mohican
Member
I started experimenting with Hogdon Lil'gun powder in my 454 SRH this year.
The first box of 50 was pretty good, accuracy wise. (New Starline brass, Federal Small Rifle Primers, Hornady 300 gr xtp mag, 30 grains LilGun) I tried the LilGun at the urging of an older gentleman at church who used it in his 41 mags with better accuracy, less case "sticking", lower pressure signs.
Like I said, first box of 50 pretty good. (the thing with a dillon RL550B is to not give into the temptation to load several hundred until after testing). The 30 grain load is in the "middle" of the recommended loads per Hogdon.
First box shot in the July heat. Easy extraction, no flattened primers.
I loaded a second box. The next time I shot it was cooler out. Still loading new brass. Same everything. Cases sticky. Primers flat. I don't have a chrono so I don't know about velocity. Accuracy not as good as first batch.
I duplicated the load again. third group same as 2nd group.
I have another can of LilGun, I wll try the minimum load of 29 grains and see. It's not a case of by giving up 1 grain that I'll lose anything with the 454.
H110 shows higher pressures for 454 loads, so I loaded 50 at the min listed per hogdon. Cases still a little sticky after extraction, but primers looked better (not the most reliable sign,I know, kinda like reading entrails) Accuracy better but not up what I know the pistol is capable of.
Went to one of my favorite magnum pistol powders - Winchester W296. Stayed to the low end of the charges listed in my Hornady book. Ahhhhh.
Groops tightened up, cased extract easy. I'll give a load with the minimum charge of Lil'gun a try, but I think I'll stick with W296.
Whoever here recommended about 11 grains of unique for a 454 plinking load with 300 grain cast bullets, thanks. They shoot well, and with much less recoil to heavier "hunting loads". The key to getting used to a gun like this is a lot of lead downrange, especially since I changed to a rear aperture sight.
Some more Ruger based rambling generalities, based on my guns, my experiences and don't apply to other peoples guns/loads.
1. In both 454 and 44 mag, I've had longer case life and better overall loads with Starline brass than with winchester brass.
2. My rugers, 357s, 44s, and the 454 prefer Hornady XTP bullets for jacketed bullets. They also like cast bullets. The Nosler Partition handgun bullet, besides being about $.60 just for the bullet, has not yielded acceptable accuracy. The same with standard Nosler and Sierra JHPs.
The first box of 50 was pretty good, accuracy wise. (New Starline brass, Federal Small Rifle Primers, Hornady 300 gr xtp mag, 30 grains LilGun) I tried the LilGun at the urging of an older gentleman at church who used it in his 41 mags with better accuracy, less case "sticking", lower pressure signs.
Like I said, first box of 50 pretty good. (the thing with a dillon RL550B is to not give into the temptation to load several hundred until after testing). The 30 grain load is in the "middle" of the recommended loads per Hogdon.
First box shot in the July heat. Easy extraction, no flattened primers.
I loaded a second box. The next time I shot it was cooler out. Still loading new brass. Same everything. Cases sticky. Primers flat. I don't have a chrono so I don't know about velocity. Accuracy not as good as first batch.
I duplicated the load again. third group same as 2nd group.
I have another can of LilGun, I wll try the minimum load of 29 grains and see. It's not a case of by giving up 1 grain that I'll lose anything with the 454.
H110 shows higher pressures for 454 loads, so I loaded 50 at the min listed per hogdon. Cases still a little sticky after extraction, but primers looked better (not the most reliable sign,I know, kinda like reading entrails) Accuracy better but not up what I know the pistol is capable of.
Went to one of my favorite magnum pistol powders - Winchester W296. Stayed to the low end of the charges listed in my Hornady book. Ahhhhh.
Groops tightened up, cased extract easy. I'll give a load with the minimum charge of Lil'gun a try, but I think I'll stick with W296.
Whoever here recommended about 11 grains of unique for a 454 plinking load with 300 grain cast bullets, thanks. They shoot well, and with much less recoil to heavier "hunting loads". The key to getting used to a gun like this is a lot of lead downrange, especially since I changed to a rear aperture sight.
Some more Ruger based rambling generalities, based on my guns, my experiences and don't apply to other peoples guns/loads.
1. In both 454 and 44 mag, I've had longer case life and better overall loads with Starline brass than with winchester brass.
2. My rugers, 357s, 44s, and the 454 prefer Hornady XTP bullets for jacketed bullets. They also like cast bullets. The Nosler Partition handgun bullet, besides being about $.60 just for the bullet, has not yielded acceptable accuracy. The same with standard Nosler and Sierra JHPs.
