I am making some loads for my buddy using 500gr hard cast, gas checked slugs and Lil Gun powder. Now I am being told not to use Lil Gun due to forcing cone erosion issues. When I did a Google search on the 500 magnum and Lil Gun, I found many a thread extolling the virtues of LG. Use it? Don't use it? Should I pull the 50 rounds I already have seated? Thanks guys!
500 S&W Magnum and Lil Gun powder?
- Thread starter Sgt_Jamez
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Re: 500 S&W Magnum and Lil Gun powder?
On erosion... how many rounds are we talking? I find its a chore to fire mine more than 20-25 rounds in a session with full-tilt ammo. It'll take lots of those before erosion is an issue.
My plinking load is 17gr titegroup with Berrys 350RS. About 1150fps.
On erosion... how many rounds are we talking? I find its a chore to fire mine more than 20-25 rounds in a session with full-tilt ammo. It'll take lots of those before erosion is an issue.
My plinking load is 17gr titegroup with Berrys 350RS. About 1150fps.
Re: 500 S&W Magnum and Lil Gun powder?
Lil' Gun was what I used when I had mine.
AAMOF, I use it now with my 460.
Who the hell is gonna shoot enough rounds thru a 500 to erode the forcing cone?
Lil' Gun was what I used when I had mine.
AAMOF, I use it now with my 460.
Who the hell is gonna shoot enough rounds thru a 500 to erode the forcing cone?
Re: 500 S&W Magnum and Lil Gun powder?
Where I read about the Lil' Gun issue was on a forum where comments were made by the head guy at Freedom Arms. He said they had done testing with their revolvers and that Lil' Gun burned so hot, forcing cones were fried with not so many shots. He also indicated that revolvers had been returned with accuracy issues traced to the use of that powder.
Anyway, I don't feel like using my guns for more testing of Lil' Gun so I'll never know from personal experience if it will wreck a barrel. Sadly, I bought a pound of Lil' Gun shortly before I heard of the issue that sits unopened that I'll never use.
Where I read about the Lil' Gun issue was on a forum where comments were made by the head guy at Freedom Arms. He said they had done testing with their revolvers and that Lil' Gun burned so hot, forcing cones were fried with not so many shots. He also indicated that revolvers had been returned with accuracy issues traced to the use of that powder.
Anyway, I don't feel like using my guns for more testing of Lil' Gun so I'll never know from personal experience if it will wreck a barrel. Sadly, I bought a pound of Lil' Gun shortly before I heard of the issue that sits unopened that I'll never use.
Re: 500 S&W Magnum and Lil Gun powder?
I've read quite a bit about Lil'gun and the throat problems. best I can tell it is with the 44 and up bores and way up in the hundreds of rounds.
I use it in all my 357mag loads, probably shoot 3-400 of them a year. I see no problems so far.
I also load 12gr under an 85gr GC SWC bullet for a Marlin 32H&R mag and shoot about 1,200 rounds a year. in Cowboy LA silhouette.
After 2 years, I can't see any sign of erosion using a light and magnifying glass. Throat is still just as shinny as new. If I had access to a bore scope I'd like to give it a real good look.
If your wanting mag loads for the 500, get the good old stand by mag powder, H-110.
I've read quite a bit about Lil'gun and the throat problems. best I can tell it is with the 44 and up bores and way up in the hundreds of rounds.
I use it in all my 357mag loads, probably shoot 3-400 of them a year. I see no problems so far.
I also load 12gr under an 85gr GC SWC bullet for a Marlin 32H&R mag and shoot about 1,200 rounds a year. in Cowboy LA silhouette.
After 2 years, I can't see any sign of erosion using a light and magnifying glass. Throat is still just as shinny as new. If I had access to a bore scope I'd like to give it a real good look.
If your wanting mag loads for the 500, get the good old stand by mag powder, H-110.
Re: 500 S&W Magnum and Lil Gun powder?
I appreciate all the input. I loaded 50 rounds already. I guess I won't pull them down, but I certainly won't load any more with LG.
Everyone seems to mention H110 and also that W296 is essentially the same but almost no one mentions W296.
I appreciate all the input. I loaded 50 rounds already. I guess I won't pull them down, but I certainly won't load any more with LG.
Everyone seems to mention H110 and also that W296 is essentially the same but almost no one mentions W296.
Re: 500 S&W Magnum and Lil Gun powder?
H110 is the same as Win. 296 and it's what I use for my 500 S&W Mag. loads.
I also think it's possible that Lil' Gun may be OK in some loads such as .410 shotgun loads it was originally designed for. The Freedom Arms 454 Casull loads that demonstrated rapid throat erosion in a few hundred rounds have a maximum SAAMI pressure rating of 65,000 psi which is a lot higher than .410 shotgun, 357 Magnum and 45 Colt loads. The 460 S&W Magnum and 500 S&W Magnum also have pressures in the range of the 454 Casull so might have more problems from throat erosion from Lil' Gun.
Anyway, I've never using Lil' Gun in my 454 Casull, 460 S&W or 500 S&W.
H110 is the same as Win. 296 and it's what I use for my 500 S&W Mag. loads.
I also think it's possible that Lil' Gun may be OK in some loads such as .410 shotgun loads it was originally designed for. The Freedom Arms 454 Casull loads that demonstrated rapid throat erosion in a few hundred rounds have a maximum SAAMI pressure rating of 65,000 psi which is a lot higher than .410 shotgun, 357 Magnum and 45 Colt loads. The 460 S&W Magnum and 500 S&W Magnum also have pressures in the range of the 454 Casull so might have more problems from throat erosion from Lil' Gun.
Anyway, I've never using Lil' Gun in my 454 Casull, 460 S&W or 500 S&W.
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