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Ramshot Enforcer vs. Lil' Gun

Posted: Sun May 28, 2017 10:35 am
by Morne
I currently use a lot of Lil' Gun powder. It is my go to choice for magnum handgun loads (.357, .44 & .500) as well as .300 BLK (supers only) and .50 Beo. I am considering trying out Ramshot Enforcer and would like to hear people's opinions.

I see Enforcer data for all of my possible applications EXCEPT for .50 Beo.

Re: Ramshot Enforcer vs. Lil' Gun

Posted: Sun May 28, 2017 10:49 am
by Sevens
I have never used any Ramshot powder but I have only heard great things about the entire Ramshot line.

Gnerally speaking, I hear this subject and a few things occur to me.

Me, myself, my life at the bench? TOO MANY POWDERS. Powders are like an addiction, keep trying this or that with some curious "goal" in mind. My life would be a bit simpler with less of them. Knowing that (now!), I would caution others to be diverse but man, have a limit. I love that I can take on any new to me handgun cartridge, but for sure, I have way too many powders.

Western provides really good published load data for Ramshot and Accurate powders. Far, far better than Alliant does -- Alliant has great powders and crap published data.

You know that I am vehemently opposed to Lil'Gun, so I too would look for a replacement, I think Ramshot is as good as any.

Re: Ramshot Enforcer vs. Lil' Gun

Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 2:03 pm
by Morne
I got a 1-pounder of Ramshot Enforcer and loaded up some .357 Mags with it today. HOLY SMOKES that stuff meters easily!!!

I had thought about getting some Accurate #9 but they only had 4-pounders of that. Not yet knowing how much I'll like it I figured sticking with 1-pounders was smart.

Enforcer is apparently slightly slower burning than #9 anyway. So this is the logical extreme.

I'm also going to try building some .44 Mags and .500 Mags with it. If all goes well, I might switch to Enforcer for my revolver loads and just use Lil'Gun for my oddball rifle rounds (.300 AAC BLK and .50 Beo).

Re: Ramshot Enforcer vs. Lil' Gun

Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 3:54 pm
by Sevens
Definitely not surprised that it meters well, as a Western product, I believe that is one characteristic that they specifically aim for, they certainly have with all the Accurate pistol powders.

I have had fantastic experiences with AA#9 just about everywhere I have used it. In fact, my current project with it is a cast and Hi-Tek coated 180 grain slug in .357 Magnum that I'm building specifically for a new toy, a Ruger 77/357 bolt action rifle. After zeroing and load development on paper and through the fun-sucker (Chrony), I plan to use this rifle for steel plate plinking at 100-300 yards.

I could probably find a lot of use and joy from Ramshot Enforcer but I must stay away! :lol: Too many powders already.

But I would definitely swap a pound or two of AA#9 to you for same of Enforcer... :idea:

Re: Ramshot Enforcer vs. Lil' Gun

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2018 8:01 am
by willbird
Morne wrote:I got a 1-pounder of Ramshot Enforcer and loaded up some .357 Mags with it today. HOLY SMOKES that stuff meters easily!!!

I had thought about getting some Accurate #9 but they only had 4-pounders of that. Not yet knowing how much I'll like it I figured sticking with 1-pounders was smart.

Enforcer is apparently slightly slower burning than #9 anyway. So this is the logical extreme.

I'm also going to try building some .44 Mags and .500 Mags with it. If all goes well, I might switch to Enforcer for my revolver loads and just use Lil'Gun for my oddball rifle rounds (.300 AAC BLK and .50 Beo).
Powder burn rate charts can be kind of arbitrary IMHO.
http://www.wwpowder.com/PDF/Burn%20Rate ... 5-2016.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


That one has Lilgun listed as FASTER than H110/WW296. Lilgun in 357 it seems you cannot get enough in the case to hit maximum pressure.


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One guy tried adding more than maximum (infamous overloader guy) and he got more recoil but when he ran crono tests he saw velocity was not going up. He mailed Hodgdon and they said "we know that...that is why we set the max where we did".

Now if you go on up to 44 magnum it looks like Lilgun can hit maximum pressure. So how you arbitrarily set the burn rate I dunno :-).
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Looking at Freedom arms/Ruger 45 colt data shows Lilgun acting faster than H110 maybe (I will not screen cap them because they would take a Colt SAA revolver apart probably) ;-).

Re: Ramshot Enforcer vs. Lil' Gun

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2018 2:47 pm
by JustaShooter
willbird wrote:Powder burn rate charts can be kind of arbitrary IMHO.
There is more to how a powder performs than burn rate. Two powders with the same burn rate can perform differently because one is bulkier than the other so fills the case with the same or less weight, etc.

Re: Ramshot Enforcer vs. Lil' Gun

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2018 3:40 pm
by willbird
JustaShooter wrote:
willbird wrote:Powder burn rate charts can be kind of arbitrary IMHO.
There is more to how a powder performs than burn rate. Two powders with the same burn rate can perform differently because one is bulkier than the other so fills the case with the same or less weight, etc.
Agreed, but typically in magnum pistol ctg the top performing powders will end up at very high loading density at maximum pressure. The Lilgun in 357 magnum is kind of an oddball because it gives the highest velocity Hodgdon lists but at a sedate 26,000 or so CUP.