180 gr 40 sw help

[fredj338]

180 gr berrys.

I know Berrys work best with low to mid-range jacketed data. I have been reading load them the same as lead. So I am unsure on whats a good starting point and OAL.

I would like to use w231/hp-38. I also have bullseye and titegroup.


Thanks

Depends on what you are trying to achieve. If you want factory equiv loads, then none of those powders would be my first choice. If you want midrange plinking or IDPA loads, then any of them can be fine. I don't like TG for a variety of reasons, BE, way to dirty for me, (carbon) too fast too. So of those, W231/Hp38 is a good choice. I would try 4.5gr & work it up w/ a 180gr lead or plated.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Yep!

Depends on what you are trying to achieve. If you want factory equiv loads, then none of those powders would be my first choice. If you want midrange plinking or IDPA loads, then any of them can be fine. I don't like TG for a variety of reasons, BE, way to dirty for me, (carbon) too fast too. So of those, W231/Hp38 is a good choice. I would try 4.5gr & work it up w/ a 180gr lead or plated.

I have recommend HP-38/W231 to a lot of folks that load for the 40s&w as well as other calibers. Good powder for a wide range of target type loads.

If you want full bore 40s&w load, maybe in the future, let me suggest a few powders: #1&2 SR4756 or Longshot. Either one will get good velocity with low pressures. AA#5 and maybe AA#7 too. All of these powders flow like water through almost all measures.

With Berry's 180gr PHP, with a maximum jacketed bullet load of 6.6gr of SR4756, I was able to achieve right at 1000fps and the pressure should have been in the 28,000 to 31,000 psi range according to Hodgdon's online data. YMMV

 

[Curly Dave]

What is your recommended powder for 40S&W? I have a M&P40 and load Bear Creek 180LFP. I use Bullseye now for plinking but need another suggestion.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Welcome to the forum!

What is your recommended powder for 40S&W? I have a M&P40 and load Bear Creek 180LFP. I use Bullseye now for plinking but need another suggestion.

Dave, welcome to the forum. This is the best section of them all!

Go to data.hodgdon.com and look up the 40S&W. Here is what I was looking for, highest velocity with the lowest pressure.

You will notice that Longshot has all of the other powders that they market beat in both instances, hands down. Alliant doesn't put their pressure ratings on their data so, it is a guess to anyone unless you call.

Accurate Arms has pressure data and I really like their powders. I just had a jug of SR4756 sitting there from so other loads I had worked up and used it because Hodgdon had it as number two in both pieces of criteria that I was looking for.

I LOVE Bullseye powder. It is the first powder I used to reload and my 38spl target loads are built around it, always has been, always will be.

Nothing faster than Unique for hot loads in the 40S&W, for me anyway.

 

[Beans]

I shoot approximatley 5000-7000 rd a year in my G35. My G35 has a Storm Lake barrel.

I am using 180 gr RNL cast from Wheel weights, with 2 lbs lead-free solder* added into a 40 lb pot and I drop them directly from the mold into water to quench them. They are sized .401 and lubed with White label BAC lube.


I am loading 3.0 Grains of Clays, Mixed brass, WSP primers OAL is 1.130.

I have loaded and shot over 15,000 rds of this load without any problems

* the added lead-free solder helps the bullet fill out the mold.

 

[fredj338]

I have recommend HP-38/W231 to a lot of folks that load for the 40s&w as well as other calibers. Good powder for a wide range of target type loads.

If you want full bore 40s&w load, maybe in the future, let me suggest a few powders: #1&2 SR4756 or Longshot. Either one will get good velocity with low pressures. AA#5 and maybe AA#7 too. All of these powders flow like water through almost all measures.

With Berry's 180gr PHP, with a maximum jacketed bullet load of 6.6gr of SR4756, I was able to achieve right at 1000fps and the pressure should have been in the 28,000 to 31,000 psi range according to Hodgdon's online data. YMMV

I like LS quite a bit in the 357sig & 10mm. I haven't worked up loads yet in the 40, but have been really happy w/ WSF as my 40 powder. With lead, plated or jacketed, pressure have been reasonable w/ full power loads & accuracy really exc.

 

[fredj338]

I shoot approximatley 5000-7000 rd a year in my G35. My G35 has a Storm Lake barrel.

