lil gun power

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ohioshooter

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Been a reloader for a few years now and I'm about to venture into .357 mag brass. I have 3.5 pounds of lil gun and wonder what to do with it. Anyone have any good .357 mag loads with it? Thanks
 
I won't use it.

I experienced no accuracy and wild pressure spikes in carbines.

Others report extreme flame cutting of top straps and forcing cone erosion in revolvers.
 
I too am a little worried about premature wear because of Lil'Gun. It also generates excessive heat and that's too bad because it also generates superior velocities without sacrificing accuracy. I still use it for .357 Magnum ammo meant for my Carbine but I won't shoot it in revolvers.

Maybe I should buy a .22 Hornet! LOL
 
.22 Hornet it is.:D That and the .410. You have enough to last for a while I would think. Too bad you don't live near me I would swap you for something that you would prefer for it.
 
I see bullet weights of 140 through 180 on LoadData.com using Lil' Gun.

So far I see about a dozen or two individual loads.
 
CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

The max load for LIL'GUN 357 mag 158 gr is 18 gr.

I have reamed out to 357 mag an 1965 Police surplus lightweight Colt Police Positive 38 special. [I got a half dozen for $80 each from AIM for destructive tests] I cut an inch off the bottom of the frame.
I shot 158 gr XTP and LSWC 26 gr LIL'GUN lots of times. Getting 26 gr to fit takes more than double compression.
The recoil and noise are extreme. I have never shot a 44 mag that kicked that hard.

I wrote to Hodgdon and asked why they did not have any cast bullet loads for 357 mag 158 gr LIL'GUN. He said that it burned too hot and melted the base of the bullets.

Then I chronographed a couple round [before I shot THAT chrono with a handgun]

9-9-2003: Colt Police Positive 38 Special 4" barrel:
1) commercial 38 special 158 gr. JHP, 830 fps
2) 18 gr. LIL'GUN 158 gr. XTP 1.59", WSPM, 1173 fps
3) 23.5 gr. LIL'GUN 158 gr. XTP 1.59", WSPM, 1155 fps

What does it all mean?
1) More powder... more recoil... more noise... less velocity.... the extra energy is going into extra fireball
2) LIL'GUN burning does not smell as good as H110/W296, so I am back to H110.
 

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On this same page, a thread titled, "Powders that generate a lot of heat", read what one feller said about having the barrel replaced on his GP 100 revolver, using H110 and Lil Gun powders.
 
I quit using Li'll gun for the same reason of the throat erosion and flame cutting I read about on this forum. I was using it for magnum loads for max loads in my 327 fed mag in my SP 101 with XTPs. Supposedly if you reduce your load to less than max loads it supposedly doesn't damage the barrel but I'm not taking chances with ruining a $600.00 revolver. I like my loads hot but not destructive so I went to another powder.
 
CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums OR not listed for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

"2) 18 gr. LIL'GUN 158 gr. XTP 1.59", WSPM, 1173 fps
3) 23.5 gr. LIL'GUN 158 gr. XTP 1.59", WSPM, 1155 fps"

Zowee!
I use 3 to 8.5 grains less for 150 grain bullets to get 1790/1870 FPS out of my .300 Blackout.

I have never had any heat problems. But then, I don't shoot fast and it is a 16 inch SS barrel.
 
I won't use it unless I absolutely have to. It generates to much heat. To the point where I can't hold onto the barrel of my 6" 586 after shooting a cylinder. H110 only warms the barrel up. To much risk for not enough gain IMO.


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For a long gun, it is great. I load a 180 Hornady over 21 grs. in my 357 MAXIMUM handi rifle for sub MOA groups up to 200 yards.

It outruns a 30-30 and is neck and neck with a 35 Remington with a lot less recoil.
 
I had a good time with LIL'GUN today

This model 1892 rifle was made in 1900 with a black powder type firing pin that has gotten worse with time. I have to keep the pressure way down or it will pierce. LIL'GUN actually did better than H110 in this application.
There are published loads for the 1892 of 40 kpsi for this case head, but thickest primer I can find, a CCI450 small rifle magnum primer will pierce at ~ above 28kpsi.
CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.
12 gr Lil'Gun 75 gr Sierra hollow point .257 bullets #1600, 1.9" OAL [barely touching the lands] must be loaded single shot into rifle with 2X pistol scope.
Quickload predicts : 2252 fps 28,065 psi

Chronograph measure:
2298 fps
2322
2326
2318
2306
2343
2345
2331
2339
2326
2322
2343
2355
2343
2347
2335
2364

Targets recorded:
1.1" 7 shots @ 50 yards
1.1" 6 shots @ 50 yards
1.25" 6 shots @ 50 yards
 

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A fellow shooter praises LilGun for use in 22 Hornet. I tried using it in 410 shot shell loads but it had a tendency to cause separation of the plastic case from the brass base.
 
let me add to the group that says it makes my guns too hot to handle. It just burns hot so I won't use it anymore. I can bang away with 2400 in the 357 magnum and still handle the gun after 50 rounds. I have to stop and let the gun cool down after about 30 rounds with Lilgun.
 
There was a thread on another forum on Lil' Gun in which one of the comments posted was from the head of Freedom Arms. According to him, Freedom Arms revolvers in which Lil' Gun was used demonstrated very rapid forcing cone damage with rapid deterioration in accuracy.

I had bought a pound of Lil' Gun before I read that and it remains unopened. It is highly unlikely I'll ever use it for anything. Maybe some day I'll find an unbeliever who will take it off my hands.
 
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