Lil'Gun in 357 Mag

[deerwhacker444]

Are you guys really getting an honest 2000fps from 158's..? I'm using WSPM's and 18.0gr. of Lil'Gun under a 158gr XTP..?

I went shooting last Friday, and shooting my 1894C with an 18.5", the best I could muster was an Avg. of 1862 fps. If you are beating me by 150 fps, I wonder where the difference is..?

[TedH]

I can't say about the 158's, but I do get an honest 1800 from cast 180's. Could be you just have a "slow" barrel? You are 1.5" short of barrel too. My Rossi is a 20". Not enough difference to fret about anyway, no critter will know the difference.

[Hobie]

Every gun is different and yes, I get an honest 2000 fps for 18 gr. Lil'Gun under 158 gr. XTPs in my Marlin 1894C.

[Tycer]

I find when working up my loads, once I pass a certain charge weight of Lil'Gun, my velocities drop quickly.

[Newtmaker]

I did a google search on Lil'Gun and found numerous articles pointing to serious errosion problems with the powder. Anyone here have such problems?

Walt

[Hobie]

I find when working up my loads, once I pass a certain charge weight of Lil'Gun, my velocities drop quickly.

This is mentioned in this month's issue of Handloader. I think it is Brian Pearce who noticed it.

I did a google search on Lil'Gun and found numerous articles pointing to serious errosion problems with the powder. Anyone here have such problems?

I haven't noticed it in the single-shot or levergun in which I have MOST used Lil'Gun. However, no less an authority than Bob Baker of Freedom Arms has and he's convinced. Lots of big time shooters are using up what they have and not shooting more. I'm just not shooting fast as I'm convinced it is HEAT that causes the erosion not necessarily the powder per se.

[dr walker]

When using lil gun or h110 I have noticed a velocity increase when I use new brass.

[Tycer]

I did a google search on Lil'Gun and found numerous articles pointing to serious errosion problems with the powder. Anyone here have such problems?

Walt

I think that your "numerous articles" might be more correctly stated as numerous blogs and forums. Many of which refer to a test Mr. Baker over at Freedom Arms did with 180 grain cast bullets and medium and max loads. He fired fifty rounds each and

.... The heavy Lil Gun load had the gun so hot the only place we could touch the gun was on the grips and they were very hot.

Under magnification the surface appeared to have heated to a point of flowing using the Lil Gun loads and the heavy load was worse than the light load........

So my suggestion is not to fire fifty rounds in quick succession in your FA revolver with Lil'Gun.

As was stated in one of those forums, if this were really a problem, Hodgdon would put a warning on the bottles and the internet would be absolutely ablaze with real-life examples and pictures of throat erosion and invoices for repairs.

I've used about four pounds of it, 17.5 grains at a time.
And will continue to do so.

I will say that five rounds in quick succession will heat the barrel of my 94 Trapper to within 4" of the muzzle and 42 grains of Rx7 will do the same in my '86 45-70. Seems pretty normal.

[Newtmaker]

So my suggestion is not to fire fifty rounds in quick succession in your FA revolver with Lil'Gun.

Makes perfect sense to me. That was one of the "articles" I had read.
Anyway, sound like a powder to try out and add to the arsenal

Walt