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Lil' Gun and the Hornet

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12 March 2002, 14:21
NETim
Lil' Gun and the Hornet
Thought I'd post this question in this forum. (I also resurrected an old thread about the Hornet in the Varmint forum with this same question.)

I've read a great deal about how great Lil' Gun is in the Hornet. I've also read how Hodgdon does not recommend that it be compressed.

I don't think that it's possible to get 13 grs of this stuff in a WW case without running smack into compression mode. Yet I see that 13 grs or so makes for a good load.
12.7 fills the case to about .1" from the case mouth in the WW cases.

Compression, good, bad or indifferent with Lil' Gun?

Thanks!

Tim

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Protons have mass? I didn't even know they were Catholic!

12 March 2002, 14:49
<George Capriola>
When I first started loading Lil'Gun, I had the same thoughts. It seemed that there was no way to fit 13 grains in a Hornet case. With time and patience, you'll develop the knack for pouring the powder from a couple inches above the funnel, "swirling" it into the cases, and tapping the side of the case with a finger to settle the powder.
Regards, George.

12 March 2002, 16:07
ricciardelli
I've had no problem getting 13.7 grains of Lil'Gun in a Hornet case, by using a drop tube...

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http://stevespages.com/page8.htm

13 March 2002, 07:10
NETim
OK, I feel better now. I'll have to build me a drop tube for my Bonanza measure I guess.

Didn't realize that Lil' Gun was so "fluffy."

Thanks!

Tim

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Protons have mass? I didn't even know they were Catholic!

13 March 2002, 18:10
Clark
I can get 26 gr in the 38 Special case. It takes just a little extra seating to make OAL. It doesn't seem to be as high a bulk modulus [incompressable] as H110 or AA#9.
15 March 2002, 05:59
<Ben H>
NETim:
If you ever want to have it reamed out to K Hornet, go see Mike Schlereth in Lincoln. He's a fantastic smith and really likes the K chambering. He did my Ruger and also pillar bedded it and free-floated the barrel and it's a .5" gun now.

Good Luck,
Ben H

16 March 2002, 07:04
<Ken in VA>
Tim,
I shoot 13 gr. of Lil' Gun under the Hornady 35 gr. V-Max. The rifle is a T/C Contender Carbine.
As mentioned above, it takes a little work, but the results are usually worth it.
A buddy of mine has a T/C Carbine that likes 13.5 gr.
Great powder and excellent caliber.
Ken
17 March 2002, 09:14
NETim
Thanks for the responses. I'm still working up loads for the Hornet and I am hoping that the 70 likes Lil' Gun.

I doubt if I rechamber it to the "K" version though. I'd grade my Hornet out at about 98-99% right now. All original except the rear sight has been traded out for a fold down Williams type sight.

Thanks again,

Tim

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Protons have mass? I didn't even know they were Catholic!