Lil Gun in 222 Rem

[Jaycroyaks]

Does anyone have any experience using Lil Gun in a Rem 222?  If you do I would be interested in knowing how it worked.  Thank you for your time.
Jay

[cal sibley]

I don't use Lil Gun in either of my .222Rems. but have heard from others it's a good match for the caliber.  One of the beauties of the .222 is that it works accurately with a whole host of powders and bullets.  Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

[Blackhawk44]

LilGun parallels H110 and 4227, all a bit fast for the .222.  These all fit much better in the .22 Hornet.  Something like RL7 or 4198 is more appropriate for the .222.

[303Guy]

Just be aware that Lil'Gun has a rather unusual burning characteristic.  It can develop higher pressures in larger cases, even for the same charge.  There is a website that explains this phenomena.  It's to do with the way powders ignite.

303Guy

[quickdtoo]

I've used it in the Hornet, 500 S&W and 45 Colt, but all with Hodgdon published load data, I'd be wary of using it in a cartridge that has no data for it as is the case with the .222. If you look at Hodgdon's data for the Hornet, 13gr is the max regardless of bullet weight, that tells me they know something about it that we don't.

Tim

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

[LaOtto222]

Hodgdon lists some H4227 loads for the 222. They do not develop very high velocities in comparison to other powders and they do not list it at all for heavier bullets. They do list Lil'Gun for the 221 Fire Ball. They list all bullet weights with Lil'Gun, but performance drops off compared to other powders for the bigger bullets (50+ grains). I would think that case capacity with Lil'Gun would be awful. This usually causes extremes with pressures and velocities. I have a 222 and I have Lil'Gun. I have never even thought of marrying the two until I read your post. I do not think it would be a good idea. If you are after some reduced loads, you might consider some Blue Dot loads. Lil'Gun has produced very good results with light bullets in very small capacity cases. Even the 222 is getting too big to for this powder. For a faster burning powder 4198 is about as fast a powder as you should go and have satisfactory results.

[303Guy]

I agree with LaOtto222.  Don't do it.  It is designed specifically for small case to bore capacities.

If you go this site you get an explanation of what happens.

www.superiorballistics.com.

Page three - "Kindling" Versus Ignition

[1armoured]

I would echo that,

'Don't do it !'

I use Lil'Gun in the Hornet, and it's great.
but,
For the .222 and .223, I use the IMR/H4895 equivalent AR2206, which allows me to fill the case, and get good accuracy.
I've tried the faster AR2205/H4227, (my original Hornet powder),  in the .222 but the results were'nt very good, so canned that idea.
There are possibly better ADI powders like BM1 and 2, and maybe AR2207/IMR4198, but I'm happy with my loads, so I don't see any point in fixing something that aint broke !

cheers,
Sean in 'Godzone'

[saltydog]

Case capacity is too great for safe use in 222 - IMO. No reason to consider it as you have to use as much powder and aren't saving any money over an appropriate powder.