I think I will stick with Lil Gun powder.

[bigbore442001]

The other day I was sadly disappointed in the results of my tests using IMR 4227 in the 44 magnum. I do realize that the lackluster performance has a direct correlation with a weak crimp but I did run out of that powder and I do not forsee getting more of it in the future. I did have some handloads using Hodgdon's Lil Gun in two bullet weights. I shot them this afternoon at 4:30 PM after a series of thunderstorms blew through. Initially I set up the chrony but the sky was dark interspersed with flashes of lightning. I figured it was prudent to wait it out. Shortly things cleared well enough to engage in some shooting.

The range is at approximately 450 feet above sea level.The temperature was around 70 degrees with a pressure of 28.5 . Humidity was at 80 percent.

Load 1: 270 grain Speer Gold Dot loaded over 22 grains of LilGun. Solid crimp, magnum primers, Starline brass.

Ruger Redhawk 5 1/2

1350 fps average velocity.

Ruger Redhawk 7 1/2 with Magnaport

1386.8 fps average velocity.

TC Contender 10" barrel

1555.5 fps average velocity

TC Contender 16" barrel

1668 fps average velocity.

I was really pleased with the results of this test. It was more positive. This load was intended as a back up load for moose last fall in case I had to go after one in an area north of Concord that limits the types of firearms you can use. In addition I can see this being used for other game like deer or black bear.

Load 2:

This load consists of a 240 grain Hornady XTP bullet over 24.2 grains of LilGun with a magnum primer and Starline brass.

Ruger Redhawk 5 1/2 inch

1378 fps average velocity

Ruger Redhawk 7 1/2 inch with Magnaport

1445 fps average velocity

TC Contender 10 inch barrel

1645 fps average velocity

TC Contender 16 inch barrel

1784 fps average velocity


I do believe that I am going to stick with this powder for hunting applications.

[earlmck]

Looks like those would do anything you'd want 'em to do, bigbore. I looked at those loads in the "QuickLoad" program and that was pretty close to the velocities it predicts for the 16" barrel. And it says they stay under 30K psi also. Nice.

[DixieBoy]

BigBore - Well, there's no denying that you upped the velocities considerably over what you'd gotten out of IMR 4227
the other day. Are you getting the low extreme spreads you are after ? I have zero experience with this powder so I'm
just asking. Seems like one of the internet criticisms of Lil' Gun is wide extreme spreads. But that could just be the typical
internet nonsense too. Any other impressions you care to note with the Lil' Gun ? Inquiring minds want to know. - DixieBoy

[bigbore442001]

I did get a couple of extreme flyers but I believe that is due to factors other than the load. From what I understand, shooting over a chronograph can involve a lot of variables. The shot should be in the same spot each and every time but after shooting I do notice that the bench moves a tad, the chronograph twists slightly( bear in mind it was a bit windy as we had a line of strong thunderstorms roll by). I deleted any extreme numbers and averaged the rest.

[piller]

I have used both L'iL Gun and 4227 in my .480 Ruger loads. In the pistol, SRH with 7 1/2 inch barrel, I get great results, but in the model 92, the barrel bets pretty hot when I use L'iL Gun. In the levergun, I actually get almost the same velocity with both powders, and the 4227 runs a lot cooler. For any handgun length barrel, the L'iL Gun is the winner of the 2, but I also find that H110/ww296 gives good results with both the pistol and rifle. For loads that are going to be used only in the rifle, it is 4227 for me just because I don't have to wait between shots for the barrel to cool.

[KirkD]

For some of my cartridges, I found a huge difference in velocity with IMR 4227 depending upon whether I tilted the rifle up or down before the shot. IMR 4227 is very position sensitive.

[piller]

In the .480, the load of 4227 pretty well fills the case. It is not a compressed load, but there isn't much room left. I have had better luck with using H110/WW296 for loads that I am going to use in both the pistol and the rifle since they give very similar results in both.

[earlmck]

While we are on this subject -- thanks to Kirk's info he gave out on burning rates the other day on a different post -- I saw that 5744 and 4227 are very very close. And my jug of 5744 says it is useful for magnum pistol loads, but the Accurate site doesn't show any such loads that I could find.

Has anybody here tried out 5744 for our magnum pistol-cartridge loads? I would think it might be nice in our rifles using those cartridges. QuickLoad shows it being a pretty decent fit, though not hitting the very top velocities like Lil'Gun.