.32 Magnum, Lil' Gun, and lead bullets. Data?

Shivahasagun said:
I've got the four loads all ready.

10 of each load for function, chrono, and just a little accuracy testing. If any of these are initially good I'll make more for accuracy.

I also made 30 with 3.5 gr 700x and standard primer. I think I'd previously tested 700x with 3.1 gr, same bullet.

It turned out a heaping load (all I can get) on a .5cc Lee Dipper was 3.5 gr. That's nice, because I enjoy using dippers.

I've been using a mild roll crimp on my .32 mags to help the brass last. But decided to increase it. I waited until after the Lil Gun loading to change it. Therefore the 700x load has more crimp.

I'll let y'all know how it goes.
Click to expand...
One more suggestion: clean the gun and take pictures of the areas where powder residue likes to hide. Also of the barrel. Before and after pix will save you from having to rely on memory if you get leading or residue lockups.
 
Shivahasagun said:
I've got the four loads all ready.

10 of each load for function, chrono, and just a little accuracy testing. If any of these are initially good I'll make more for accuracy.

I also made 30 with 3.5 gr 700x and standard primer. I think I'd previously tested 700x with 3.1 gr, same bullet.

It turned out a heaping load (all I can get) on a .5cc Lee Dipper was 3.5 gr. That's nice, because I enjoy using dippers.

I've been using a mild roll crimp on my .32 mags to help the brass last. But decided to increase it. I waited until after the Lil Gun loading to change it because I'd already started. Therefore the 700x load has more crimp.

I'll let y'all know how it goes.
Click to expand...
So how did it go?
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
You must be in central Florida. :rofl:

Are there any indoor ranges near you? Might be worth it for testing. You're well inside safe pressures so there's no more than the usual risk to others. Just sayin' ;)
Click to expand...

Yea but I couldn't set up my chronograph in there.

Florida. Another washout today. If I was doing a quick shoot it could happen but trying to record numbers for several loads isn't fun in the rain and not possible in a downpour / lightning.

I've had my new 686 for a month and haven't even fired it yet. I might as well order the Pachmeyers for it. The wood grip looks great and would conceal well. But the texture is very light, there is nothing between your hand and the frame, and the finger grooves couldn't be in a worse place.
 
I made it out with the Ruger LCR .327 Fed mag 2 inch. Some loads are 5 shots samples, some up to 8. (Some failures to read).

First off, LiL Gun ain't no joke, it's a magnum powder. In .32 magnum anyway. I shall refer to it as "Mad Dog". ;)

100 gr .313 in. SNS LFN, OAL 1.365, CCI SP, 10.5 Lil' Gun:
Avg: 952 fps. ES: 25 SD 10. Very blasty, lots of recoil. LIke one of the milder factory .327's, except without that high-pitched "Crack" those have.

Every Lil' Gun load had this heavy recoil and blast. I had NO issues with sticking cases. They all ejected easily. Starline Brass.

Same load as above, but with 11.0 gr Lil Gun: Avg. 980 fps. ES: 78, SD: 28. Yea, more recoil and blast.

Same as the two above, except using a CCI Magnum primer and for the first load, 10.0 gr of LiL Gun:
Avg: 877 fps. ES: 130, SD: 47. Looks like not enough powder in the case to me.

Same as above, with the Magnum primer, but now 10.5 gr of Lil Gun:
Avg. 926 fps. ES: 58, SD: 22.

I don't think magnum primers are necessary here, unless I load up more Lil Gun in the case?

Okay, now the 700X loads.

90 gr SNS .313 LFN, CCI SP, OAL 1.365, 3.5 gr of 700X loaded using Lee dipper .5 cc.
Avg: 953 fps. Didn't get the ES and SD, but the high was 980 fps, low 929 fps. 6 shots.

Recoil is considerably less than the Lil Gun loads. Blast is FAR less.

Again, no problems ejecting cases.

Same 3.5 gr of 700X as above, but this load was with the 100 gr SNS LFP .313 in bullet.
Avg: 967 fps. Yea, slightly higher than the 90 gr. Could be just the variation of powder charge. ES: 68, SD: 20. High 1001, low 933.

Again, FAR more pleasant and much less recoil than any of the Lil Gun loads.

So, is Lil Gun worth it in .32 mag in a .327 snubbie? Well, if I can load more and get more velocity and consistency than the 700X, like 1100 fps, perhaps. But that would require at least 11.5 gr of Lil Gun, maybe 12. I'm not sure about that.

Oh, I did fire these loads into a target at 7 yds just to check for basic accuracy and point of impact. I didn't see any problems, it all seemed plenty accurate just firing 5 shots double-action off-hand trying to beat the rain. (2 inch groups and smaller)
 
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Shivahasagun said:
I made it out with the Ruger LCR .327 Fed mag 2 inch. Some loads are 5 shots samples, some up to 8. (Some failures to read).

First off, LiL Gun ain't no joke, it's a magnum powder. In .32 magnum anyway. I shall refer to it as "Mad Dog". ;)

100 gr .313 in. SNS LFN, OAL 1.365, CCI SP, 10.5 Lil' Gun:
Avg: 952 fps. ES: 25 SD 10. Very blasty, lots of recoil. LIke one of the milder factory .327's, except without that high-pitched "Crack" those have.

Every Lil' Gun load had this heavy recoil and blast. I had NO issues with sticking cases. They all ejected easily.

Same load as above, but with 11.0 gr Lil Gun: Avg. 980 fps. ES: 78, SD: 28. Yea, more recoil and blast.

