I picked up the cans of Longshot yesterday. I was looking for some supplies at Jim's in Baton Rouge and they had next to no powder and only a few shotgun primers.

After going to Books-a-million and reading through the Reloader's Magazine I noticed that they had an article on Longshot being used in handgun calibers. I was very short on handgun powder and remembered seeing some Longshot at Jim's.

I went back and bought the three 1 lb. cans they had. Not rated for light loading which I like but beggars can't be choosy.

Anyone been using Longshot?

John

Depending upon what caliber you're reloading Longshot can be a very good pistol caliber powder. I use Longshot for several applications. It's a fairly slow powder so it's not great for standard pressure .38 Special ammo but it's great for .38 Special +P rounds. (but only jacketed bullets, not lead) It's also a good choice for 9mm rounds as well as middle to middle hot .357 Magnum rounds. (Much like HS-6 is) I have found it's a better choice for Jacketed bullets overall and you will notice some calibers won't even list data for Longshot and a lead bullet. (like the .38 Special)

There are other applications but like I said, you didn't mention what calibers you reload.

Hope this helps a little...

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SWCA #3437

I use quite a bit of Longshot but it depends on what you're using it for.You didn't say.

I load 9mm, 38special, 45 colt and acp, 10mm, 44 mag.

I usually don't use jacket bullets as all I kill is paper but will if that is all I can use with Longshot. Availability being an issue at this time with all the shortages.

John

John,

Longshot is in the general burning range of Bluedot and it's usefulness is similar.I use Longshot for heavy shotshell loads and for that,it is absolutely excellent.

I have not used it in pistol loads but due to it's burning rate,it will not be good for light target loads.I don't have any data under my nose at the moment but it should be good for moderately hot loads in your 44 magnum.Hodgdon lists load data on the web.I do know that there is data for this powder for handgun loads.If I understand correctly,you're looking for a mild paper punching load and if that's the case,Longshot is not the best choice.

It's hard to beat Longshot in hot 10mm loads. AA9 is maybe a little better, but not enough to notice.

I've used Longshot in a variety of calibers from 32 mag to 44 mag. Great for those times I want something more than I get from Titegroup, but not the full power loads I would use H110/W296 for. Clean, meters well.

Thanks for all the help. I am going to go by the information listed in the companies reloading data. May not be what I really want to use but better than not having any powder to reload. Sure wish this buying frenzy goes away and thing get back to normal.

John

I was wondering why little or no info on lead bullet load for Longshot? Many people use hard cast bullets for mag loads in .357 and .44 loads. Seems that someone should list loads for cast with this powder.

If I wanted to use the load data for jacketed bullets with cast bullets should I reduce the loads by ten percent and then work up. Any suggestions? I don't have a chronograph but would just be checking for excessive pressure signs on the brass.

John

John;
I believe the jacketed data is safe from a pressure point of view, but may lead excessively. My understanding is that one can use jacketed data for lead safely, but not vice versa. If you use hot data with a lot of pressure and heat be sure to check your barrel for leading, that can build pressure very quickly with bad results. However, if the gun doesn't lead excessively then you will have a slightly faster bullet at slightly lower pressure when comparing lead to jacketed.

Thanks rundownfid, I would be checking that as well. I have shot hot loads with hard cast in the past with good results. One cast company lists it's hard cast at 18 Brinnel(sp) so I would try some of theirs. They seem to be in stock on .357 and .44.

John

John - I use Longshot in .40 S&W and have had very good results. I have not tried it yet in other handgun calibers (started using it in 1 oz. 20 gauge loads, I believe), but I am sure it would work well in revolver loads if Hodgdon is listing it with jacketed bullets. In days gone by, we were a bit cavalier about subbing cast bullets for jacketed of the same weight, using the same loading data. I have become more cautious as I get older, so I think your idea of reducing charges a bit is good thinking. I have not seen warnings against reducing Longshot charges, as there are for H-110.

I like LS in 357sig, 40 & 10mm. I haven't tried it for any of my rev. stuff, but it should be a good candidate for the 357mag & upper midrange stuff in 41 & 44mags.

