IMR 7625 - Current cost/pound
 

A local auction has some IMR 7625 as well as some Clays powder. What is a reasonable price to pay/pound. I’d like the 7625 to load some 16 ga. 2 1/2” shells. The clays Id use for some 12 ga. recipes. Appreciate any input/thoughts. Thanks - Brett

7625 is whatever you can get for and are willing to pay . IMR hasn’t produced any in quite a few years . I think the last I got I paid about $35@pound .

Last year found an 8 lb bottle for $ 275.00 at a gun show

Since there are other powders which do the same things I would venture that should describe the rational market but.. if you dont have to ship it, thats worth a penny too.

I would imagine at least $40/lb at gun shows, but might be even more. A few years ago I picked up 4 1lb bottles, they were asking $30 each and bought all 4 for $100. I shot a round with 2 1/2" 16 ga at the Rock couple weeks ago, and was going to try it with 28 ga.

What powders would that be that do the same things?

7625 was a single-base straight NC powder, progressive burning with a much slower burning/pressure curve than double-base powders that have flooded the market. 7625 will produce high velocity at lower pressure and with significantly less felt recoil, that means a slower and longer recoil impulse which is kind to the shoulder and old gun stocks.

Certainly other powders can be used for 16-gauge loads and personally I reserve my stock of 7625 for heavy 12 and 10-gauge loads. Me, if I needed any 7625 I wouldn't balk at $50. per pound.

I use Hodgdon Longshot for all those reasons in bismuth hunting loads for 10, 12 and 20 gauge.

When they were still making it i used 7625 for awhile in the 10-12-16-20 and 28 so I only needed it and W296 to cover everything I loaded in shotguns , of course that was before I got the first mountain howitzer (8 gauge) . I will say when the Obamite was in I studied loading manuals and bought everything I came across that met my parameters . I may have over reacted a bit , but I’ve never been at a standstill from lack of powder or primers . It pays to be prepared and have options .

I use International Clays and 3/4 0z Down Range wads for my 2.5 16's. Very clean burning and gets it done. The problem now is finding Down Range wads.

And Int'l Clays!