180 gr 357 mag loads - The Firearms Forum

ggtgary · 12-01-2009, 09:15 PM

I am interested in loading Sierra 180 gr fpj bullets for a 357 revolver. Has anybody had experience with Hogdgon lil gun powder with this bullet? I have found data for Nosler 180 gr partition bullets with this powder, but not for the 180 grain Sierra fpj. What I have found is Alliant 2400 powder data, but it has higher pressure and lower velocity than the lil gun powder with the Nosler bullet. I have a stock of the Sierra 180 gr fpj bullets and want to know if using the lil gun powder would be safe. My interest in this load is for defense (not hunting) against large dangerous animals at close range, so extreme accuracy is not an issue.

Snakedriver · 12-02-2009, 07:56 AM

I've been reloading for 30 years and have never heard of a Hodgdon powder called "Lil". I have a bunch of old & new loading manuals and none of them mention a powder call "Lil" either.

For .357 Mag's. with 180 fpj's I'd use H-110 / W296, 2400 or Blue Dot. IMO experimenting with unknown powders would be dangerous.

Bindernut · 12-02-2009, 09:05 AM

Snakedriver, Hodgdon Lil'Gun is about in the same burn rate range as H110/WW296. It's one of "them new powders" that they came out with a few years ago targeted mainly at the big-bore revolver cartridges. Honestly, it looks to be a near-twin to H110 in performance so I'm not sure why it was introduced...

ggtgary,
I don't have any data for Lil'gun for .357Mag in my manuals but Hodgdon's online manual has loads for that powder and 180gr Noslers (I'll guess that's where you got the data from?)

As for swapping in the Sierra 180gr for the Nosler. That shouldn't be a problem, both have a very similar shape/jacket style. Just start with the recommended starting loads for Lil'Gun and a 180gr and watch for pressure signs as you work up.

I've used the .357 180gr Sierra on steel plates & silhouettes (Don't ask...I was just experimenting on a wheelgun load for plate matches that didn't really work as I planned...I went back to 140gr & 158 FMJs instead).
I was using AA#9 & Blue Dot though. This was a few years back, before Lil'Gun was on the scene. Either one of those powders would also treat ya well too, as would H110/WW296, VV N110, or 2400.
It's a heavy hitter on steel, and I'm guessing that you're looking at it for the extra penetration from that tough jacket. (the 180gr FPJ was designed for silhouette shooters, not as a hunting bullet.)
For a similar bullet and data to use, check the latest Hornady manual for their 180gr .357Mag 180gr loads...no Lil'Gun data though.

A lot of assumptions from me for lack of more info in your post, but this would be for a last-resort bear load?

Snakedriver · 12-02-2009, 09:13 AM

Huh, well there you go! It's never too late to learn something new. Thanks for adding your knowledge and info. Bindernut. Good stuff!

ggtgary · 12-02-2009, 06:34 PM

Yes Binder, that is it exactly, a last resort bear load. Just for protection, not hunting. Hope the bear spray works and the pistol isn't necessary. Wife and I do a lot of hiking. I would really like a 44 mag, but then there is the wife! I have way more guns than I need, but I really could use the 44 mag. Maybe If could trade something for it, I could slide it by the wife.

scrat · 12-07-2009, 10:37 PM

never heard of lilgun. and you have been reloading for 30 years and you admit to that. wow. I would have stayed quiet. I got a bottle in my reloading cabinet.
very similar burn ratio to h110
any way here you go.
180 grain JFP (Jacketed Flat Point)
Bullseye 6.3 gr. 1,135 FPS
Unique 7.0 gr. 1,125
H4227 12.7 gr. 1,247
H4227 13.0 gr. 1,240
H4227 13.7 gr. 1,308 max
W296 & H110 13.0 gr. 1,352
W296 & H110 13.5 gr. 1,396 max
Lil'Gun 13.0 gr. 1,279
Lil'Gun 15.0 gr. 1,422 max
Titegroup 5.0 gr. 948
Titegroup 5.5 gr. 1,020 max
2400 12.5 gr. 1,300
No. 5 8.0 gr. 1,040
No. 7 9.4 gr. 1,023
296* 14.1 gr. 1,380
* use magnum primers

Snakedriver · 12-08-2009, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrat

never heard of lilgun. and you have been reloading for 30 years and you admit to that. wow. I would have stayed quiet. I got a bottle in my reloading cabinet.
very similar burn ratio to h110

Well, what can I say, I'm an honest guy. I looked in some of my 6 or 7 loading manual, some new and some old, not one had any loading data listed for something called "lilgun". I've never seen it in any gun shops or places that sell gun powder either. Apparently, it's something new that hasn't gained wide acceptance in the loading community. I prefer to use known powders that have worked well for me and others for many years.

