Thinking about adding some new powders...

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Mr_Flintstone

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My go to powders for my Henry .357 Big Boy have been H110 and IMR-4227 for full magnum loads for some time now. I've been pondering some of the others on the market; specifically Lil' Gun, N-110, 300-MP, and 2400; primarily for 158-180 gr jacketed loads, but I want to be able to use for cast as well.

Anyone that has experiences with any or all of these powders care to weigh in on the pros or cons of any or all of them? My ideal hunting load would be something like the Swift A-Frame or Sierra Jacketed Soft Points on the jacketed side or gas checked 170 gr on the cast side.
 
W296/H110 is my go to powder for full mag loads in my hand guns, and my SOCOM. I don't own a lever gun. I like 2400 for the LSWC loads, burns cool so it does not lead as bad as some may. I use WST for my mouse fart loads.Lil-Gun runs supper hot and is not recommended for revolvers. May work in a lever gun but you barrel will got hot twice as fast.
 
W296/H110 is my go to powder for full mag loads in my hand guns, and my SOCOM. I don't own a lever gun. I like 2400 for the LSWC loads, burns cool so it does not lead as bad as some may. I use WST for my mouse fart loads.Lil-Gun runs supper hot and is not recommended for revolvers. May work in a lever gun but you barrel will got hot twice as fast.

What in particular makes it not appropriate for revolvers? I plan to only use in a rifle, but I don’t to damage my rifle if it has the same problem(s).
 
I bought some Lil Gun to use in 22 TCM for a semi auto pistol. It burns hot, shoots out a lot of flame, and the gun takes a beating from the thrust. If I had a 410 shotgun I would use it there. Otherwise I will leave it on the shelf. YMMV.
 
If you go to revolver-centric fora, you will find various tales of people wearing out revolvers (eroding forcing cones and worse) with Lil Gun. I have no first-hand knowledge, but I have read several posts that I found plausible. Take that for what it's worth.
 
Other than the two you mentioned 2400 and unique are money. There the two I got in preparation, I also have 4227 but that's for later
 
I've got some Shooter's World Heavy pistol powder on the way. I'll be using it in 300 Blackout. I couldn't resist 8 lbs for $114 before shipping and hazmat.

I've used Lil Gun in the 300 Blackout. It does heat the gun up faster than any other powder I've tried.
 
Other than the two you mentioned 2400 and unique are money.

Right there.

For my .41MAG carbine loads, I use H110 if I have to have maximum velocity, which I rarely do; it's very likely when I burn up my current bottle of H110, it will be my last. IMR4227 is the perfect powder, I feel, for the longer barrel of the Marlin, and will still work out of my pistols in a pinch. I consider IMR4227 and 2400 equals; I have some 2400 on the shelf upstairs, I just haven't gotten around to fooling with it just yet... mostly because I like IMR4227 so much for the carbine. If I didn't have IMR4227 or 2400, I would use Unique, which works marvelously in the pistols as well. In fact, with the .41MAG, I still load Unique for just the pistols. I consider this same-same for the .357.
 
Right there.

For my .41MAG carbine loads, I use H110 if I have to have maximum velocity, which I rarely do; it's very likely when I burn up my current bottle of H110, it will be my last. IMR4227 is the perfect powder, I feel, for the longer barrel of the Marlin, and will still work out of my pistols in a pinch. I consider IMR4227 and 2400 equals; I have some 2400 on the shelf upstairs, I just haven't gotten around to fooling with it just yet... mostly because I like IMR4227 so much for the carbine. If I didn't have IMR4227 or 2400, I would use Unique, which works marvelously in the pistols as well. In fact, with the .41MAG, I still load Unique for just the pistols. I consider this same-same for the .357.
IMR-4227 was my first magnum powder. When I bought my first can, I had gone to buy W296, but there was none (or H110) to be had anywhere nearby. I found it to be usable in everything from 38 special to full magnum loads, and was quite forgiving in using reduced loads. When I finally got some W296/H110, I was kinda let down by its narrow load data. It was basically all or nothing, but that’s OK if you’re loading hot loads. My favorite is still 4227 For the Henry. I was just looking to add a little versatility to my bench, and try some new things to see if I liked them. I’ve got some other powders (including Unique) that I use in my revolvers, but I’ve been looking to develop a good hunting load for the rifle, and wanted to give myself the latitude to try some new things.
 
If you're looking for full blown max velocities, H110 as you've been using is just fine. I'm also curious about the 300-MP. I'd like to see a rifle shooter run it over a chrono and see what they come up with velocity and accuracy wise.

For .357 mid and .38 heavy, I've been shooting a lot of 158 hardcast (Penn, non-GC) over HS-6 in my Henry single. No leading, and good stout, but not full magnum loads. Outstanding accuracy. Efficient (light) charges vs the full magnums, with minimal change in impact point for me. I think it would hold up well with the heavier weights. Going to try some power pistol here as I have a couple pounds to use up. Hodgedon also shows Longshot in these applications with promising numbers. Thinking of trying that for medium loads when I run out of others.
 
