[Crow1108]

Well, got my press together and put together my first .40 rounds. I'm going shooting with some buddies on Sunday, and I can't wait to try them out. Getting the dies adjusted was easy enough (used up 5 cases/bullets doing it, but I figure if I like the accuracy on these bullets, I won't have to adjust them very much (if at all) in the future). I'm using 7.0 grains of Accurate #2 and Nosler 135 grain JHPs. I'll let you guys know how they shoot on Sunday.

BTW: Wanted to thank everyone who gave me advise on here on my reloading bench and dies. You guys are great.

[rcmodel]

Have fun.
And don't shoot your eye out! :D

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j219/rcmodel/KTOG/1224.gif
rcmodel

[Walkalong]

Good job. Let us know how they shoot. :)

[graysonbornhunter]

I'm wanting to get started in reloading. I've already read the article on here first titled :For the New Reloader." Just have a few questions. Would you all recommend the RCBS RC Supreme Master Reloading Kit or the RCBS Advanced RC Supreme Master Reloading Kit, both at Cabelas? I like the Electronic Charge Master but is it worth the $ and accuracy compared to a Power Measure? Also is the ABC's of Reloading the best book out there to read before starting or are there better ones?

[Eagle103]

Would you all recommend the RCBS RC Supreme Master Reloading Kit or the RCBS Advanced RC Supreme Master Reloading Kit, both at Cabelas? I like the Electronic Charge Master but is it worth the $ and accuracy compared to a Power Measure? Also is the ABC's of Reloading the best book out there to read before starting or are there better ones?
For just starting out I'd recommend the regular RC Supreme kit without the electronic Charge Master. Get a powder trickler and you'll be a little slower but plenty accurate. I've been very satisfied with the RC Supreme kit and would recommend it to anyone. RCBS customer service is #1. The kit also comes with a fairly good book for starting reloading. The ABC's book is also good but I wouldn't say you need to buy one.

[Crow1108]

Well, went to the range today and fired off my first rounds. Last night I loaded another 50 rounds using 6.4 grains of the AA #2 just to compare between light/heavier loads.

Neither of them were very accurate (all over the paper at 25 yards). I think I may have crimped them a bit too much (I think I was a little too cautious, because alot of the manuals I have mention bullets setting back causing much higher pressures than normal). Also, out of 100 rounds total, I had 5 FTFs. The primers were dented, so my gun did its job. They went off just fine the 2nd time.

I'm gonna finish this powder and the noslers I have off and go with something else (if it isn't an issue of the crimp affecting accuracy, like I think it might be).

[jenrob]

What primers are you useing what is the gun your shooting

[birdbustr]

My H&K .40cal likes 8gr of Power Pistol with those Nosler 135gr bullets @1300fps. No pressure signs, but they do recoil pretty hard.

[1911NM]

Crow, regarding the 5 primer issues you had, you might want to double check primer seating depth until you get the feel of your press. I do a visual on random cartridges, and then always, always place finished rounds in individual slotted plastic case, primer end up, so I have a good visual. First firing pin strike may have been seating primer, second fired it. Good luck, have fun, and be safe.

[The Bushmaster]

Yup...5 rounds not seated all the way. First hammer strick seats the primer and second hammer strike fires the round. That is a seating problem. Unless someone has lightened the hammer spring...

[Crow1108]

I was using CCI 500 small pistol primers. I noticed it was in my first batch of 50 primed cases, and I was a little bit wary of how hard I was putting them in, so they probably weren't in all the way. The next 50 did just fine. I'll play with the crimp a little bit, and change powders after I'm done with the AA#2. Thanks guys.

[jenrob]

Yup...5 rounds not seated all the way. First hammer strick seats the primer and second hammer strike fires the round. That is a seating problem. Unless someone has lightened the hammer spring...
I was kinda thinking light spring I load a friends 9mm and have to use win primers cause it doesn't have the force to set the primer of on the first strike on CCI's

[ArchAngelCD]

I was about to tell you AA#2 isn't the best powder for the .40 S&W but you already decided that. Also, your charge of 6.4gr is a little light. Accurate lists a charge of AA#2 for a 135gr NOS at 6.8gr to 7.6gr. Many times using a charge that's too light and under the Min. recommended charge will effect accuracy. Your charge of 7.0gr should have worked better.

AA#2 is a very fast powder. If you want to stick with an Accurate powder AA#5 would probably be a better choice. AA#5 might even be too fast for the .40 S&W since it's a good powder for the .38 Special and .45 Auto.

Alliant Powder Pistol is a very good powder for loading the .40 S&W.

Hodgdon makes several powders that will work well too. Universal, HS-6 and Longshot are all good choices for the .40, my favorite being HS-6 unless you are looking for a full power load then Longshot is best.

Winchester WSF is very close to the performance of Longshot and Powder Pistol if you like Winchester powders.

[jeepmor]

I agree with the statement that CCI primers are the hardest available.

Another vote for Power Pistol here also, I really like that stuff. Goes a long ways relativie to Unique and BlueDot. Can't speak for much else though because my local retailer down the street carries more Alliant product in pistol powders, so it's what I buy the most of.