44 mag brass ?

[unique]

Any idea why the brass turned blue after firing. It is once fired starline brass, 265gr hornady sp, with 18gr of Lil’gun and Winchester primer. The brass in the middle was 21gr of 296 same same brass and bullet. The other casing was loaded with 2400. The Lil’Gun has the best grouping by far. I’ve never had brass look like that after shooting. Any ideas?

 

[Whip_McCord]

Not really familiar with Lilgun, but from what lil I just found online it looks like the load is too light to expand the case mouths and seal the chambers. This causes the gases to blow back and discolor the brass. I get the same thing in my light cowboy 45 Colt loads. Looks like that powder may not be best for lighter loads, since the burn rate is similar to H110/296. What kind of speed are you looking for? What is the purpose of the load?

 

[unique]

I’ll be hunting whitetail with this gun. I’m looking for accuracy over velocity. What your saying makes sense. The casings didn’t show any signs of over pressure. I’ll be loading up more with higher powder charges of Lil’Gun until the casings look like they should. Thank you for the help.

 

[traderjoe]

Not familiar with Lilgun either but if burn rate is similar to H110 or 296, those powders perform best at higher charge weights

 

[sixGuns]

I had similar results in super soft 357 with bullseye. It was a new shooter acclimation load and even then it didn't feel like any recoil at all out of a friends 686. We wet tumble with SS pins and the result is new looking brass, provided it's not split/worn out.

 

[Leadeye]

I've worked with lil'gun in both 44 mag and 45 Colt. The best and most accurate loads are ones that are loaded very hot with a heavy bullet. It's like 296/H110 only it prefers heavier bullets. Using a 325 grain Lyman cast bullet a powerful charge of lil'gun put that bullet through a whitetail doe lengthwise out of a NHR Big Boy 45 Colt.

 

[wingrider1800]

I've worked with lil'gun in both 44 mag and 45 Colt. The best and most accurate loads are ones that are loaded very hot with a heavy bullet. It's like 296/H110 only it prefers heavier bullets. Using a 325 grain Lyman cast bullet a powerful charge of lil'gun put that bullet through a whitetail doe lengthwise out of a NHR Big Boy 45 Colt.

I have never used 296 or H110 in my 44's. Do you tend to have better accuracy? My Marlin 1894 shoots my 240 Hornady JHP with 20.2 2400 much better that any factory loads I have shot but still not gonna win a shooting contest.

 

[Leadeye]

I hunt here in Indiana with a Marlin 1894 loaded with Hornady 240 grain JHP bullets and a big charge of 296 Winchester. This load shoots at the limit of accuracy from the gun and has never missed or failed to bring down the deer in it's tracks. It's an old Microgroove gun, never have had any luck with cast in it so I just gave up years ago.

2400 is my cast bullet magnum powder.