40 S&W help

R

Rock Knocker

Well-known member
Well I finally got sick of getting kicked in the pocket book every time I pulled the trigger, went out and got what I needed to reload for the .40.

Its was a spurr of the moment kind of thing at Cabela's. I put down my box of 20 rounds that was going to cost me $25 and went to the reloading section. Not having antisipated this I had no reload data and I opened up the only reloading manual that wasnt still shrink wraped.

I bought 155gr Hornady TSXs and Ramshot's True Blue powder. As per Lyman's 156th(?) edition manual. I also got Fedral small pistol primers.

Right now I am having trouble finding much data for the powder and bullet selection. I read Ramshots data and the safest recipe I have found was a start load of 6.9gr for a 165gr jacketed bullets. So I loaded a couple up last night just to try everything out and I weighted out 7gr of powder for my 155gr bullets.

Any one have some good pointers out there for this combo? Also this is my first time reloading pistol ammo, so any pointer there too would be great. Thanks.
 
I shoot 150g Noslers and 155g Gold dots with 8.7g of AA#5. This load has proven to be a winner in Four 40 S& W's of various makes.

If you want a practice load, I shoot a 165g Berry bullet with 4.4g of clays.

A guy on another site was giving some loading data for a powder called Long shot with the 135g Nosler at 1500 fps and the 150g at 1300fps with no pressure signs. I have yet to verify the load data, so I will not print it. AA#5 burns very clean and meters in a powder measure like water.
 

Just go to the Hodgdon or Alliant websites, and access their
load data on-line. Pistol ammo isn't that fussy on load
data for bullet or primer substitution, as long as you start
in the low range of the powder charge weight range, and work
up, if you feel the need for speed. For my target ammo,
I load up on the charge until I get reliable cycling. Usually
that is in the bottom third of the powder charge weight
range, and plenty safe in all pistols chambered in that
cartridge. I have standardized my pistol loading for 380
Auto, 9mmx19, 40 S&W, 45 ACP, and 10mm Auto, with lower end
charges of Hodgdon Universal, for practice ammo. It is
clean, meters fairly well, and is, well, "Universal" in auto
loading pistols. I also load target ammo for clays range
shooting, with Hodgdon Universal, for 28 ga., 20 ga., and 12
ga. I buy Hodgdon Universal in BIG lots.

For full power self defense ammo, I load either Alliant
Blue Dot, or Hodgdon Long Shot. Both give excellent
velocities, but the advantage goes to Long Shot, for reduced
muzzle flash, in night shooting. Long Shot might get a few
FPS more, over Blue Dot, but the difference is hard to
measure. For full power loads, work up slowly, and watch
for case bulge, in auto loaders. Some less than fully
supported chamber pistols will show significant bulges
at the case head, or even cracks. The choice is back down
the load, or get an after-market barrel with better chamber
support. 40 S&W has a notorious reputation for this, often
referred to as the "Glock Smile". 9mmx19 also can have
this issue. I had a "stressed" case picked up from a police
range, re-sized, and re-loaded with a moderate target load
charge, blow out at the case head. It took out the magazine
follower, and the extractor, on my Browning BDM, and gave
my hand a good stinging sensation, for a few minutes. I
CAREFULLY inspect cases for the "Glock Smile" now, and recycle
any brass that even hints of excessive case bulge at the
head.

Enjoy pistol loading. If the bug really bites you, you may
be shopping for a progressive loader soon.
grin.gif


Squeeze
 
Thanks for the good info.

What have your experiences been with shooting two bullets of the same wheight but different style and/or manufature?

Interested because I can get some cheap 155gr flat nose bullets for practice but wonder how they would compare to the 155gr TSX with the hollow point. I would prefer to stay with the same powder charge with the two bullets.
 
If you pull up the Ramshot website: http://www.ramshot.com/load-data/ and go to the Metallic Centerfire Loading section, you can down load their reloading data...PDF format..You will find a variety of bullet combinations as well...

I use their Silhouette powder for my 9mm, .40, and 10mm, just because it works in all three calibers, burns clean, and meters great...True Blue just doesn't give me that capability from their data...

Work up your test loads very conservatively....depending on bullet weight...If you don't have access to a chronograph, you will have to be very diligent about checking for pressure signs in the test loads...As pointed out, there can be a big difference in results between supported and non-supported chambers in semi-auto pistols...
 
Originally Posted By: Rock KnockerThanks for the good info.

What have your experiences been with shooting two bullets of the same weight but different style and/or manufacture?

Interested because I can get some cheap 155gr flat nose bullets for practice but wonder how they would compare to the 155gr TSX with the hollow point. I would prefer to stay with the same powder charge with the two bullets.

Yes you can substitute bullets of the same weight, IF YOU
START AT THE ! MINIMUM ! CHARGE AND WORK
THE CHARGE UP WATCHING FOR SIGNS OF PRESSURE. This means
you may(reads WILL) have different safe charge weights for
bullets of the same weight. Even though bullets may have the
same weight doesn't mean they will generate the same
pressures. The bullet's bearing surface and bullet
construction(i.e. Jacketed, plated, hard cast) will effect
pressures. If you plan on loading hard cast, or really any
lead cast bullets, start 10% below a minimum charge for load
data for a jacketed bullet of the same weight. Cast bullets
can generate significantly higher pressures than jacketed or
plated bullets.

Primer substitution should be treated the same way. Start
at the ! MINIMUM ! charge weight, and
work the charge weight up slowly, checking for signs of
pressure.

As OT suggested, if you have a chrony, or have access to one,
use it. I load MAXIMUM charge loads for my Self Defense
ammo, and even push the envelop a bit for my 10mm Auto, since
it is my bear/wolf/cougar defense weapon. All of my loads
are run over the chrony to map the velocity increases to
charge weight increases. Typically there will be a point
where little velocity is gained for stepped increases in
charge weight. I back the charge weight back down to the
last step where I had a good measurable increase in velocity
and NO signs of pressure.

Squeeze

 
Well I was supprised by the accuracy of those 155gr. I was hitting clay pidgons at 45-50 yards no problem.

My heaviest load was 7.9gr of True blue and I only ended up with 1 of 10 rounds with a flattened primer. I really liked the feel of 7.6gr and I didnt miss any clay pidgons with it so it think thats what I will stick with.
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top