The lighter "short barrel" loads use faster burn ammo. General loads use stuff similar to 296 or 2400 or H110 in burn rate which works well with heavy bullets even in short barreled guns, but really works as barrel length grows. Out of a 2" gun, you actually get a 125 grain bullet out of the barrel before the powder hits its peak pressure with most loads and that only makes them louder. This is the reason the short barrel loads were developed. Ammo companies also use flash suppressants in short barrel loads. I don't really know if it helps keep the flash down or not, but I can tell you if I were hunting with my SP101 in southern California and fired a 125 grain handload with 2400 in it off, I'd probably start the biggest brush fire they've ever had in that area, ROFL! The fireball from that load has to be seen to be believed.
The ONLY reason for a pointed bullet is to increase ballistic coefficient and I'm very skeptical that this bullet has much better BC than a SWC being as short as it is. Oh, it's probably a bit higher, but how will that translate in exterior ballistics trajectory and retained energy compared to a good traditional load in this caliber? I'd be you don't get more'n 50 yards extra out of it at best, still makes for a short range rifle for the hunter. If I really want a lever gun that will reach out there, I'll get it in .30-30 or the new .308 Marlin whatever it is and shoot leverlution loads. Then, again, I could get a Browning BLR in .308 or even the magnum long action version. They even chamber one in .325 WSM for Alaskan lever hunters.
Personally, I'm going to stick to my bolt guns if I need range. My .357 lever gun is pretty danged effective out to 100 yards, but I have better hunting rifles for stretching that range. They're not lever guns, but at 1 MOA or better, I ain't gonna need worry about a back up shot and all three make well over 2000 ft lbs at the muzzle, about twice what the .357 makes. The 7 makes about 3400 ft lbs, TRIPLE the energy of the little carbine.
Choose the right tool for the job. I wouldn't use a saw to hammer a nail, either. And, I wouldn't use this round out of a snub for self defense. At the low velocities they give, I'd wanna see expansion in flesh with that bullet before I'd trust it to open up at 1300 fps or less, perhaps a lot less.
