I have yet to see a loading fired over a chrony loaded within published data that'll do anywhere close to 2K in a 357 carbine. My 357 mAX carbine has to be worked pretty hard to hit 2000fps
My bullet actually weighs 165 grains as cast and it pushed 1950 fps (around there) with 18 grains of Lil' Gun pushing it in test loads. The load seems a little too warm, so I'm thinkin' about 17.5 grains would be an absolute max for SAAMI working pressures. A load of 18 grains is listed as max in one source I found for 158 grain bullets. I loaded 16.8 grains and on a 55 degree day got 1850 which ain't much more'n I get out of 2400, but it's obvious to me that the pressure is lower. I'm thinkin' I'll stick with that. I need to shoot it on a hot day to check it out, but I wanna stay safe.
Now, I didn't say it equaled a .35 Remington, but I said it'd do anything a .35 Remington would do, probably should have added "within 100 yards". It kills deer dead at 1800+ fps muzzle velocity with that bullet at 80 yards, I can tell ya that. Should have no problem on hogs, either.
It was "GooseGestapo" that turned me on to the Lil' Gun powder originally and it does seem to be a step above 2400 in that I can equal max pressure velocities for 2400 and push less pressure doing so. I think it's good for 100 fps more at a given pressure with the cast/gas checked bullet I'm using. He claimed to be getting something around 2100 fps with 17.8 grains Lil' Gun and a 158 jacketed soft point. That actually compares well to a .35 Remington with lightish loads or probably most factory stuff in the caliber. I haven't gotten that far, yet. I think I'll stick with 16.8 grains and my 165 cast, though, as it will do anything that gun will ever need to do. What's the use of pushing things? I might try Goose's load with a jacketed 158, though, just to see if I can get that. I'm thinkin' I should get close. And, I really don't have a desire to buy a .30-30 lever gun or .35 Remington as I don't think I'd ever use them anywhere I wouldn't use the .357.
Here's what GooseGestapo said about his load....
MCgunner;
We seem to have walked in each others tracks for many years, just about 1,000 mile apart!
My .357 kills have mostly been with shorter barreled revolvers. Several from a 4" S&W of various descriptions, a Ruger Sec.6, and a Win. M94, of course.
I've also killed a pig with the bullet you describe (Lee 158gr SWC). Mine however casts to 165gr. And yes, I use the 14.5gr of #2400. My rifle also shoots it to around 1,800fps.
However, I prefer the Remington 158gr SoftPt. over 17.8gr of HodLilGun for 2,100fps. It's kinda hard to tell the difference between the .357mag and the .35Rem.............
If you need further info on Lil' Gun in the caliber, check out
www.reloadersnest.com. There's some good info there, too. I got all into researching it. I've got to get me some brass, though, and Midway is backordered. I'm going to load 100 rounds of it up just for the rifle.