12-01-2009, 09:15 PM	#1
ggtgary Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 7	180 gr 357 mag loads I am interested in loading Sierra 180 gr fpj bullets for a 357 revolver. Has anybody had experience with Hogdgon lil gun powder with this bullet? I have found data for Nosler 180 gr partition bullets with this powder, but not for the 180 grain Sierra fpj. What I have found is Alliant 2400 powder data, but it has higher pressure and lower velocity than the lil gun powder with the Nosler bullet. I have a stock of the Sierra 180 gr fpj bullets and want to know if using the lil gun powder would be safe. My interest in this load is for defense (not hunting) against large dangerous animals at close range, so extreme accuracy is not an issue. -->

12-02-2009, 07:56 AM	#2
Snakedriver Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: SW. Florida Posts: 1,219	Re: 180 gr 357 mag loads I've been reloading for 30 years and have never heard of a Hodgdon powder called "Lil". I have a bunch of old & new loading manuals and none of them mention a powder call "Lil" either. For .357 Mag's. with 180 fpj's I'd use H-110 / W296, 2400 or Blue Dot. IMO experimenting with unknown powders would be dangerous. __________________ Fear is a reaction..........Courage is a decision

12-02-2009, 09:05 AM	#3
Bindernut Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ND, USA Posts: 2,433	Re: 180 gr 357 mag loads Snakedriver, Hodgdon Lil'Gun is about in the same burn rate range as H110/WW296. It's one of "them new powders" that they came out with a few years ago targeted mainly at the big-bore revolver cartridges. Honestly, it looks to be a near-twin to H110 in performance so I'm not sure why it was introduced... ggtgary, I don't have any data for Lil'gun for .357Mag in my manuals but Hodgdon's online manual has loads for that powder and 180gr Noslers (I'll guess that's where you got the data from?) As for swapping in the Sierra 180gr for the Nosler. That shouldn't be a problem, both have a very similar shape/jacket style. Just start with the recommended starting loads for Lil'Gun and a 180gr and watch for pressure signs as you work up. I've used the .357 180gr Sierra on steel plates & silhouettes (Don't ask...I was just experimenting on a wheelgun load for plate matches that didn't really work as I planned...I went back to 140gr & 158 FMJs instead). I was using AA#9 & Blue Dot though. This was a few years back, before Lil'Gun was on the scene. Either one of those powders would also treat ya well too, as would H110/WW296, VV N110, or 2400. It's a heavy hitter on steel, and I'm guessing that you're looking at it for the extra penetration from that tough jacket. (the 180gr FPJ was designed for silhouette shooters, not as a hunting bullet.) For a similar bullet and data to use, check the latest Hornady manual for their 180gr .357Mag 180gr loads...no Lil'Gun data though. A lot of assumptions from me for lack of more info in your post, but this would be for a last-resort bear load? Last edited by Bindernut; 12-02-2009 at 09:08 AM..

12-02-2009, 09:13 AM	#4
Snakedriver Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: SW. Florida Posts: 1,219	Re: 180 gr 357 mag loads Huh, well there you go! It's never too late to learn something new. Thanks for adding your knowledge and info. Bindernut. Good stuff! __________________ Fear is a reaction..........Courage is a decision

12-02-2009, 06:34 PM	#5
ggtgary Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 7	Re: 180 gr 357 mag loads Yes Binder, that is it exactly, a last resort bear load. Just for protection, not hunting. Hope the bear spray works and the pistol isn't necessary. Wife and I do a lot of hiking. I would really like a 44 mag, but then there is the wife! I have way more guns than I need, but I really could use the 44 mag. Maybe If could trade something for it, I could slide it by the wife.

12-07-2009, 10:37 PM	#6
scrat V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 86	Re: 180 gr 357 mag loads never heard of lilgun. and you have been reloading for 30 years and you admit to that. wow. I would have stayed quiet. I got a bottle in my reloading cabinet. very similar burn ratio to h110 any way here you go. 180 grain JFP (Jacketed Flat Point) Bullseye 6.3 gr. 1,135 FPS Unique 7.0 gr. 1,125 H4227 12.7 gr. 1,247 H4227 13.0 gr. 1,240 H4227 13.7 gr. 1,308 max W296 & H110 13.0 gr. 1,352 W296 & H110 13.5 gr. 1,396 max Lil'Gun 13.0 gr. 1,279 Lil'Gun 15.0 gr. 1,422 max Titegroup 5.0 gr. 948 Titegroup 5.5 gr. 1,020 max 2400 12.5 gr. 1,300 No. 5 8.0 gr. 1,040 No. 7 9.4 gr. 1,023 296* 14.1 gr. 1,380 * use magnum primers