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I'm resurrecting an old thread instead of starting a new one. I've been using Longshot for .40SW instead of my favored powders due to availability. Hodgdon has a listing for a plated 180 gr bullet and I'm casting and powder coating the Lee TL401-175-SWC with powder coating. They are working very well and so far I've worked up to 7.3 gr which is getting close to the 7.5 gr listed max load. The powder coating does bump it up just to 180 - 182 gr but seating them to the last tumble lube groove still has them seated well over the COAL. My question is even at 7.3 gr I'm seeing unburned powder in the bore despite all the bark and flash. Do you have to be shooting jacketed at max loads with Longshot to see it burn clean? There is enough shot and awe coming from my M&P 40c that I don't feel the need to go any further but I'm used to my Power Pistol, 231, and WSF loads running cleaner even with regular old lubed lead. Is Longshot just a dirty bird load?

Longshot is the best powder listed for full throttle .45ACP w/180gr JHP's. Check Hodgdon - The Gun Powder People for load data.--DDV#1388

Maximumbob, it's possible that your powder coated bullets run a bit "freer" in the barrel than a jacketed bullet. If so you may not be building enough pressure to insure a good burn. This is something that a Chronograph is really helpful with, because if you don't have good consistent ignition you'll see a big spread in your velocities.

Longshot is my powder of choice for full power 9 mm and .40 S&W. Seems like I may have used it for .38 Super too.

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You make a valid point. That's the next check.

I'm just wondering why anyone would bring back a 5 year old thread not of their making instead of composing a new thread?

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SWCA #3437

Maximumbob; I finally bought a lb. a while ago & with my limited usage it does seem like this powder needs to be used in it's upper load range. I tried similar loads in my 4006 with Zero 165gr JHP & 170gr cast SWC, as well as some 45ACP with 185gr JHP & 200gr cast SWC in my 4516. The jacketed loads seemed snappier & probably less residue, though I don't have a problem with "a little left-overs" behind. Slow powders in autos just feel a little different to me.

I also worked up a load for my 44 Spcl. using 180gr JHPs that I was very happy with but haven't tried any cast bullets with Longshot yet for a comparison. I plan on trying it in other cartridges later.

Maximumbob; I like Longshot in the 357 magnum and like Hodgdon I
use magnum primers with it. Brief comparison testing on my part
convinced me to stick to the hotter primers with Longshot. Magnum
primers could be the answer to your dirty burn problems.

I dunno. I've been called lazy before. Could be.

Again, the data I followed was for a plated bullet. That would already make it a reduced load compared to jacketed. That alone might be my issue.

Magnum primers in a .40SW kind of makes me cringe a little since I have no idea the pressures I'm actually working with. But it is a thought.

I love me some Longshot with 10mm. I use 9.3 gr. under a 180 gr. fmj. It's a hard hitting round that has proven accurate in five different 10mm pistols.

Had good results with Longshot in .40 s&w burns clean and very accurate in my guns.

It works great in my .460 Rowland and 10mm loads in my Glocks. Hard hitting powder behind heavy slugs. Gets the job done for me!

It works well in the 40, 10mm, and I have piddled with it in the 357 mag. I am not sure yet about the mag so keep it in the Autos for now.

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john i have been using this for 3 years now at the beginning of this year i bought a chronograph cause some people thought it was not safe so to begin with hodgdon does not recommend this load and i will not recommend it. i use this with a 357 magnum ruger gp100 4 inch barrel winchester small magnum primers 180 grain striker from missouri bullet company i tested with a chronograph at 6.7-6.8 grains of longshot powder at 1050 to 1100 velocity 100 rounds fired very little leading. i also shoot this out of an h&r 357 rifle ruger 357 rifle with no problems have reloaded brass 5-6 times this is a very accuate load 2000 rounds fired but i still can not recommend it use at your own risk i highly recommend it for myself. i hope this helps you out

While we're bringing back this old thread, I've been using Longshot for some 10 gauge loads. The thing I've found is, it seems like a go big or don't go at all powder for my purpose. For every load from my official books, it worked extremely well. The problem was, every load was a big magnum load, and every time I tried to step off the load even a bit, it would cause the pattern to go goofy, all over the place. At full charge, it sent out a heavy load at very high velocity with a very good pattern, and when you tried to tame it, it just fell all to pieces. I tried a load that was advertised at 1550 fps for a 1 1/2 lead birdshot load, and I believe without a doubt it was all of that velocity. When I backed it off to make it more palatable, it became useless.

Has anyone else had this kind of issue? Does it have a very narrow band of charge weights where it does work well, and where it doesn't?