I am using 180 gr RNL cast from Wheel weights, with 2 lbs lead-free solder* added into a 40 lb pot and I drop them directly from the mold into water to quench them. They are sized .401 and lubed with White label BAC lube.


I am loading 3.0 Grains of Clays, Mixed brass, WSP primers OAL is 1.130.

I have loaded and shot over 15,000 rds of this load without any problems

* the added lead-free solder helps the bullet fill out the mold.

Yeah, Clays is another uberfast powder that I do NOT like w/ heavy for caliber bullets. When you get near the top end. pressures pikes are not uncommon. With a high pressure/small vol round like the 40, that means caution. A bullet setback would be devistating if running the top end. Your load is not such, but it is worth noting for newb reloaders. Like SC, I don;t like powders much faster than W231 in the 9mm or 40, but then I never shoot soft bunnyfart loads either. That's what a 22lr is for.

 

[Skip Sackett]

I shoot approximatley 5000-7000 rd a year in my G35. My G35 has a Storm Lake barrel.

I am using 180 gr RNL cast from Wheel weights, with 2 lbs lead-free solder* added into a 40 lb pot and I drop them directly from the mold into water to quench them. They are sized .401 and lubed with White label BAC lube.


I am loading 3.0 Grains of Clays, Mixed brass, WSP primers OAL is 1.130.

I have loaded and shot over 15,000 rds of this load without any problems

* the added lead-free solder helps the bullet fill out the mold.

Two things about your load/gun combination, Beans.

#1, the load is light. That alone makes it okay for any firearm, heavy bullets, fast powders, unsupported chamber, um, not a good idea.

#2, you have an aftermarket barrel. Most likely one with a tighter chamber. That is what they market them as most of the time, knowing that the original one is a tad too loose for serious work. This has nothing to do with reloads either. Both 9mm and 40S&W guns with unsupported chambers have KB's with factory ammo.

As handloaders, we have an advantage. Two really. We know our gun and we can tailor a load for it knowing it's weaknesses and it's strong points.

I am NOT saying DON'T load or don't load heavy bullets or any such thing for the 40S&W, not at all. I am just saying we should do it with knowledge and understanding of what we are working with.

It has been proven over and over and over and over and over (you get my drift) that slower powders give more velocity no matter what the barrel length is. It also does it with less pressure but over a longer time. Less peak pressure when the bullet is still in the case is a good thing when loading for a stock Glock or BHP or any number of other firearms that have an unsupported chamber and run these higher pressure semiauto rounds.

FWIW

 

[Beans]

As handloaders, we have an advantage. Two really. We know our gun and we can tailor a load for it knowing it's weaknesses and it's strong points.

I am NOT saying DON'T load or don't load heavy bullets or any such thing for the 40S&W, not at all. I am just saying we should do it with knowledge and understanding of what we are working with.

It has been proven over and over and over and over and over (you get my drift) that slower powders give more velocity no matter what the barrel length is. It also does it with less pressure but over a longer time. Less peak pressure when the bullet is still in the case is a good thing when loading for a stock Glock or BHP or any number of other firearms that have an unsupported chamber and run these higher pressure semiauto rounds.

FWIW

I totally agree, It is peak presure that causes the problems.

 

[Last of the Mohicans]

An interesting read. What is the opinion regarding HS-6? I know it has been recommended for +P loads in .38 Special, but what about in .40S&W?

 

[Rule3]

An interesting read. What is the opinion regarding HS-6? I know it has been recommended for +P loads in .38 Special, but what about in .40S&W?

Oh no, now you've done it! ArchangleCD where are you??

Yes, HS 6 is a good, recommended powder by Speer, Hornady

don't know, don't care? Is that the same as Ignorance and Apathy?? That used to be my line at work!

 

[Last of the Mohicans]

Oh no, now you've done it! ArchangleCD where are you??

Yes, HS 6 is a good, recommended powder by Speer, Hornady

don't know, don't care? Is that the same as Ignorance and Apathy?? That used to be my line at work!

I've loaded some up with 180gr RNFPs to try out as per the Hodgdon manual. I haven't shot them yet, but hope to this weekend (through a P226 and a Beretta 96). I was very interested in seeing what other people thought of it as a .40 propellant: just because it is in the manual doesn't mean it is a load that lots of people use or think highly of!

