Lilgun powder help

My next batch of re-loading is the .357, of which I have about 900 brass. My desire for this round is to deliver max knock down at 100 yards. That is I want to be able to knock down iron plates at that range. I am currently stocked on Titegroup which does have table entries for .357; however I don't seem to like or more likely dont understand the table.

Titegroup will max out at 1229 FPS @ 158gr but creates 41900 cup

Lilgun will hit over 1500 FPS @ 158 and only creates 29000 cup... more FPS with lower cup .. how can this be???

Since I want knock-down.... I want a min of 158gr but if I can afford it I like 180 even better. Funny, Titegroup seems to LIKE the bigger bullet as well as the number for that are 1050 FPS and 40000 cup. Lilgun of course STILL outdoes Titegroup but seems to loose more steam 1300 FPS and (I forget the CUP).

The only BIG downside to Lilgun that I saw was limited or no loading info for the other round I load... the .38+. I also have not checked cost of the Lilgun. I currently shoot 99% .38's, but only because I had no supply of cheap .357. Even now with 180gr bullets running $23 per 100.. that AINT cheap.


At these speeds I am pretty sure I want only jacketed or at least gas checked bullets. I would love any input to these stats and opinions on powders and bullets GREATLY appreaciated.

See if this helps ...

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

i got some 180's i can send you = )

ok so lil gun was actually ment to be a shotgun powder not really pistol.. just so happened that it does good in magnums.
i never used it because of the damage it causes to forceing cones, and barrel errosion.. tap off 6 rounds as fast as you can and grab your barrel and count how long you can hold on to it...
personally for 357mag my powder choices from first to last would be N350,H4227,H110,Autocomp...

Well I tried to respond about 3 pm .. but the boss called me away.

Captain: yes thats where I got my figures... I am just not sure what to make of them. Is Lilgun just that slow burning?

Beladran; yep I hear you.. BUT barrel wear is a non issue for me. A replacement barrel is $70 or less and 60 seconds to put I place by me. Even the "grab your barrel" affects me ( though not the barrel) less... the barrel is covered by a shroud with an air gap.

I did read over your Spreadsheet and that N350 looks really good for my purposes. I just went to the one web site that I know rather well.

yea $70 barrel vs my $400 douglas.. i might shoot lilgun if my barrel was that cheap lol

N350 just burns so clean its scary... granted you may pay a couple pennies more per load but its worth it

pinetor wrote: Is Lilgun just that slow burning?

Actually, Lil'Gun is a rather fast buring powder --

http://www.reloadbench.com/burn.html

wow its two places above H110???? ok lilgun is just a freaky powder.. crosses of my list..

captain-03 wrote:

pinetor wrote: Is Lilgun just that slow burning?

Actually, Lil'Gun is a rather fast buring powder --

http://www.reloadbench.com/burn.html

OK now yall are just completely loosing me.. fast compared to what??? I shoot titegroup which is #12 on the list with 1 (R-1) being the fastest.
With places #67, 68, 69 being : 2400, N110, and Lilgun with H4227 being 77... about the slowest pistol powder I commonly see reload data for the .357. I am very new to this so please explain, lord knows I don't want to blow myself up...

What caught my eye about lilgun are the claimed pressures which were very low considering the others powders listed for .357.


PS Bel.... Your N350 must be VERY fast at spot #57!

only thing faster is chuck norris!

Look at the data from Alliant on Power Pro 300MP. Impressive!

170 grain Speer GDHP @1620 fps. Don't know the barrel lenght though.

Lil Gun is excellent also. Give them both a try.