[TexVetDan]

I've been trying to come up with a accurate lead load for my Elite II 40cal and need some help. So far the Win. 180 FMJ that Wall Mart sells is more accurate than my reloads. Here is what I've tried so far. 170 hard cast SWC, Rem 1 1/2 primer, Bullseye & Unique in the 3.5 to 5.0 range.
Should I try another powder or do I have to give up on lead and go with jacketed?
Thanks
Dan

[greg700]

All my loads using Titegroup are tack drivers. Especially the ones with 155 gr. hornady xtp or gold dots.

Before you switch powders, make sure you are doing everything consistently, and that all your materials are consistent.

If you use mixed brass, sort it and load in batches w/ the same brand.
Use a pair of calipers to make sure your overall lengths are consistent.
Make sure your powder charges are even...don't use those little scooper thingies, I have never had any luck with them. Get a good measure and a powder scale.

I would go with jacketed ammunition (I am frustrated w/ lead). There is some reasonably cheap jacketed stuff available. If you want to use lead bullets, try coating them with Lee Liquid Alox...it helps cut down on the fouling and (in my opinion) makes them shoot far more consistently.

[TexVetDan]

Thanks Greg. I will sort the brass for my next try. Then try the powder you suggested. My powder charges are accurate (good scale & thrower). National Bullet Co. make a copperized SWC, maybe a higher velocity would help, any thoughts on that? Also we have a gun show this weekend and I'll be looking for some cheap Jacketed 40cal.
Dan

[Dave R]

You don't necessarily have to give up on lead, but you do have to use good lead bullets.

I use both Speer Gold Dot and Speer Jacketed bullets in 9mm and .380. And I also use Oregon Trails Laser-Cast bullets (lead alloy). I get better accuracy with the Laser-Cast. The LCs cost about 4cents ea (Qty 500, you can get 'em for less in higher Qty) vs. 10cents for the Speer bullets.

I really like the LCs for plinking and practice.

[HSMITH]

Dan, if you buy powder get some Power Pistol or Winchester Super Field. Both are VERY good in 40 with plated or jacketed bullets. If sticking with lead bullets keep on with the Unique, increasing the charge a little at a time. When you hit the right charge weight I think you will be pleased. Unique has been tops for accuracy with lead bullets in more of my guns than any other two powders combined, it also is less prone to lead barrels than any other powder I have found.

[TexVetDan]

Dave, is Laser-Cast diff from hard cast?
Dan

[Grump]

IME, Laser-Cast is the hardest cast bullet around. There are reportedly a few others with Brinnels above 20, but the norm is more like 12.

8-12 Brinnel has proven hard enough for everything I've ever cast, except for .45-70 and a muzzle-loader. The worked better with softer bullets.

Load data for super-hard lead bullets sometimes (according to the published book) is almost identical to that for jacketed. Winchester usually shows lighter charges for lead bullets at comparable pressures and velocities, as compared to their jacketed data, but that's for "regular" cast lead bullets.

I recommend the Laser-Cast load book.

I've had good results in .40 180-gr with WAP (discontinued-drat!:fire: ), Unique and Power Pistol (whoa, what a flash!!:cool: ). Well, good for .40, never had a load do better than 2 inches at 25 yards, 5-round groups sandbagged. Most do 3 inches and the ones I didn't like were 4 inches. For comparison, WWB 180-gr jacketed does 2 inches quite reliably, and nothing has ever done better for me from that gun.

[boogalou]

I've had good luck with 165 gr. Ranier plated bullets with 4.6 to 5.0 grains of Titegroup so far. I've used the copperized bullets from National in my CZ75, and they were fine with no leading.

[kennedy]

I am going to try 155 gr hornady XTP, with 6.9 gr accur #5, since this was all I could find off the shelf, in local gun stores, let you know how it does.

[TexVetDan]

Thanks gentlemen for all your help. This weekend I loaded up a batch of lead 170's with Unique to give it another try and went to the local gun show and bought some 180 FMJ ($6.50 per 100) to try with tite-group. Also think I'll pick up some power pistol to try later. I've got lots of shooting to do now looking for the right load and that's a good thing.
Dan

[Dave R]

To answer your question, Laser-Cast is just a band name for a cast lead bullet. Grump is right, they use some alloys to make 'em pretty hard, so they are fairly resistant to leading.

Their marketing hype says that many customers report their tightest groups ever, when using Laser-Cast bullets. I have to agree. Tightest groups I have ever seen from both my HP and my P-3AT and PPK have both come with Laser-Cast bullets.

But I buy 'em because they're a lot cheaper than jacketed Speer bullets. I'm sure there are cheaper cast lead bullets out there, but the Laser-Cast are "cheap enough" and give good results, so I don't plan to try anything else in the short term. At least not till I finish my current boxes...

[Khornet]

my first thousand Rainier plated 165 gr bullets. I use Unique 5.6 gr in my exploding Glock 22. Works fine, good accuracy, no leading. I've also used many National Bullet Co. jacketed 165s with exellent results.

I've begun loading with Accurate #5, and my first load with Rainier 165s has been excellent...just don't have my reloading log with me right now.

[twowheel]

I've used N 340 and Power Pistol powders for all my jacketed 40 S&W loads for a Glock 23. I've used Rainer, Speer, Winchester and Hornaday in various weights from 150-180. I like N340 better because for some reason I get less muzzle flash. Any of the decent loading books will give powder weights. I don't use lead bullets in the Glock.

You can find loading data at several on line sites.