Lil'Gun in the .357 Magnum---

[Prince55]

Anyone know if Lil'Gun powder is a good one to use in .357 Magnum
short barreled revolvers for higher velocity ?

Thanks

[amamnn]

I use it in the .357 mag and it works quite well. Being a slower powder, it will result in more felt recoil, but less muzzle flash than something like W231. HS-6 is a good in between powder. The shortest barrel I shoot in a .357 is 3". I have not chronographed it.

[Prince55]

If you get a chance to chrono it in a 2,3, or 4 inch barrel
let us know what you get.

Thanks

[zxcvbob]

Lil'gun likes heavy-for-caliber bullets. In the .357, that typically means 180 grains. If you are using say, 140 grain XTP's, I'd probably stick with something like Power Pistol.

[cartman]

try this link for Hodgdon Lil'gun powder
http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp
nice site for different loads

158 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon Lil'Gun .357" 1.580" 16.0 1504 24,100 CUP 18.0 1577 25,800 CUP

170 GR. SIE JHC Hodgdon Lil'Gun .357" 1.580" 15.0 1422 25,100 CUP 17.0 1576 35,500 CUP

180 GR. NOS PART Hodgdon Lil'Gun .357" 1.575" 13.0 1279 27,500 CUP 15.0 1422 34,500 CUP


NEVER EXCEED MAXIMUM LOADS

[.45 COLT]

158 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon Lil'Gun .357" 1.580" 16.0 1504 24,100 CUP 18.0 1577 25,800 CUP

I've loaded that 18.0 Grain load, from a 4 5/8" barrel it chronos an average 1,351 FPS. Hodgdons velocity figures for .357 Magnum are from a 10" barrel - not a real common length for a revolver.

DC

[SL1]

That seems like a reasonable velocity for the load in your barrel, not any indication that the pressure is really higher than Hodgdon's data would indicate. Do you get about the same velocity with 16.7 grains of H-110/W-296 in your gun?

Also, I am assuming you used the Hornady XTP HP bullet when you wrote "that load", right?

SL1

[.45 COLT]

Yep, XTPs. The velocity is about what I expected. I quit using H110 & 296 some time ago. If I go to loading light bullets in .357 or .45 Colt again, I'll probably get some H110, but for now, LIL'GUN does just fine for me.

DC

[RedHawk357]

Awhile back I read a small bit of info about this powder to perk my interest enough to buy a lb of it when I was passing through a store that had some on the shelf. My idea is to work up some loads with this powder when I get a chance over the summer break this year. It's my understanding you can use Jacketed data with Lead bullets to a point. Figured I would go with some Missouri, Penn or Lasercasts when I start checking this powder out. Just wondering if folks have already been down this road and just exactly what did they find. I asked this question on another board and one gentleman responded that he contacted Hodgdon and they said the reason they don't include LSWC data is the bullets melt with Lil Gun. Although he did not concur with them and gave me a couple of loads he tinkered around with. So anybody been here before?

[AlaskaMike]

I haven't done much with Lil' Gun and lead bullets. I've loaded some up with the RCBS 38-150-SWC, which is a plain based SWC, and they shot just fine, although I didn't chronograph them. I think Hodgdon is assuming swaged pure lead bullets, and I definitely wouldn't use those. Lil' Gun should work just fine with Lasercast or any other commercial cast bullet.

Being a slower powder, it will result in more felt recoil, but less muzzle flash than something like W231

This is not the case--slower powders like Lil' Gun, 2400 and H110/W296 will result in much greater muzzle flash and blast than from faster powders like 231.

To answer the original question, a short barrel has very little to do with anything--Lil' Gun is a fine powder for full-house .357 mag loads but as mentioned, it tends to work better with the heavier bullets.

Mike