Wow... all I can say is wow.......
Ok, let me start by referring you all to a web page.....
http://www.ballisticsupply.net/Default.aspx?tabid=252105
This is a company that WAS selling ammo,
but seems to have ceased production.
NOTE: there is this message on their home page:
------------------------
Nov. 1, 2009
To all of our friends and customers:
Ballistic Supply will be shut down until further notice. The move to Idaho, Obama-nomics, and the “money pit“ we relocated to has been a financial drain. Rather than push back the start-up date, it is better just to shut down until we can see some light at the end of the tunnel. The website will stay active and future notices will be posted.
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers, and we hope to be able to provide you with ammunition again sometime in the future.
God be with us all. Sincerely,
Bill, Leona and Billy
-----------------------------------------
Scroll down to the round that says, 350 gr. Lil' Annie Ultra Reduced Load
Muzzle Velocity = 1100 fps
Muzzle Energy = 940 ft. lbs
Recoil = 12 ft. lbs.
Hmmmmm... How do you get to that little a recoil in this caliber??? With such a bullet weight???
I had a hunch, but wanted to do some additional homework.
E/C suggested it was probably "TRAIL BOSS" powder from IMR. He pointed out that you can put LOTS of Trail Boss in almost any case, and never achieve overpressure.
I also read similar things elsewhere on line.
But, a quick call to Hodgdon (who supplies the IMR powders) CONFIRMED that it was indeed Trail Boss, and that their on-line reloading data showed a starting weight of 8 grains would do the trick.
So, I loaded up about 25 rounds of the 370 grain spire point with 8 grains of Trail Boss.
I also loaded up a few of the 380 gr F/N and some of the 340 grain HP's that I have on hand. With the same 8 grains of Trail Boss.
They all performed exactly as expected. I would call the recoil to be about as much as a starting load in my GP100 (357 magnum). Wow!
After firing about 15 rounds, (without a glove!!!!), I put in one of the regular rounds that I have been handloading (for comparison).... Ka---BOOM!!! Lots of recoil, as usual.
So, there is no comparison.....
I'm liking the Trail Boss. VERY MUCH.
Now, I didn't bring my chrono to the local sand pit where I did my testing today. So, I can't comment on the speed of the bullets. They seemed to hit point of aim at about 50 yards. That compares to my experience with the hotter loads. The Hodgdon site suggests that the speed should be around 746 fps, which i not too bad for such a heavy bullet, considering the light recoil. The hotter loads, which I do with Lil'Gun are about twice that. I'll take my chrono to the range next time I am there, and report back with actuals.