Same as the two above, except using a CCI Magnum primer and for the first load, 10.0 gr of LiL Gun:
Avg: 877 fps. ES: 130, SD: 47. Looks like not enough powder in the case to me.

Same as above, with the Magnum primer, but now 10.5 gr of Lil Gun:
Avg. 926 fps. ES: 58, SD: 22.

I don't think magnum primers are necessary here, unless I load up more Lil Gun in the case?

I'm going to post this than show my results with the 700x.
Click to expand...
You had one set that didn't look terrible, but it appears you have ignition issues. The mag primer doesn't look like it's helping much. I do use mag primers with Lil Gun but only load it in carbine rounds.
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
I’m thinking the IMR 700X looks pretty good.
Click to expand...

Yea. I'm not going any further with the Lil Gun in this short barrel. It's not worth the blast & recoil to get 10%, maybe 15% more velocity. Especially when it's not like I'm trying to get a JHP to expand.

I'm just trying to get .380 3.8 in. barrel performance out of it. That's about all .32 mag is capable of with a short barrel. 100 gr bullet at about 950 fps with a flat nosed bullet.

To get good expansion & penetration from a .32 hollow point you need .327 fed mag in the same way .380 can't do it but 9x19 can.

Now...why are there no loads for Enforcer in .32 magnum? I love it .357.

I'm tempted to try, but it would be "off book" and I need to know what I'm doing..
 
Shivahasagun said:
Yea. I'm not going any further with the Lil Gun in this short barrel. It's not worth the blast & recoil to get 10%, maybe 15% more velocity. Especially when it's not like I'm trying to get a JHP to expand.

I'm just trying to get .380 3.8 in. barrel performance out of it. That's about all .32 mag is capable of with a short barrel. 100 gr bullet at about 950 fps with a flat nosed bullet.

To get good expansion & penetration from a .32 hollow point you need .327 fed mag in the same way .380 can't do it but 9x19 can.

Now...why are there no loads for Enforcer in .32 magnum? I love it .357.

I'm tempted to try, but it would be "off book" and I need to know what I'm doing..
Click to expand...
Accurate 4100 is the same powder. Maybe some 1980’s data?
 
I loaded some .32 mag with the 100 gr LFN SNS bullet, CCI SP, and three loads of Enforcer: 7.5 gr, 8.0 gr, and 8.5 gr.

Hopefully I can test these next week.

I'll try to put a picture up of how my LCR forcing cone looks after 30 rds (IIRC) of Lil Gun.

It looked "different". So I pulled up images of forcing cone erosion on other revolvers.

While mine isn't actually damaged, (though I haven't cleaned it yet) the pattern of or in the residue on the edge of the cone looks just like that in the metal of the eroded guns.

I don't remember seeing that pattern before.

I'm of the opinion now that Lil Gun should be used very sparingly in revolvers. Just like most everyone else it seems.

I don't like the substantially increased blast & recoil that only offers an extra 50 fps in this snub barrel, anyway.
 
Okay I got some numbers in 95 degree heat!

For what I described in my post above from the 2 inch .327 LCR:

7.5 gr Enforcer Avg 812 fps. ES 78 SD 25
8.0 gr Enforcer Avg 862 fps. ES 106 SD 34
8.5 gr Enforcer Avg 930 fps. ES 101, SD 31.

Easy ejection. Blast wasn't extreme or anything, not like Lil Gun. Recoil wasn't bad either.

The chambers seemed to get a bit dirty kinda quickly. Perhaps magnum primers would help?

It works fine, but I got slightly more velocity with 3.5 gr of 700x with cleaner burning and more consistency.

Accuracy was average.
 
I use Reloader #9 and H110 in my jacketed bullet loads in my .327. With my “go-to” load of a 113gr Lee RFN-GC, I use 10.0gr of #2400.
But then, I’m not shooting them from a 2” barrel. (5.5” Single-7).
But Lil’Gun is just a tad bit slower than H110, so I save it for other cartridges.

My Taurus M76 .32H&R with its 6” bbl gets 1,325fps with the 100gr Hornady XTP, and shoots bug holes at 25yds. So I don’t waste the expensive Hornadys in the .327.
But! IF Ruger ever makes the LCRx in a 3” adjustable site “kit gun”, I’ll own one.
 
Shivahasagun said:
I loaded some .32 mag with the 100 gr LFN SNS bullet, CCI SP, and three loads of Enforcer: 7.5 gr, 8.0 gr, and 8.5 gr.

Hopefully I can test these next week.

I'll try to put a picture up of how my LCR forcing cone looks after 30 rds (IIRC) of Lil Gun.

It looked "different". So I pulled up images of forcing cone erosion on other revolvers.

While mine isn't actually damaged, (though I haven't cleaned it yet) the pattern of or in the residue on the edge of the cone looks just like that in the metal of the eroded guns.

I don't remember seeing that pattern before.

I'm of the opinion now that Lil Gun should be used very sparingly in revolvers. Just like most everyone else it seems.

I don't like the substantially increased blast & recoil that only offers an extra 50 fps in this snub barrel, anyway.
Click to expand...
This is why I said to take before and after pictures with the Lil’Gun. Relying on memory is a nogo.
 
After firing Enforcer, (and 700x before that) the breach face looks normal like from non-magnum powders.

The Lil-Gun residue definitely looks like it blasted it.

I'll try to post pics.
 
This is the Enforcer

20230713-214031.jpg

Below is the Lil Gun

20230528-202005.jpg

For the sharp-eyed guys, yes, I started painting my front sights with fluorescent orange over white.
 

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