[Historian]

I have been using 5.2g of W231 behind a 180g bullet for my .40 S&W. I do not have my Lyman # 49 with me to check but I was thinking that this is slightly over the starting load. Did I missread the chart? Is this too hot?

Historian

[Nate1778]

What kind of bullet?

Downloads.com shows 5g at 950ft/sec. with 180g JHP

[atblis]

I am not advocating exceeding the loading manuals, but in general you can be a little more "flexible" when using a slower powder which it appears 231 is (down around Unique, Power Pistol). Things don't get weird as quickly with slow powders (there are probably exceptions though!).

Still, stick with published data. 40S&W isn't really a hotroddable cartridge.

[The Bushmaster]

I don't have a Lyman's 49th, but I do have a Lyman's 48th and it lists 180 grain JHP Sierra over 5.0 to 5.6 grains (maximum) of W-231...Does that help?

[ants]

Historically, the powder manufacturer provides good data. Go straight to Hodgdon's web site http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp and verify for yourself.

180 GR. HDY XTP Winchester 231 OAL-1.125" Start 4.1 797fps 23,800 PSI Max 5.0 947fps 32,900 PSI


Compare this to Lyman's at home and several other published sources (I really hate to trust non-published data) and make your best judgement.

[Historian]

Yes, thanks Bushmaster. I think that's the same recipe that I was looking at in #49. I had a scare when someone on another forum told me that another manual was stating that 5g was max load for a 180g over W231. Whew!

Historian

[rcmodel]

It depends on which bullet your are talking about.

Lyman #49 shows 5.0 start - 5.6 MAX with a 180 Sierra JHP.
Hodgdon shows 4.1 Start - 5.0 MAX with a 180 Hornady XTP.

The XTP has a longer bearing surface.

rc

[Historian]

rc, I am using a 180g. Berrys plated. Do you think that I should back off?

Historian

[rcmodel]

If the gun is ejecting brass a normal distance?
And no pressure signs or accuracy issues?

If it's working, it must be all right.
Although I might back off to 5.0 and see how you like it.

rc

[shoen1200]

Plated needs to be treated like lead - non jacketed.
10% reduction in load for plated/bare lead from jacketed specs.

[rcmodel]

Lyman #49.
Max load for 180 JHP with WW231 is 5.6
Max load for 175-180 lead is 5.8.

Berry Bullets says:
"Plated bullets occupy a position between cast bullets and jacketed bullets. They are soft lead, but have a hard outer shell on them. When loading plated bullets we have found best results using low- to mid-range jacketed data in the load manual. You must use data for a bullet that has the same weight and profile as the one you are loading. Do not exceed mid-range loads. Do not use magnum loads."

rc