I wondered, "What is going on with LIL'GUN and the 158 gr. 357 mag loads in the Hodgdon loads?"
http://www.hodgdon.com/data/pistol/357mag.php

The velocity is about as high as any powder available from anywhere, but the pressure is lower and there are no cast loads.

I e-mailed Hodgdon and asked why the low pressure and no cast loads. They wrote back [in five minutes] and said that that was all the powder that would fit and LIL'GUN was melting the base on some bullets.

I know that even if LIL'GUN melts some bullets, it is not melting my 158 gr. LSWC hard cast with a lube band. I also know that even if Hodgdon can only get 18 gr. to fit, I can get 26 gr. to fit with double compression.

I have a number of 38 specials converted to 357 mag. One such pistol is Colt Police Positive that I have cut the handle of the frame down to take a molded grip for an Agent model. With that pistol when I shoot the 26 gr. LIL'GUN and 158 gr. LSWC load and it kicks as hard as my model 29 kicks with the full house 240 gr. 1450 fps loads.

[ 07-15-2003, 01:25: Message edited by: Clark ]

I hope your 26 grain load was a miss print! Half that would be a heavy charge.

Colt Police Positive 38 Special 4" barrel, all chambers of the cylinder reamed out to 357 mag:
1) Commercial 38sp reloads mixed brand brass 158 gr. JHP, 830 fps
2) 18 gr. LIL'GUN 158 gr. XTP 1.59", WSPM, 1173 fps
3) 23.5 gr. LIL'GUN 158 gr. XTP 1.59", WSPM, 1155 fps

What does it all mean?
Extra Lil'Gun in 158 gr 357 mag more noise and recoil, but the chrono is not impressed.