Longshot in handgun loads

[canoe on the yukon]

I have read,with interest,the various comments about Lil' Gun powder and it's apparent problems.This leads me to inquire about possible drawbacks with Longshot for use in handguns.

I use a lot of it in shotguns.In the ten gauge magnum (which I shoot a lot),it is as good as it gets.I have quite a bit on hand and have considered using it in handgun loads (particularly the 44 magnum).Any comments and/or observations?

 

[M29since14]

I can't help you with a recommendation in 44 Magnum but I can tell you I like it in .40 S&W.

I have not chronographed a lot of loads with it. My usual procedure with a new powder is to start considerably below the maximum charge listed and chrono a few shells at different charge weights to observe changes in velocity and uniformity. The first load I tried gave me more than enough velocity and uniformity was good, so I stopped there - 1 full grain below manual-listed maximum.

Then I got wondering what I would get if I had added another grain?

To make the long story short, I was curious if this might be one of those powders like International that I have heard are suspectible to pressure spikes with small changes in charge weight? Being the cautious sort and being happy with what I had, I did not go further.

So I use it in .40 S&W, at well below the manual-stated maximum, and at what should be a safe pressure, and have been pleased with uniformity and accuracy with jacketed, plated, and plain cast bullets. I plan to try it in 9x19 soon, but did not view it as a 44 Magnum powder, though it will probably do just fine.

 

[canoe on the yukon]

I have not and will not extrapolate loading data from one powder to another but I can tell you that Longshot and Bluedot are very close in shotgun recipes for the ten gauge magnum.I stick to Longshot as I have no use for a powder that is sensitive to cold temps but back to the issue....those two powders are within a couple of grains of each other when the recipe is the same otherwise.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Some really like it in 9mm and 40S&W

Well, when I got my Glock 22 RTF I wanted a powder that gave me normal velocity with low pressure for obvious reasons. I had a friend that had a friend that was going to start loading 9mm, knowing that Archangel uses Longshot in his 9mm loads, I gave my only can of it away to them so they could get started.

While I settled on SR4756 for the task that I have, I did get another can of Longshot and need to put rounds together with it. Maybe I need to do that in 44mag!

At any rate, it seems like a good powder. Meters well and should fill the case pretty well. If you are going to do a test, let us know your results.

 

[fredj338]

I haven't tried it in 44mag but it is a great powder for the 357sig, 40s&w & 10mm. It should also work well for high end 9mm loads.

 

[pinkymingeo]

Longshot is excellent for jacketed bullets, but has caused leading problems for me. It's hard to beat in 10mm, and works fine in 44mag. I was underwhelmed with it in 45acp though. For lead bullets try AA7, AA9, Power Pistol or 2400.

 

[Skip Sackett]

That's what I was told too!

Longshot is excellent for jacketed bullets, but has caused leading problems for me. It's hard to beat in 10mm, and works fine in 44mag. I was underwhelmed with it in 45acp though. For lead bullets try AA7, AA9, Power Pistol or 2400.

Leading with Longshot and Lil' Gun with plain base cast bullets (H&G #503, 250gr Keith)was what I was told to expect from my Marlin 1894, according to Hodgdon's Tech.

I have been using Lil' Gun with jacketed bullets with no problems at all in the rifles. They do get hot!

I would think that the pressures need to be up to get Longshot to work right. The 45ACP may not be the place to use it. Least ways, not in 99.9% of the loads I load in it!

Maybe I need to make a "whoop snorter" with my H&G #502 and Longshot, just to see what it will do from my M625JM!

What do you say? (Like my wife tells my friends: "Don't encourage him!")