.40 S&W 135gr Gold Dot

[oncewaslost]

Anybody loading the 135gr Gold Dot in .40 S&W? The bullet is short and if I load to 1.125 it will only leave about .205 in the case. I am loading the minimum of 7.1gr WSF so I guess I could go the minimum of 1.085 OAL that would give me about .245 in the case.

 

[bfoosh006]

Since that bullet is not common, you probably won't find much info. It sounds like you are on the right track....but I would only load a mags worth first and make sure it functions in your pistol properly first. ( Light load, short OAL ... etc ) I'd also put a little firmer crimp on it , and make sure it holds the bullet firmly in place. Those are pulled bullets so they have been crimped at the "normal" OAL already. You can check your crimp by pushing the reloaded rounds bullet into a hard surface.... if it moves easily ... you may need more crimp.

Make one without powder or primer, at your OAL and cycle it through your gun , by hand , about a dozen times. Then remeasure your OAL.

 

[oncewaslost]

Sounds like a good way to approach it.

Thanks!

 

[gamestalker]

I've worked with those 135's before and in several different firearms. What I ended up doing was contacting Speer to get the OAL they tested it at, and then using that OAL as a base line to work off of. I have that information some where in my reloading data and will try to locate it for you. But in the mean time I would start at 1.125" and if that clears the lands, fit the magazime, you should be fine.

FYI, increasing the crimp on a rimless cartridges only decreases neck tension, so do not make that mistake. Maximum neck tension on these type cartridges is achieved by not bellng the case mouth, and then by deleting the crimp. I have been using this method to seat all jacketed bullets and Gold Dots in rimless cartridges for many years, with excellent results. Just give the inside mouths a nice even chamfer to eiminate shaving.

GS

 

[oncewaslost]

How little of the bullet inserted into the case is too little?