Need help with Lil'Gun & 357 Magnum

[fulloflead]

I'm looking for some loads for Lil'Gun for 357 magnum for Ruger Blackhawk/Vaquero and S&W N-frame.

I'll need loads for Hornady 158gr XTP & Lead HPSWCs and maybe a couple others.

All my books stop at 18 grains. Obviously they stop at SAAMI which happens to be a slightly compressed load with several bullets.

I prefer to use the Lee Dippers most of the time. I've got one that'll measure 19.2 grains Lil'Gun and I'm wondering if anyone has used that load for a 158gr bullet.

I would work up slowly if I decide to go with Lil'Gun, but if you don't think 19.2 wouldn't be safe in a Blackhawk/N-frame than I might choose Blue Dot instead because it then will give me a greater of variety of loads using the Lee Dippers.

I know. It sounds strange starting with a unit of measurement and working backwards, but it has it's merits. You'd be surprised what I can load with a couple powders and a set of Lee Dippers by consulting a variety of books, doing some testing and asking around.

Thanks.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Just work up slow, watch the chrono and watch for pressure signs. But I think that load will work in a heavy frame gun. I wouldn't go anymore than 2/10ths of a grain at a time. I think you'll run into VERY heavy powder compression issues with that heavy of a load. Even if you end up OK with the 'lil gun, the blue dot may be a better option, unless you're after an all-out barn burner load.

 

[fulloflead]

Thanks. I went ahead and bought some Lil'gun. I'll be working up those loads in the next few weeks.

 

[Erich]

Please keep us informed of your progress. Thanks.

(And have your wife let us know what your last load was if . . . well, you blow yourself up. )

 

[fulloflead]

I'll keep my notebook in my back pocket in case I'm missing from the waist up.

 

[Erich]

You honestly made me laugh out loud. Thanks.

 

[grendelbane]

Your load may be safe, but inefficient. Apparently Lil'Gun gains little from increasing the charge. This is what some people have reported.

I have yet to try Lil'Gun in the .357, though I have loaded it in .50 Beowulf. It works wonderfully well there.

.357 is next on my list, weather permitting.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

This is from the Hodgdon on-line manual. For the .357 Magnum, 158 grain Hornady XTP bullet:

H4227 16.0 1520 42,600 CUP
H110 16.7 1591 40,700 CUP
LIL'GUN 18.0 1577 25,800 CUP
HS-6 9.5 1375 41,900 CUP
UNIVERSAL 6.3 1133 39,300 CUP
HP-38 6.9 1220 40,000 CUP

Note that all the listed loads EXCEPT for Li'l Gun are in the 40K CUP range. Eighteen grains of Li'l Gun only generates 25,800 CUP. Since pressure increases are generally linear, I expect that your intended charge will be well below the maximum pressure levels -- although it may not be all that efficient.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

From the limited playing around I've done with this powder, I think we'll find that volumetric powder capacity will be the limiting factor here.

 

[fulloflead]

I'm kinda thinking that too, but it won't keep me from being careful. Now, if I could get ahold of a Chrono we'll really be in business!

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Quote:
--------------------------------
From the limited playing around I've done with this powder, I think we'll find that volumetric powder capacity will be the limiting factor here.
---------------------------------

In some cases you're right. In the .22 Hornet, I don't even measure a charge -- I simply fill the case, tap it to settle the powder, then top it off and "strike" it (draw a straight edge across the mouth of the case.) This results in a highly-compressed load (and one that shoots very accurately.) When asked about this, the Hodgdon representative said, "You can't get enough Li'l Gun into a Hornet case to be dangerous.

However, with some cases -- including the .357 and the .45 Colt, you reach the recommended max load long before you run out of case capacity.

One good thing about Hodgdon is that they publish the pressure of each load -- so you can tell how close you're getting to the edge.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Fulloflead: I'll say it before the mods do. "PUSHING LIKE YOU ARE WITHOUT A CHRONO IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!"

An entry level chrono will only set you back about 100 bucks. I highly reccomend you pick one up or borrow one before going outside the manual!!

BE CAREFUL.