H110 and Lil'Gun and IMR4227

JBnTx · Sep 24, 2015

Is there enough difference between these powders to warrant trying each one in 45 Colt Ruger Only loads, 454 Casull, and 44 magnum with cast lead bullets?

I currently use H110, but it doesn't have much of a loading range to work with. I also use Unique, HS-6 and 2400 but I was wondering about trying Lil'Gun or IMR4227?

elpac3 · Sep 24, 2015

Have not Lil'gun so can't give you any advice on that powder. For .44 with cast lead you will be hard pressed to beat 2400. Have used Unique in my softer .44 loads but I find 2400 is my go-to magnum powder. You will have a wide working range. You will find it burns better toward the top of the range - as do most powders, but day in and day out you will do well with 2400.

In 40 years of loading I have settled on thee powders for my pistols, Bullseye, Unique and 2400. Have not found anything I can't load and that won't shoot well with those three powders.

7P's · Sep 24, 2015

Lil'Gun will give you a little more velocity that H110 with a little less pressure but - but - it's a little harder to ignite, so you really should stay on the high end and it's not recommended to load down from the listed start load for your specific bullet, much like H110 in that respect. The other thing to consider is barrel heat - Lil'Gun will heat your barrel up much faster and hotter! Lil'Gun is gentler to shoot, as it doesn't give you that sharp snap like H110. I like Lil'Gun better than H110 with heavy bullets but I also prefer to use VV N110 instead of H110 or Lil'Gun.

IMR 4227 will run approximately 100 to 150 fps slower than H110 at the top end and is a bit dirty, leaving behind kernels of unburnt powder - at top-end loads it cleans up some. This powder is also not recommended to be downloaded from the starting loads listed in your manual. I like IMR-4227 in the 44 Magnum but my preference is using VV N-120 instead of IMR-4227. I just like Vihtavuori Powders.

Some people down load IMR-4227 below recommended starting loads and have never experienced any problems except more unburnt powder, but when I called the Company (Hodgdon) the tech there told me they definitely didn't recommend anyone to go lower than their suggested starting loads.

venomballistics · Sep 24, 2015

well theres 300 MP too.
Lilgun and 300MP both seek to be H110's equal while providing a more forgiving load range.

IMR4227 is a good powder but understand it is notorious for leaving unburnt powder all over.

Yet another powder is AA#9
this stuff is what it always was. That is, what lilgun and 300mp try to be.

BLUEDOT37 · Sep 25, 2015

I4227 is the most different of the three & I wouldn't suggest it for all three, just max loads in the 454C, otherwise you run the risk of turning your revolver into a pepper shaker.

Lil'Gun has some good numbers but once my current can is done I won't buy another. Just didn't find anything compelling about it.

If you're going to shoot the 45 Colt Ruger only loads in a 454C/460Mag, like I did, you actually have a wide range with H110 from 45 Colt +P to 454C start levels, with strong cases.

2400 is definitely the most flexible & if I could only have one powder for them, it'd be 2400.

.

JBnTx · Sep 25, 2015

I think I'll just stay with my current powders and pass on trying Lil'Gun and IMR4227.

I don't see them doing anything that I already can do with H110 and 2400.

venomballistics · Sep 25, 2015

JBnTx said:
I think I'll just stay with my current powders and pass on trying Lil'Gun and IMR4227.

I don't see them doing anything that I already can do with H110 and 2400.

don't be so quick to do that ...
4227 has been performing accuracy miracles for those loading 357 and willing to overlook the unpopped kernels.

cmj8591 · Sep 25, 2015

I poo pooed 4227 too until I tried it in my 44 mag during the powder shortage. I can get more velocity out of h110 and 296 but 4227 is much more accurate and consistent. I do seem to get more unburnt powder but I think it is just a case of the kernels being larger and more noticeable. It is not anywhere near enough of a problem to prevent me from using it. I also use it for lighter loads in my 500.

6GUNSONLY · Sep 26, 2015

My picks are 2400 and AA-9, with 4227 right behind. I've never care much for H-110/WW-296 due to the need to top-drawer everything. I just don't do that redline stuff much anymore. I like the flexibility of the first two. I'd used 4227 years ago with good results, but didn't see any advantage over 2400 so I dropped it. Then recently, I ran out of 2400 and couldn't find any for a while. Shooter's Pro Shop had 4227 in plentiful supply and at $18.99 a pound, I stocked up. So I'm back in the 4227 user's club again now. One of my favorite .44 mag loads the past few years has been 17.5 of AA-9 with my home-cast 429244 HPs. This is my hunting load, and while it's not absolute max, it generates right around 1300 fps out of my old 7 1/2" Ruger flattop. Deer hate it.

BLUEDOT37 · Sep 26, 2015

cmj8591 said:
I also use it for lighter loads in my 500.

It's my main powder in 460 & 500 loads. They're good incinerators.

.

Nevada Ed · Sep 28, 2015

With the powders that you already have...........

I would SAVE your money for something else.

There will be no great improvement, if any with those two powders.
You already have powders that have lots of data and have proved themselves in the field..... but if you like to test loads, go for it.

Satoken · Sep 28, 2015

Stay clear away from Lil'gun. It's notorious for excessive heat and eat your forcing cone. Not only read about this but have experience.
4227 is good but experienced high pressure in high temperature climate with 44. Again, I'm not the only one who had this problem.

JBnTx · Sep 28, 2015

After shooting my new Ruger SBH 454 Casull today, I'll stay with 2400 and H110.

Rule3 · Sep 28, 2015

elpac3 said:
Have not Lil'gun so can't give you any advice on that powder. For .44 with cast lead you will be hard pressed to beat 2400. Have used Unique in my softer .44 loads but I find 2400 is my go-to magnum powder. You will have a wide working range. You will find it burns better toward the top of the range - as do most powders, but day in and day out you will do well with 2400.

In 40 years of loading I have settled on thee powders for my pistols, Bullseye, Unique and 2400. Have not found anything I can't load and that won't shoot well with those three powders.

Even though I have other powders my Trinity is pretty much the same other than HP 38 instead of Unique ( I do have Unique though)

I can live with those three powders. It gets crazy after a while, there are so many but also so many they all pretty much do the same thing. Between brands they all have powders that work almost the same as the other brands.

Fast, Medium and Slow

buck460XVR · Sep 29, 2015

IMR4227 is my go to powder in .460. It also performs very well in my .44 mags, especially the long piped revolvers and carbines. H110/W296 is an excellent powder even tho it has narrow parameters and is very safe when used within those parameters. Lil'Gun is known not only for it's excessive barrel heat, but excessive and premature forcing cone erosion in revolvers. I have no experience at all with .45 Colt Ruger only loads.

MrG5122 · Sep 30, 2015

I've found that Lil Gun is very temperature sensitive in my .458 SOCOM. Loads I worked up early last spring have shown excessive pressure signs this summer. I'm looking for a more stable powder for this cartridge.

H110 and Lil'Gun and IMR4227

JBnTx

Well-known member

elpac3

Well-known member

7P's

Well-known member

venomballistics

Well-known member

BLUEDOT37

Well-known member

JBnTx

Well-known member

venomballistics

Well-known member

cmj8591

Well-known member

6GUNSONLY

Well-known member

BLUEDOT37

Well-known member

Nevada Ed

Well-known member

Satoken

Well-known member

JBnTx

Well-known member

Rule3

Well-known member

buck460XVR

Well-known member

MrG5122

Well-known member

Similar threads

Latest posts