Thanks for the input guys. Anybody ever use 300-MP? I hear that’s a good magnum powder too.

Yep. I've used 18.5gr with a Speer Deep Curl HP 158gr. Shot from a Henry Steel Boy with 20" barrel. I chrono'ed @ 1759fps, ES 105, SD 36. It was sunny and about 95 degrees that day, and the loads had been sitting in the sun a while. I'm not sure what effect that may have had, if any.

My experience has been that 300-MP likes heavier bullets, and longer pipes. But I think 20" may perhaps be a bit too much. I did expect a little more velocity from these loads. 1800fps+ was what I hoped for.
 
I've played with all the powders you listed except N110 and 4227 in a 357 revolver. My preferences are in this order: 2400, H110/296. Accuracy is a toss up between the two, but I like 2400 since I don't need magnum primers. Lil gun is to hot, as in the cylinder heats up way to quick, even on a Redhawk. I won't run it again for hot plinking ammo. I would use it for a hunting load. The 300MP lacks a lot of easily findable load data, but I too hear it works well in longer barrels.
 
IMR-4227 was my first magnum powder. When I bought my first can, I had gone to buy W296, but there was none (or H110) to be had anywhere nearby. I found it to be usable in everything from 38 special to full magnum loads, and was quite forgiving in using reduced loads. When I finally got some W296/H110, I was kinda let down by its narrow load data. It was basically all or nothing, but that’s OK if you’re loading hot loads. My favorite is still 4227 For the Henry. I was just looking to add a little versatility to my bench, and try some new things to see if I liked them. I’ve got some other powders (including Unique) that I use in my revolvers, but I’ve been looking to develop a good hunting load for the rifle, and wanted to give myself the latitude to try some new things.
i have no idea of your loading experience so im just going to start with this is off reservation but something i am looking at. Alliant STEEL is a shotgun powder that interests me because it is temperature stabilized like varget and ar comp. It is near the burn rate of the rest of these powders and is supposed to have a very high loading volume like trail boss. Only today i sent an email to Alliant to see if they have done any testing in 357 or 45lc and i am waiting there reply. There are several threads over on cast boolits talking about the powder based on lower cost and availability when everything else dries up, but the temp stability is what appealed to me, as i have not seen this in a pistol powder before. They have loaded it in almost everything and i was wondering how close the characteristics were to imr4227 which has a wide loading application in my lyman 45th manual. It has zero listed load data on the site so that sucks.
 
Old Unique is truly unique!!
Unique works well for me in my 38spc, 357, and 44 mag revolvers. (and now even in 9mm) I would follow it with any number of great powders like HP38, universal, etc.
On the higher end 2400 is my first choice, followed by 4227.
However I have pushed pb boolits up to 1300 with good old Unique with no/minimal leading.
Jmtcw
 
I’ve got some other powders (including Unique) that I use in my revolvers,

If all I could have on my bench was Unique and IMR4227, I'd be a happy camper. I have pushed Unique over published data and found it to be quite forgiving as well. I'm not saying be stupid with it, but let's just say it's quite versatile. In the 20" barrel of the Marlin, full-house Unique loads are just behind IMR4227 in the velocity department.

I bought IMR4227 on a fluke... just like RedDot and TiteGroup... during the Dark Ages. I hated it at first, but I was shooting it out of a pistol. Once I tried it in the Marlin, the heavens opened and angels sang. I can also use it in cast rifle loads in the .30-30 and .308, although I prefer IMR4198 for those.
 
I tried 4227, H110, 2400, and 300MP. For my 16” 357mag Rossi, I prefer the 300MP. It works great in the long barrels, less pressure, and regular small primers work well. I get about 150fps more than I get with H110. I get 1800 fps with 158gn XTP/FP or Zero JSP bullets.
 
Can't help with jacketed but Lil Gun gave me the highest and most consistent fps loads with 180 gr bullets before onset of pressure signs. I have some forcing cone wear but I'm not going to attribute it to Lil Gun only. 2400 for everything else.
 
4227 and 300-MP will not show their true colors until run out of a longer barrel. Both can work in a revolver, but are slower than H110, and much slower than 2400.

With cast, I've used H110, 4227, 2400, and 300-MP. They all work. When I get to higher vels (or anything with H110, because it's always higher velocity) I use gas checks.

I've never tried any of the VitahVouri (sp?) powders.

L'ilGun I've shied away from because of the reports of forcing cone damage. I don't need it for long guns, I've plenty of other choices.
 
2400 has been the flagship powder for 357 Mag since the cartridge first came out in 1935.
According to Phillip Sharpe, the .357 Magnum was developed with 2400, and original .357 Magnum factory loads used a “non-canister grade” 2400. So, it truly is the first magnum powder.
 
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