what powder are they using? (357mag)

legi0n

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I was reading this page
And the guy says he's getting close to 1800fps with Buffalo Bore HC 180gr in 357 magnum
Dang, I can only match that velocity with 158gr bullets.
What powder are they using?
 
I did some googleing and the consensus seems to be that they use a "non-canister" powder, which is a powder that is only available to manufacturers and not the public.
 
From your own link;

I was able to safely push the 180 grain JHP to over 1800 fps using Lil’Gun powder and a CCI 550 primer.

I read that too. But that load is not in any of my books.
Plus, Thompson Contender issued an advisory about Lil'Gun eroding the throats of their guns (google "lil gun throat erosion").

I tend to agree that they're using an "off the chart" powder and I want some myself.
I really do because that powder would bring my 357 rifles in the 30-30 range safely.
 
On the Hodgdon website the max load for lil gun under the 180gr bullet is:
Bullet Weight (Gr.)ManufacturerPowderBullet Diam.C.O.L.Grs.Vel. (ft/s)PressureGrs.Vel. (ft/s)Pressure

180 GR. NOS PART Hodgdon Lil'Gun .357" 1.575" 13.0 1279 27,500 CUP 15.0 1422 34,500 CUP

that's far from the 1800 fps quoted initially.
And I would be leery to go further since most powders cause a spike in pressure over a certain amount usually called "do not exceed".
 
For years Little'gun is the only powder i used in 357mag, 44mag and 500 S&W, it is the best powder for the job (for me at least) giving extra velocity 50fps+, low pressure and great accuracy, i started low with H-110 # and increase up to the perfect load... 1800 fps with 180 gr Hornady XTP is dead on... JP.
 
On the Hodgdon website the max load for lil gun under the 180gr bullet is:
Bullet Weight (Gr.)ManufacturerPowderBullet Diam.C.O.L.Grs.Vel. (ft/s)PressureGrs.Vel. (ft/s)Pressure

180 GR. NOS PART Hodgdon Lil'Gun .357" 1.575" 13.0 1279 27,500 CUP 15.0 1422 34,500 CUP

that's far from the 1800 fps quoted initially.
And I would be leery to go further since most powders cause a spike in pressure over a certain amount usually called "do not exceed".

On the Hodgdon site the barrel they used was 10". In the article he's using an 18 1/2". There's the difference.

To see what barrel, twist and primer they used hit 'print' after you select your load. Another printable page will pop up with more info on it.
 
All of my loads are used in carbine lenght 16 inch or more, not much data on it you have to grow a load from scratch, burn rate of 110-296 and Little' gun are almost identical, Little'gun being a hair faster, must be the edge of that powder, it is ok to take data of 110 or 296 and work a load up... JP.
 
^^^^Those velocity figures are for a pistol. The article in the link posted by the OP were rifle loads.

EDIT: Oops! Missed page two!
 
Don't forget that we buy "canister" powder. but the factory does not.

Powder is made to a recipe. Each lot is then tested to evaluate speed. It is asigned a speed rateing, similar to this:

Red Dot 10, Red Dot 20, Red Dot 30, Red Dot 40. 10 is the fast version, and 40 is the slowest. Red Dot 40 is almost the same speed as Green Dot 10.

When you look at the full spectrum of all the powders, you can see that the factory has the choice of hundreds of powders we do not see.

Plus, there are lots of excellent powders available to the factory that are not made available to us as canister powders. I recall using what became known as Varget years before it was put on the market, and my favourite powder for 308 ammo remains a Bofors powder (RP-28) that is still not available to the public. It is similar to RL-15, but a step faster.

The 357 ammo in question is loaded with either a non-canister grade of a powder we can buy or one of the powders not made at all as a canister grade powder.
 
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