IMR4227 vs. Lil Gun for heavy .357?

[Buck13]

What exactly are you shooting for in 357 loads that AA#9 wont do it? I believe they show about 1300fps with a 180gr and 1500fps with a 158 gr. Thats pretty darned smoking.

The Lee manual shows H4227 data that is 10% faster than AA#9. That's 21% more kinetic energy, which I'd call a real difference. Just for special occasions, when only the most painful recoil will do!

OTOH, I finally remembered to look in my Lyman manual, and IMR4227 is shown giving essentially the same results as #9. However, I still bought the IMR because it was *available*, while a replacement can of #9 is currently vaporware. So, I can use the 4227 in the .357 and save the #9 for my 10 mm pistol. More of a strategic choice than a difference in results.

 

[336A]

The Lee manual shows H4227 data that is 10% faster than AA#9. That's 21% more kinetic energy, which I'd call a real difference. Just for special occasions, when only the most painful recoil will do!

Some times paper numbers don't really amount to much nor do they tell the whole truth. Kinetic energy is not the end all be all nor does it make a huge difference. John Linebaugh wrote a really good article on the S&W 25-5 in .45 Colt. In that article there is a table included that shows a 275gr bullet doing 1170fps, and the exact same bullet with roughly 10% less velocity and 21% less kinetic energy. Notice how there is not a huge difference in terminal performance between the two loads.

http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=12

 

[ljnowell]

Some times paper numbers don't really amount to much nor do they tell the whole truth. Kinetic energy is not the end all be all nor does it make a huge difference. John Linebaugh wrote a really good article on the S&W 25-5 in .45 Colt. In that article there is a table included that shows a 275gr bullet doing 1170fps, and the exact same bullet with roughly 10% less velocity and 21% less kinetic energy. Notice how there is not a huge difference in terminal performance between the two loads.

http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=12

Yep. Also, I have noticed that when looking at max loadings h110/296 always tops alliant 2400. However, I have seen many real world tests in real guns that show when loaded to book max with the same bullet and same case 2400 is the same, or in some cases beats 296, depending on the gun.

There are just too many variables in the hobby of reloading.