Need suggestions for a 40 S&W load recipe

[vince_ross]

Ok, I've been reloading 40 S&W for a little while now, but with supplies being on the short side I had to pick up some bullets I don't normally use and need a suggestion.
I bought some 135gr Berry's Bullets (copper plated) and have been having trouble coming up with a good starting load to work up. I have an M&P 40fs and usually use a 165gr Berry's bullet with 5.0gr of HP38.
I have 3 different powders I could use (HP-38, HS-6 or Clays) and have been told to load that 135gr as a 155gr Berry's (or a mid-weight lead bullet) and it should be fine, but I would like to know if anyone has a suggestion. These are just for target use only.

I was thinking of maybe trying one these as starting loads:

7.8 gr of HS-6
5.1 gr of HP-38
or 3.7 of Clays

What do you think?

Thanks in advance!

 

[MDMarauder]

Did you try calling Berry's for a recommended start point?

 

[OKFC05]

Use medium to fast powders, not the HS6.
Also remember if you load too light with a light bullet, you are going to have function issues. Load just a few, put one in the magazine and see if the slide locks back when you fire it. If not, too light. I'd start 5.5gr HP38 and might have to go as high as 6 depending on your gun.

 

[Rule3]

Well gee, Hodgdons lists a 135 JHP with HP 38 on their web site so maybe you could use the start to mid range of that data?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Well gee, Hodgdons lists a 135 JHP with HP 38 on their web site so maybe you could use the start to mid range of that data?

I agree, what not just use the data supplied by Hodgdon? I have not hear of loading a 135gr bullet using 155gr load data before...

 

[vince_ross]

Did you try calling Berry's for a recommended start point?

Yes, they told me as long as I kept the max velocity below approx. 1200fps, I should be ok.

Use medium to fast powders, not the HS6.
Also remember if you load too light with a light bullet, you are going to have function issues. Load just a few, put one in the magazine and see if the slide locks back when you fire it. If not, too light. I'd start 5.5gr HP38 and might have to go as high as 6 depending on your gun.

Yeah, I was thinking of trying the HP38 first (works great with everything else I've tried so far). I had very good cycling even on the starting load with the 165gr.

Well gee, Hodgdons lists a 135 JHP with HP 38 on their web site so maybe you could use the start to mid range of that data?

Yep, I did see that, but wondered if anyone had seen much of a difference between the JHP vs. plated RN bullets.



Thanks for the replies guys, it gave me some good starting ideas to try out....Now, hopefully the weather will clear up so I can try out some of them.

Don't hesitate to add more suggestions, I'm always happy to gather more info.

Thanks!

 

[vince_ross]

I agree, what not just use the data supplied by Hodgdon? I have not hear of loading a 135gr bullet using 155gr load data before...

Well, normally that wouldn't be an issue, but the listing is for a jacketed hollow point and these are copper plated round nose. The information I've been reading says not to treat them the same, but to treat them more as a hard cast unjacketed bullet. That's where it's throwing me off, so I figured I would post the question to see what others had done. I would rather be corrected by people with more experience than to have a possible safety issue.
The first place I always look is the Hodgdon loading data.

 

[Rule3]

Vince,

I apologize for my snarky comment It's just that we have another thread going and I was thinking about that.

Not picking on ya, honest, but had you said I looked at the Hodgdon Data and it says blah blah, Is that OK? then I would have replied differently.

You are correct, it is a different bullet but it is the same weight. Plated bullets can use the mid range of FMJ or use the lead data for the same weight. Most of the time you will not find the exact bullet you may have so you need to go with the next best thing or closest in shape. It is correct that if you do not have data for a certain weight bullet, you can use the next higher weight but from 135 to 155 is a big jump. The main thing in the different bullet is going to be the OAL. Generally HP are shorter so do not use the OAL listed for the JHP with your Berry RN which should be a longer bullet.

Seat your bullet to the maximum OAL for the cartridge and gradually seat and crimp it until it passes the plunk test in your barrel. This should be your OAL

This the thread we have going, and welcome to the reloading section

http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/304405-buy-reloaders-manual-read.html#post137086824

Plunk Test (it's a 45 but the principal is the same)

This pic is often used to help explain correct headspacing and how O.A.L. can affect chambering and headspace.

 

[Sierra Hotel]

.40 S&W Load

My favorite load is the Nosler 150 gr. JHP and 7.8 gr. of Longshot. Hodgdon has good info for reloading on their web site. I like Longshot for a lot of my loads. My .45 ACP load is a Nosler 185 gr. JHP and 7.8 gr. of Longshot. Same powder and both loads are tack drivers!

 

[vince_ross]

Vince,

I apologize for my snarky comment It's just that we have another thread going and I was thinking about that.

Not picking on ya, honest, but had you said I looked at the Hodgdon Data and it says blah blah, Is that OK? then I would have replied differently.

You are correct, it is a different bullet but it is the same weight. Plated bullets can use the mid range of FMJ or use the lead data for the same weight. Most of the time you will not find the exact bullet you may have so you need to go with the next best thing or closest in shape. It is correct that if you do not have data for a certain weight bullet, you can use the next higher weight but from 135 to 155 is a big jump. The main thing in the different bullet is going to be the OAL. Generally HP are shorter so do not use the OAL listed for the JHP with your Berry RN which should be a longer bullet.

Seat your bullet to the maximum OAL for the cartridge and gradually seat and crimp it until it passes the plunk test in your barrel. This should be your OAL

This the thread we have going, and welcome to the reloading section

http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/304405-buy-reloaders-manual-read.html#post137086824

Plunk Test (it's a 45 but the principal is the same)

This pic is often used to help explain correct headspacing and how O.A.L. can affect chambering and headspace.

Absolutely no need for the apology, I honestly didn't think it to be a snarky comment. I'm probably should've worded it differently, but I welcome any and all comments, I am by no means an expert and am one of the easiest going people around.
I do have the 8th Ed. of the Hornady Reloading book and a Modern Reloading 2nd Ed. (Richard Lee) and the ABC's of Reloading, and have been reading anything and everythnig I can about it. I do also realize that it's also a bit of trial and error, but wasn't really finding a lot on that specific bullet.

Thank you for the reply, that is exactly what I was hoping for!
Thanks for the link too, I will give that thread some reading as well.

Thanks for the welcome, this is one of the best forums I've joined in a long time.