Hogdon LilGun Powder

Status
Not open for further replies.

carbine85

Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2007
Messages
2,402
Location
Southwest, Ohio
Do any of you guys have any experience with Hodgon LilGunn powder. I'm looking at this for .30 Carbine reloads. It appears to be lower pressure and higher velocity then most of the other powders.
 
I read it burns really hot, right? Or else i'd use it. Currently I use AA#9 for 30 carbine seems to not be as hot as the other 30 carbine powders. 1 burn rate number faster than H110. That's what I passed on it.
 
LIL'GUN can get a lot of velocity for the pressure.

I tend to use H110 instead, when I can, as it is easier to find the load and it smells better.

But in a straight wall cartridge, the highest velocity I can get will often be with LIL'GUN.
 
While H110 is the original 30 Carbine powder I've heard a few reloaders claim higher velocities and good accuracy with Lil'Gun. Even though it seems to burn hotter in handguns I have heard no complaints of heat when used in the 30 Carbine.

I use Lil'Gun with 180gr .357 Magnum loads for use in a Marlin Carbine. I haven't found any heat problems in the Marlin but I do not use it for revolver ammo.
 
I wont use it anymore.

Well within published data i was getting get wild velocity and pressure spikes that would render new 357 magnum cases unreloadable. Accuracy with lilgun compared to h110/296 was pretty much nonexistent.

All this in two different 357 mag carbines




posted via that mobile app with the sig lines everyone complains about
 
Lil' Gun is known for its high heat and top strap cutting in revolvers. I dont think it would be a problem in a completely supported chambers like a M1 carbine or rifle.

Yet, on the other hand, I have a bunch of H110 and I will stick with it for all my heavy magnum loads.

I also like 2400 a lot.
 
I have IMR4227 and H110 and they do a good job but the lower pressure and higher velocity from LilGun seems like a good match.
When you guys say it burns hotter would it be a problem with cast bullets in the .30 Carbine?
 
i wouldnt use it in a semi auto rifle either. After experiencing how hot it was in my revolvers i decided to burn up what i had left in the keg in my 50 beowulf. I did a little experiment. I loaded 10 rounds each with lilgun and wc297. I fired both clips about as fast as i could shoot. After 10 rounds with 297 the barrel was hot but i could hold my hand on it for a second or two without burning it. I let the gun cool and shot the 10 with lilgun and there was smoke comming off the barrel and id bet you could have about lit a cigerette off of it! Id bet a barrel would last long if your one to dump a clip once in a while!! I used the rest of it up in my 3220 lever gun shooting fairly slow. To bad though as it gave me good accuracy and excellent velocitys in about everything i tried it in but there be no more in my loading room.
 
I do know for a fact that Freedom Arms does not recommend the use of Lil Gun powder in its revolvers. For the manufacturor of the stoutest revolvers on the planet to say that there has to be a reason.

I would probably have no reservations in a 30 Carbine rifle.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top