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What is Longshot good for?

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19 February 2021, 17:58
Bill/Oregon
What is Longshot good for?
I saw a pound all by itself on a local gun store shelf and bought it, thinking it was the one I wanted to try in the .458 SOCOM. Wrong. That was Lil Gun. Looking at burn rates, Longshot is a bit slower than Blue Dot and a bit faster than 2400, so I am sure it will have some handgun applications. I don't load for shotgun.


There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.
– John Green, author
19 February 2021, 19:34
whelenite
In use, Longshot is nowhere near as slow as the tables say it is. Having used it in 41 and 44 magnums, plus 45 Colt, it's loads show a burn rate between Unique and HS6, very close to Herco, Power Pistol or Silhouette. Not as case filling as Unique or Herco, but more bulky than the ball powders. I have found good midrange to upper midrange loads in all the above calibers. It seems a little smokier than some powders with lead bullets.
Some of my most accurate loads are:
45 Colt 11.0gr 200-225gr bullet @ 1100 fps (5" bbl. Ruger Only)
44 mag 10.5gr 265gr SWC bullet @ 1025 fps (4" bbl.)
41 mag 10.5gr 210gr SWC bullet @ 1200 fps (4-5/8" bbl.)
19 February 2021, 20:58
richj
I've used HS6 and Longshot in 44Mag with 240gr.

44Mag - 240JSP - Longshot - 12gr
44Mag - 240JSP - HS6 - 14.5gr

These cycle my Desert Eagle.

I'll get chrono tonight.
19 February 2021, 21:06
df06
It’s a terrific 12 ga fast load hunting load powder. And I use it in 28 and 20 gauge as well. Never have tried it in any metallic cartridges.


NRA Patron member
19 February 2021, 22:46
DocEd
Doesn't the manufacturer publish loading data for this powder?


NRA Patron Life Member Benefactor Level
19 February 2021, 23:15
Bill/Oregon
Doc, Alliant does publish data, but it is inconclusive at best.


There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.
– John Green, author
20 February 2021, 02:08
jsn
Longshot is a Hodgdon powder.
20 February 2021, 04:34
Bill/Oregon
Jsn, you are absolutely right. I don't know why I thought it was an Alliant powder. There are so many now that this aging Baby Boomer has lost track.


There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.
– John Green, author
20 February 2021, 20:08
Lamar
I hear you there.
I'm kind of a powder follower and like to know how they react in different situations.

I started to keep up with the new stuff, but it comes and goes so fast, and it just keeps on coming and coming.
I gave up on most of it.

anyway I played around with longshot in the 12ga some years back, and it really does throw stuff out at impressive speeds.
an ounce and a quarter of high antimony 6's or 4's at about 1450 fps would have made for some impressive shots in the marsh back in the day.