Looking to brew up a full house 357 load with... solid copper bullets?

[Paul in Nevada]

I hunt in CA some years and I would like to have the option of carrying my GP100. For this I will need copper solids. The best bet looks like the Barnes XPB in 140gr which is lighter than my preference but that's what's available. Looking at the Barnes data, Lil'Gun as usual is the velocity king... almost. The velocity for Ramshot Enforcer is identical. Are Lil'Gun and Enforcer the same powder? If not, does Enforcer share the same bad reputation for being hard on guns as Lil'Gun? The other powders I have on hand are IMR4227, 2400, AA#9 and the old stand by's 296/110.
If anyone has any input on Enforcer or the XPB I would be interested. The goal is to poke holes in blacktails that run about 150lbs and black (cinnamon) bears that can reach 500lbs.

 

[Cdog]

If Barnes handgun bullets operate like their rifle bullets, light for caliber is desirable.

The faster you push them the better. No thin cup and core jacket separation to be concerned with.

I use a very light for caliber 100gr TTSX in the 6.5 NeedMore and it produces a mighty impressive wound channel.

I can't help with info on the powder in question, but I'd likely stuff the case with H110/W296. If like me, I won't likely shoot enough of those expensive Barnes bullets for the Lil Gun to do any harm to the GP.

 

[Nevada Ed]

The Barnes site list a reloading section with powder that work for their bullets.
Resources also shows 110, 296 & 4227 that look good to me.

Their bullets will work on the little Calif. deer, if you can get them to step out
from behind the buck brush and trees that they hide behind.

I never got to see a bear but did not actually hunt for them

We drove the dirt roads, in our attemt at spotting deer, since most hunters were
45 years old or more in the deer camp.
You can walk, if you are Veirry Qwiiet !!!
Being a teenager, I went for the food that the ladies cooked at the camp
I cared less about shooting a deer in wine country.

Good luck on what powder to use and filling your tag.
You do have tags........... right ?? ( Big Grin )

 

[cowboy4evr]

I have used quite a bit of Ramshot Enforcer . I have not tried lil gun so I can't talk about being similar . I will tell you that Enforcer and Accurate 4100 are same-same . It's like HP38 and W231 are same . I like Enforcer . If you go to Ramshot Powders website and look at their burn rate chart they list Enforcer between 2400 and H110 . They also show it to be side by side with lil gun . I hope this helped . Regards Paul

 

[Paul in Nevada]

If like me, I won't likely shoot enough of those expensive Barnes bullets for the Lil Gun to do any harm to the GP.

I was about to say that 100 bullets would last me long time but I just looked them up... These little pills are $1 each!

Good luck on what powder to use and filling your tag.
You do have tags........... right ?? ( Big Grin )

Honestly, where we hunt you are better off using your front bumper anyway. You spend all weekend hiking up and down the mountains then you see herds of them hanging out in people's yards on the drive home.

I have used quite a bit of Ramshot Enforcer . I have not tried lil gun so I can't talk about being similar . I will tell you that Enforcer and Accurate 4100 are same-same . It's like HP38 and W231 are same . I like Enforcer . If you go to Ramshot Powders website and look at their burn rate chart they list Enforcer between 2400 and H110 . They also show it to be side by side with lil gun . I hope this helped . Regards Paul

This is one of those powders that doesn't get talked about as much on forums so I am glad to read some first hand experience. The numbers look good on paper so we will see what the chrono says.

 

[Skeet 028]

That 4100 is also known as Black Dust. I used it in 410 for a while. It was very fine grained powder and would on occasion shut the powder measure on my ol P-W 800. But so would 296. Must have 20 lbs of 296/H110 and in fact someone gave me a can of old Win 295 this week...yep ...295. If there is data on L'il Gun I would use it as it generally runs at lower pressures