I think I found a winner!

[colonelhogan44]

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Well what do you know? I loaded a 180gr Cast Performance GC bullet with 14.8gr Lil'Gun and from my Marlin 1894C the AV was 1657 fps and the accuracy was close to what you show but not quite as good @1.25" with my old eyes. ES = 39.8 fps, SD = 18.2 fps and the AD = 13.4 fps. I think we both found a great .357 Magnum Carbine load alright!!!

 

[Texan Scott]

Marvelous! Now go settle that ".357 too weak for hunting" debate...

 

[hexidismal]

Well, I learned something new from this thread. I'm not a reloader and while I do feel I know an awful lot about guns, I have to admit to knowing really very little about bullets and ammunition design. So, because of this thread I got curious enough to do some reading and now know all about what 'gas check' bullets are for and how they work..heh

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Marvelous! Now go settle that ".357 too weak for hunting" debate...

I thought I already did by posting all that .357 Magnum velocity/power data results from my Marlin.

 

[Boostedtwo]

Good shooting!

 

[GW Staar]

Wonder how it would perform in a revolver? I've never used or even seen Lil Gun.....curious.

 

[Boostedtwo]

I use lil gun in my 300 blackout loads.

 

[colonelhogan44]

Marvelous! Now go settle that ".357 too weak for hunting" debate...

I think that argument will never be settled. All five of those deer (or even elk) probably would have been DRT. You just have to know your limitations -- even though I can a paper plate sized object at 200, I wouldn't use that gun any farther than 100 or so yards.

One strange thing happened during load development that I didn't expect:

I was using Tula standard primers. I had heard somewhere that a magnum primer would bring the SD and ES down, so I loaded 5 with Winchester SPM primers. The group opened up to about 3 inches, the average velocity dropped to 1632 fps, the extreme spread was 96.5 fps and the standard deviation was 39 fps.

I didn't expect that one!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

One strange thing happened during load development that I didn't expect:

I was using Tula standard primers. I had heard somewhere that a magnum primer would bring the SD and ES down, so I loaded 5 with Winchester SPM primers. The group opened up to about 3 inches, the average velocity dropped to 1632 fps, the extreme spread was 96.5 fps and the standard deviation was 39 fps.

I didn't expect that one!

I used a magnum primer and if you look at my velocity numbers they almost exactly match yours with a magnum primer. I just might have to re-shoot that ammo with a standard primer instead.

 

[colonelhogan44]

Where are your numbers posted? I perused back though the past threads, but could not find them. Can you link them up?

 

[ReloaderFred]

My load was nearly the same as ArchAngelCD's, but .2 grains higher, and from my Marlin they averaged 1710 fps, and were laser accurate. With different alloys, the same mold produces bullets from 175 grains to 185 grains, and they all shot very well using Lil'gun.

I haven't used that powder in my handguns, though. I've decided to reserve it for my carbines, as I've got other loads that work well in my pistols.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[colonelhogan44]

My bad. I missed them in THIS thread!

 

[Potatohead]

3rd generation had some Lil Gun in this morning I believe..fyi

 

[snakeman]

I wish my rossi would have worked at all.

 

[colonelhogan44]

Mine has been my best firearm purchase to date. Excellent accuracy, smooth feeding and very light and handy. You should give it another shot, you will probably get a good one the second go!