Don't know, don't care? Heh-heh, a little joke about keeping your nose clean and not getting involved in office politics. For those of us in the Science department, it keeps us laughing at others who play all the usual workplace games!

 

[Skip Sackett]

Case in point

Is HS-6 a good powder? Yep! Is it good in the 40 s&w? You decide: the recipe for it and 180gr XTP says with a maximum charge you can expect 985fps and 32,500psi. The same thing with Longshot will get you 1159fps with roughly the same pressure. What about SR4756? Right at 1000fps with the pressure down to 28,500psi or so.

I'm not going to use the HS-6 combo in my Glock, I may in a M610 though.
Fwiw

 

[Last of the Mohicans]

Is HS-6 a good powder? Yep! Is it good in the 40 s&w? You decide: the recipe for it and 180gr XTP says with a maximum charge you can expect 985fps and 32,500psi. The same thing with Longshot will get you 1159fps with roughly the same pressure. What about SR4756? Right at 1000fps with the pressure down to 28,500psi or so.

I'm not going to use the HS-6 combo in my Glock, I may in a M610 though.
Fwiw

That's some food for thought...I don't have any Longshot or SR4756 on hand. However, after I take the young'uns blueberry picking today, I'm heading to check out the wares at a new local pusher's establishment.

 

[Rule3]

I've loaded some up with 180gr RNFPs to try out as per the Hodgdon manual. I haven't shot them yet, but hope to this weekend (through a P226 and a Beretta 96). I was very interested in seeing what other people thought of it as a .40 propellant: just because it is in the manual doesn't mean it is a load that lots of people use or think highly of!

As with most any thing related to reloading. It depends on who you talk to, what day it is, the Moon Phase and all other things.

If you want to see what some of the big boys use check the loads here:

http://www.k8nd.com/documents/hl40sw.pdf

IPSC Loads - Loads for USPSA/IPSC Practical Shooting Competitions

 

[Last of the Mohicans]

As with most any thing related to reloading. It depends on who you talk to, what day it is, the Moon Phase and all other things.

If you want to see what some of the big boys use check the loads here:

http://www.k8nd.com/documents/hl40sw.pdf

IPSC Loads - Loads for USPSA/IPSC Practical Shooting Competitions

Yes, the use of what's on hand is quite true. I had HS-6 on the shelf, so after looking at the manual, that's what I used. However, I am interested in trying some other propellants as well.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Not sure the analivy works!

As with most any thing related to reloading. It depends on who you talk to, what day it is, the Moon Phase and all other things.

If you want to see what some of the big boys use check the loads here:

http://www.k8nd.com/documents/hl40sw.pdf

IPSC Loads - Loads for USPSA/IPSC Practical Shooting Competitions

That thought process MAY get you into trouble. It would be like saying that a brain surgeon of course can cure the common cold. Kinda!

If you look through the loads, you will find that there are few powders faster than W231/HP-38 listed. A few.

There are loads all through there that are only safe in SOME guns, read their disclaimer in the beginning of the info. That is pretty interesting!

Seems like another idiot said nearly the same thing!

There are some pretty heavy bullets listed at the bottom of the page. NO way I'm going to shoot some of those loads in my Glock!

 

[Skip Sackett]

Clarification: Not with a stock barrel!

 

[Rule3]

I guess the issue here is if the firearm is one with a unsupported chamber in 40 SW such as the Glock or BHP in 40.

In those, as Skip (SmithCrazy) is saying, reducing pressure is a very good thing.

If I shoot my Sig 40 SW, it matters not to me what powder I use. I do not load max loads to begin with but generally use HP 38. I have been using a lot of Win Auto Comp which is a slower powder (not that I have any compensated guns) I just bought it to try it. I was surprised to find it listed in the new Hornady Manual for the 180 bullet.

I also just bought a jar of HS 6 for 357 Mag but will try it in the 40 also.

 

[Rule3]

Clarification: Not with a stock barrel!

Well, we can't help someone named SmithCrazy who insists on shooting a Glock in 40 SW! Are you using the stock barrel? If so then where are your cast boolits as you should not use lead in those funny barrels. You didn't actually BUY bullets did you???


analivy??