[Philmo11]

Yes, Hodgdon was 10", 1:18 twist, Large Rifle Magnum primer. The Alliant called for a Fed 215 which is also a LRM primer. The Lee manual calls for Large Rifle primer though. In my testing, the LRM was overkill but that was with a faster powder than those listed above.

 

[Philmo11]

A note, mine is only an 8-3/8" barrel.

I also keep the Lil' gun loads around 2200 lbs of energy, or around 41,000 PSI because I prefer to keep the pressure as low as possible. That gives me plenty of headroom for error since the cartridge is a 60,000 PSI cartridge.

 

[Philmo11]

I did finally find the position of 300-MP on a powder burn rate chart right between Lil' Gun and H110.

85) Hodgdon Lil’Gun
86) Alliant Power Pro 300 MP
87) Hodgdon H-110

https://loaddata.com/images/articles/burnratechartnew.pdf

 

[Philmo11]

Unfortunately, my chrono won’t clock these. I did, however, get some awesome pics. Shined the headlights on the ground out in front of the range and fired these into the ground. Had Nic stand at the top of the steps around the corner of the house just in case the gun exploded.

The second before the round went off

The flash lit up the backyard

The shockwave when it hit the camera.

Nic said he could feel the shockwave in his bones. These were loaded to 45gr of Alliant 300-MP. I used a standard Winchester LR primer instead of a LRM.

Idk how fast they were going but I fired two at 2200lbs of energy and these were a very noticeable power difference.

 

[Philmo11]

Also note that in the first and third pic, you can’t see the 40ft building behind the house. Once the round goes off, you can see the entire building (although, through the smoke and shockwave).

 

[Philmo11]

I made another feeble attempt to clock these to no avail. I did so from my front porch, that was a mistake. Was like getting punched in the nose both times from the percussion.

Brass looks good. Primers are about as flat as you can get.

 

[Philmo11]

Few things prettier than new magnum brass... got just enough to load 196rds with a few brass left. Got 500 bullets on backorder.

 

[Philmo11]

This was 47gr of 300-MP. I just started to see a couple unburnt grains. Very few. Saw just a few grains just past the forcing cone as well. The barrel is otherwise clear.

Going to need sunscreen for this beast.

 

[Philmo11]

Well, I got a 39.0gr H110 load to clock. Don’t know how right it is. 2003 FPS. Book says 1712 FPS with an XTP. It’s about 14% faster than the book. I am using copper plated bullets rated at 2000 FPS.

On a side note, I tried clocking 3 more followed by one of the hot MP-300 loads at 47.0gr. Those MP loads were definitely hotter. I believe that’s the first time this gun crack my knuckle on the trigger guard.

 

[Philmo11]

Yeah, idk what it is. I have trouble clocking trail boss loads sometimes. If been as far back as 30’. I’m not going any further back than that. I have confidence in my aim but something about shooting through that triangle bothers me. Don’t know if it’s focusing on the target through that weird shaped hole or what. It’s unsettling.

 

[Philmo11]

I loaded up 100 of those 47gr 300-MP loads. Just because I like knowing I have a box of nuclear missiles at my disposal. Not something to shoot everyday.

I also loaded up 39 rds of H110 @39gr. Per the book, those should be neck and neck with the Lil’ Gun loads I already had. Odd number but I had 11 Lil’ Gun loads laying around and it finished off a box of 50. In sure that chrono told a fib. I have the Lil’gun loads labeled as 1,800 and 2,200 ft lbs. (the difference is only 150 FPS)

I have 150 that I didn’t label. They are either Trail Boss cowboy loads or Unique I loaded in the mid range. I’ll have to go back and pull one out of each box and chrono them if I can. I didn’t bother labeling because either the Cowboy or the midrange were pretty mild shooters in that big ole gun. A while back @deputy mentioned painting the end of the bullets to see if that helped the chrono. I haven’t tried that yet.

I have 50 brass left.

150 Light and Midrange (900-1500 ft lbs)
150 Hot (1,800-2,200 ft lbs)
100 Super Hot (2,700-2,900 ft lbs)
100 of factory ammo (1,100-1,300 ft lbs)

Those Hot and Super Hot are estimated based on load data since the chrono won’t clock them. Minus a little speed for barrel length, add a little because of friction difference, they are CPFP and not FMJ. Thinking about finishing these last 50 as Hot loads with H110. I have still yet to find those 200 brass that went missing. That’s unsettling because it’s $170 in brass.