gr 3320 3294 hint of bolt lift/pressure


That pretty much concludes any testing with the 7 rem mags and Power Pro 4000 MR.

MR stands for magnum rifle. Sure would like to know which magnum rifle!!! Getting a bit over 3100 fps with a 30" barrel doesn't seem very impressive to me.

Now deciding what rifle to test next.

I'm extremely surprised by that. Alliant claimed (still claims, both on the web and on the phone) that the entire PowerPro line is spherical, and they always claim it's coming out of the General Dynamics facility in St. Marks. I wonder what's going on?

I also wonder what cartridge(s) each of the PowerPro powders was designed for. The website claims that each was designed for a specific cartridge, but nowhere do they tell you what cartridge, and if you ask them on the phone, they seem confused. Hopefully we can get some better info from Alliant on this powder series soon.

I would like to see a test of this powder in the 300 WM ..

It just so happens that my hunting friend who lives in another city is having his 300 rebarreled here. I am going to break in the barrel and work up a load for him. The rifle is not ready yet but most likely in a week or two. Do you have a particular bullet weight in mind?

I plan on trying some 160 accubonds in a 284 win and some 100 gr partitions in a 243 very soon.

Yes 180`s maybe 180TSX or accubonds !

Thanks for the info, kinda surprising in a very disappointing way! Be interested to see your results from some other cartridges.

I am curious to see what the 300 WM yields with a 180 gr bullet..Alliant is advertising a solid 3100 fps..

Mz5,

I just reread the thread and missed your comments on the characteristics of the powder. It sure looks extruded to me. It is the shape of tiny rods or pieces from a mechanical lead pencil. It looks just like RL-17, H4350 etc.

My biggest disappointment is that this new Power Pro 4000 MR was presented as another long burning curve powder similar to RL-17. 6mmBR said something to that effect last September AND a representative from Alliant said it as well. I don't believe it has the same formulation as RL-17 or it would have beaten it in some of my tests.

To its credit it seems to have some nodes that were accurate with minimal velocity differences. I will be shooting one accurate load in that 7 rem mag soon to see just how consistent it is. While velocities were down compared to other powders it might be a good one for tight groups. FYI I have not heard from the Alliant Rep I e-mailed. I wanted to know if it was an extreme powder. RL-17's canister says it is, 4000 MR makes no mention of it.

Azshooter, I certainly believe you're seeing what you're saying. I'm jst confused (like you) because that's different from Alliant's claims. Hope you get some info from Alliant!

MZ5,

Thanks for the number...I talked with a very knowledgeable tech about 4000 MR. It is NOT formulated like RL-17 which is what I originally believed. There will be a slower magnum style powder with a burn rate similar to 7828 or Retumbo in about a year.

FYI the powder is called spherical but it is actually a hybred/sperical. According to the tech they extrude it then mash it flat. It doesn't look very flat to me! When you see the pics you will see why I called it an extruded powder.

Interesting, so it's like H100V maybe?
Did the tech give you an idea of where it stands on a burn rate chart?

Thanks for the pics. I wouldn't call that a spherical, either. One wonders: Is St. Marks now making extrudeds, too? Or are the claims of all PowerPro powders coming out of that facility un-true? Very curious.

I recieved an e-mail from alliant about the temp. sensitivity of 4000 MR, They are calling it moderatly temp. sensitive...