Wide Range of 40 cal loads

Johnrh · May 27, 2015

I don't know if this will help or not. I have been loading 4.3 231 with 160 grain lead RN bullets for IDPA-40 cal. Velocity averages about 875 fps with an ES of 160. That's a lot. So I upped it to 4.5 and got just at 900 fps with ES of again in the 160 range. I tried 4.8 and average about 980 fps and now the ES dropped noticeably to about 40fps. While that seems to be the best load I find it a bit harsh on the old arthritic wrist so will stay with the 4.3. At least that gives you an idea of where the velocities will be to compare them to the duty ammo.

Rule3 · May 27, 2015

Once again, please look at my post #18. What is the issue??

Hodgdon gives data for your exact bullet the 165 grain Berrys.

So looking at other manuals and data really is not going to help much as they are different bullets.

Plated bullets can be loaded at the mid range of data for the FMJ of the same weight and design, but in this case you have a test data for the exact bullet.

Use the Hodgdon data and all will be well!. It doesn't get any easier than that.

Set your sights on pistol reloading data | Hodgdon Reloading

fredj338 · May 27, 2015

Johnrh said:
I don't know if this will help or not. I have been loading 4.3 231 with 160 grain lead RN bullets for IDPA-40 cal. Velocity averages about 875 fps with an ES of 160. That's a lot. So I upped it to 4.5 and got just at 900 fps with ES of again in the 160 range. I tried 4.8 and average about 980 fps and now the ES dropped noticeably to about 40fps. While that seems to be the best load I find it a bit harsh on the old arthritic wrist so will stay with the 4.3. At least that gives you an idea of where the velocities will be to compare them to the duty ammo.

You might drop to a faster powder like WST or RedDot for lighter loads. I shoot a 40 minor load for some gun games; 175gr at 750fps, softer than factory 9mm.

forestswin · May 27, 2015

Rule3 said:
As mentioned by several folks above the Hodgdon Website specifically lists the Berry 165 bullet so what is the confusion???

So there is data you seek.

From Hodgdon's 2013 Annual Manual
BRANDS:
1. bar-Barnes 2. btb-Beartooth Bullets 3. Berb-Berry's bullets 4.BLX-Bull-X
5. CPB-Cast Performance Bullets 6. FA-Freedom Arms 7.HDY-Hornady
8.LY- Lyman SPM 9. MEI-Meister 10. NOS-Nosler 11. REM- Remington
12 SIE-Sierra 13. SPT- Swift 14.SPR-Speer 15.Wdlgh-Woodleigh
16 Win- Winchester 17. Spire-Sinterfire
PRIMERS:
LR-large rifle
LRM-large rifle magnum
SR-small rifle
SRM-small rifle magnum
LP-large pistol
LPM-large pistol magnum
SP-small pistol
SPM-small pistol magnum
DATA:
C-compressed powder charge
BULLETS-----BULLETS:
AB-Accubond | A-Max-Hornady match | BK-Blitz King | BR-bench rest |
BT-ballistic tip | BTSP-boat tail spire point | E-tip-Polymer tipped copper bullet | FMC-full metal case | FMJ-full metal jacket | fmjbt-full metal jacket boat tail | FN-flat nose | FP-flat point | FPJ-full plated jacket |
FS-fail safe | FTX-flex tip | GC-gas check | GDHP-Gold Dot Hollow point |
GDSP-Gold Dot Soft point | GMX-Guilding Metal Expanding bullet |
GS-Grand Slam | HB-hollow base | HC-hollow cavity | HP-hollow point |
HPBT-hollow point boat tail | HSP-hollow soft point | IB-Inter Bond |
JFP- jacketed flat point | JHC-jacketed hollow cavity | JRN-jacketed round nose | JSWC-jacketed semi-wadcutter | LBBWC-lead bevel base wadcutter|
LCN-lead conical nose | LF-lead free | LFN-lead flat nose |
LFNPB-lead flat nose plain base | LFP- lead flat point | LHBWC- lead hollow base wadcutter | LRN-lead round nose | LSWC-lead semi wadcutter |
MK-MatchKing | MT-SP-Mag Tip soft point | Part-Partition |
PSPCL-Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | RN-round nose | SB-solid base |
SBT-spitzer boat tail | SCIR-Scirocco | SJ-short jacket | SMP-semi-pointed | SP- spire point | SPT-spitzer | SPBT-soft point boat tail |
SSP-single shot pistol | SST-Super Shock Tip | ST-silver tip |
SX-super explosive | TMJ-Totally Metal Jacket | TNT-varmint bullet |
TSX-Triple Shock X bullet | TTSX-Tipped Triple Shock X bullet |
V-Max-varmint express | WC-wadcutter | W/GCK-With Gas Check |
X-x bullet | XBT-x boat tail | XBTC-x boat tail coated | XFB-x flat base |
XPB-x pistol bullet | XTP-extreme terminal performance

Could you double space all that

Johnrh · May 28, 2015

fredj338 said:
You might drop to a faster powder like WST or RedDot for lighter loads. I shoot a 40 minor load for some gun games; 175gr at 750fps, softer than factory 9mm.

Thanks, I'll try that. Have a bunch of WST for the 45 target loads. I'll give that a try. Have too much 231 that's why I've stayed with it.

hardluk1 · May 28, 2015

Buy the Redding Rx die for resizing the 40sw bulge . Far better than the lee set up . HP-38 is my most used powder and the same as w-231.

I have run 6.2gr but the fps return was not worth it using w-231 or hp-38. I do load 5.5gr as my standard powder charge . . Start at 5.0gr, make 10 rounds at 5gr , 5,3 and 5.5 . Glocks sloppy chambers shorter life span on brass so you might want to keep the loads in hodgdons specs not speers . If all looks good slip up a little here bit it does depend on the bullet used. I have switched to 155gr and use mainly bayou bullets high-tek coated and they hold up well in polygonal barrels and run well at 1200fps . Long Shot is a better powder if you try'n to make loads that match the carry ammo velocity but start with starline brass .

Wide Range of 40 cal loads

Johnrh

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Rule3

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Johnrh

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