40S&W SR4756 Berry/Ranier test results

[Skip Sackett]

I recently posted in another thread about doing some tests with these components.

I have many other tests to do yet but thought I would post some preliminary ones now.

I loaded up some 180gr HP plated bullets. One from Ranier and the other from Berry's.

The bullets were loaded in mixed cases but all had the same primer type, powder weight, and OAL.

The powder was SR4756 and the reason I picked it was because of the firearm I was shooting these loads out of. I am using a new Glock 22 and with the notoriously unsupported chamber, pressure is a factor.
Here is some information from Hodgdon's data website:
180 GR. HDY XTP IMR SR 4756 .400" 1.125" 6.1 957 25,200 PSI 6.6 1018 28,800 PSI

(This is their data for the same bullet with HP-38: 180 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon HP-38 .400" 1.125" 4.1 797 23,800 PSI 5.0 947 32,900 PSI)

So, I thought if they realized greater velocity with lower pressure that that would be a good thing, especially in this cartridge/handgun combination.

My actual loads were smack dab in the middle of their data. I was surprised a little by the difference in the results because of bullet manufacturer.

Primers for both were Wolf standard small pistol.
Here goes:
OAL 1.125"
Berry 180gr PHP
Low 938fps
High 957fps
Avg 945fps
ES 21fps
SD 11fps

Respectable numbers and in the ball park for what I was looking for.

Here is the data from the Ranier's:
OAL 1.125"
Ranier 180gr PHP
Low 908fps
High 927fps
Avg 917fps
ES 19fps
SD 9.48fps

I also tried to get some recovered bullets to show. I was unable to as both loads went completely through a 5gal bucket filled with water, with a lid. The holes in the back of the bucket didn't show too much expansion for either bullet. I'll do more testing in the spring. Power factor for these loads at the maximum velocity is 171. A little tweak up and I should be able to make major with no problem.

There was no sign of excessive pressure, something I like when shooting 40S&W!

I'm just a little jumpy reloading for this cartridge since the KB in the BHP.

I attribute the difference in velocity, an almost even 30fps, to the difference in plating thickness. The Berry bullets have a much heavier coating on them which, at least in my mind, would cause a pressure increase hence more velocity. Maybe I am looking at that wrong.
Enlighten me!

I am seriously wanting some warmer weather and longer days so I can do some more playing with this combination.

 

[Skip Sackett]

I recently posted in another thread about doing some tests with these components.

I have many other tests to do yet but thought I would post some preliminary ones now.

I loaded up some 180gr HP plated bullets. One from Ranier and the other from Berry's.

The bullets were loaded in mixed cases but all had the same primer type, powder weight, and OAL.

The powder was SR4756 and the reason I picked it was because of the firearm I was shooting these loads out of. I am using a new Glock 22 and with the notoriously unsupported chamber, pressure is a factor.
Here is some information from Hodgdon's data website:
180 GR. HDY XTP IMR SR 4756 .400" 1.125" 6.1 957 25,200 PSI 6.6 1018 28,800 PSI

(This is their data for the same bullet with HP-38: 180 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon HP-38 .400" 1.125" 4.1 797 23,800 PSI 5.0 947 32,900 PSI)

So, I thought if they realized greater velocity with lower pressure that that would be a good thing, especially in this cartridge/handgun combination.

My actual loads were smack dab in the middle of their data. I was surprised a little by the difference in the results because of bullet manufacturer.

Primers for both were Wolf standard small pistol.
Here goes:
OAL 1.125"
Berry 180gr PHP
Low 938fps
High 957fps
Avg 945fps
ES 21fps
SD 11fps

Respectable numbers and in the ball park for what I was looking for.

Here is the data from the Ranier's:
OAL 1.125"
Ranier 180gr PHP
Low 908fps
High 927fps
Avg 917fps
ES 19fps
SD 9.48fps

I also tried to get some recovered bullets to show. I was unable to as both loads went completely through a 5gal bucket filled with water, with a lid. The holes in the back of the bucket didn't show too much expansion for either bullet. I'll do more testing in the spring. Power factor for these loads at the maximum velocity is 171. A little tweak up and I should be able to make major with no problem.

There was no sign of excessive pressure, something I like when shooting 40S&W!

I'm just a little jumpy reloading for this cartridge since the KB in the BHP.

I attribute the difference in velocity, an almost even 30fps, to the difference in plating thickness. The Berry bullets have a much heavier coating on them which, at least in my mind, would cause a pressure increase hence more velocity. Maybe I am looking at that wrong.
Enlighten me!

I am seriously wanting some warmer weather and longer days so I can do some more playing with this combination.

 

[Hoptob]

Nice report, Skip. Thanks! Good (and cheap

) practice loads with remarkably consistent velocities. I don't reload .40 myself but always enjoy reading about good loads like yours.

Enlighten me!

Beware what you wish for!

Yours and some other recent posts prompted me to do a little experiment to compare plating thickness. I filed off bases of several .38 plated bullets which I had on hand (sorry, no Rainier's) and photographed the cross-sections. Here is what it looks like:

For comparison I added an old school "copper washed" Lubaloy (on the left) and a jacketed bullet (on the right). As expected, plating on Lubaloy is so thin that you can't even see it on the cross-section. It turns out that Western treated Lubaloy as a lead bullet -- they lubed them. I didn't expect it but in the hind sight it makes perfect sense -- plating is really thin. Plating on Berry and Xtreme bullets is about same thickness; GoldDot's are much thicker and SJHP's are thicker yet.

While filing I noticed that Xtreme bullets use softer lead than the rest of them. Hardness of lead could be another reason for slightly different velocities you saw with the same charges.

Are you enlightened yet?

Mike

P.S. BTW, I thought this was interesting. Hmm...