40 S&W 180 gr Lead FP Recipes Please

[Unforgiven826]

Looking for some load data for 180gr lead flat point 40 S&W. I am just reloading for punching paper right now and want a nice mild load for my Hi-Power 40S&W
I have on hand CCI small pistol primers and some Remington small pistol magnum Primers #5 1/2

Powders on hand are

Bullseye
Clays
W231
Titegroup

Cases are mixed but mostly Winchester

Thanks for any info

 

[ocabj]

I load 180gr Precision Bullets in .40S&W out of a 5" XD. The load I picked is .3-.4gr less than whatever is listed as max for Titegroup in the 2006 Hodgdon Manual. I use Winchester Small Pistol primers in whatever brass.

 

[spencerhut]

Watch the Crimp - Lee FCD

One thing I noticed was that my Lee FCD would distort the lead bullets rather easily and force them to be undersized. The result was rounds that keyholed and lots of cussing. Now I just barely crimp them enough to get rid of the bell and no more.

 

[Shoney]

Considering only the powders you list, I looked over my data and old IPSC data. The only powder IPSC 40S&W shooters use with 180 gr lead and plated is WW231.

I do not, as a matter of practice, list my load weights with any powder, because each weapon is different in it's likes and dislikes. I would suggest that you start load development with WW231 at minimum listed data from Hodgdon (which now owns Winchester Powders http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp ), and work up in 0.2-0.3 gr increments. I got accurate loads at both low and high end, depending on the bullet.

I found I got best performance and accuracy using Hodgdon Universal.

EDIT PS: To avoid spencerhut's problems with lead or plated, I got much better accuracy when I seated athen crimped in seperate operations.

 

[RON in PA]

My 180 grain lead bullet load uses 4.4 grains of 231. I've never chronographed it but it functions 100% in my S&W MP40. I load to max. cartridge length. This is a very pleasant 40 S&W load, like shooting a 9mm.

 

[Unforgiven826]

Thanks ron in PA for contributing some actual information.

To the others who responded why bother if you can't help out. I have the Lyman, lee and a winchester reloading manual but none list any loads for a 180 gr with the powders I have and Hodgdon does not list one either, that is why I came here for some answers.

 

[gandog56]

Like to help, but I pretty much use 180 or 200 grain truncated cone bullets for that caliber. Here's a few from my Lee reloading edition two manual:

Power Pistol-6.5-6.9 grains
Unique- 5.2-5.5 grains
American Select-4.6-5.0 grains
Bullseye-4.2-4.5 grains

 

[tbtrout]

I shoot 175 SWC in mine and use 231.

 

[crux]

I'm really learning to like W231
Lyman list 4.3 to 5.8gr w/175gr cast bullet. I'm using 5.3gr w/ 180gr FP commercial cast bullet with good accuracy and it is shooting to POA. Added advantage is I shoot the same charge behind a 200gr SWC in my 45.

Unique worked fine with 5gr but was dirtier (1980's vintage, not newer formulation)

 

[Shoney]

Unforgiven: I started loading in 1960 and currently load over 15 different pistol cartridges. Included among my pistols are three identical weapons: same make & model, shoot the same cartridge, and have very close serial #’s. Loading each with the same bullet, none of them achieve their best accuracy with the same load. Two shoot the same powder, but with a 0.7 grain difference, while the third likes a different powder altogether.

Unforgiven said: Thanks ron in PA for contributing some actual information. To the others who responded why bother if you can't help out.

I find this unprepossessing comment to be offensive and condescending. It shows you are a neophyte reloader with little comprehension of the loading process. “There ain’t no free lunch! Ya gots ta do the work, baby!”

The dartboard approach to reloading, i.e. picking someone’s pet load at random, out of blind stupid luck may give you an accurate load, but how will you know without testing against other loads????????????????

There are typos on these forums, if yu gut my dirft. Anyone who accepts loads from the internet without checking them against reliable published data, has a screw loose in their weapon, about 2.5 feet behind the trigger. If you have read a loading manual, you must have skipped the part on load development. Rereadit.

Hodgedons site clearly lists load data for WW231.

 

[Crazy4nitro]

Shoney,Nice Post well put.

I shoot 180gr. Swc's over 3.8gr. of Bullseye which is a nice soft recoil.
********----WARNING---- A DOUBLE CHARGE OF BULLSEYE IS VERY POSSIBLE ----WARNING----**********
I also shoot 180gr. Swc's over 3.8gr. of Unique for another low recoil load.

Crazy4nitro

 

[rdhood]

Unforgiven, I think Shoney is right on this one. There are plenty of load recipes on the internet (google ".40 S&W IPSC", and you will find a pdf with about 200 or more loads, complete with bullet velocity and power factor, and some have notes on accuracy and barrel length)

The thing is, its not just the bullet and powder, it is also the type of gun that you use. If your gun has a 4" barrel and his has a 5" barrel, you will want to use different loads!. Now if you and he has exactly the same gun, then maybe using his recipe would work....

Personally, I am going to use W231 and build loads listed in the IPSC document above for those that list a 5" barrel and the bullet closest to what I am using

 

[Unforgiven826]

I find this unprepossessing comment to be offensive and condescending. It shows you are a neophyte reloader with little comprehension of the loading process. “There ain’t no free lunch! Ya gots ta do the work, baby!”

The dartboard approach to reloading, i.e. picking someone’s pet load at random, out of blind stupid luck may give you an accurate load, but how will you know without testing against other loads????????????????

There are typos on these forums, if yu gut my dirft. Anyone who accepts loads from the internet without checking them against reliable published data, has a screw loose in their weapon, about 2.5 feet behind the trigger. If you have read a loading manual, you must have skipped the part on load development. Rereadit.

Shoney I wish I could open my head and dump your 47 years of knowledge in. I agree with what you said in your post.

I am new to reloading and I do comprehend much of what is listed in the books I have read.

Hodgedons site clearly lists load data for WW231

I checked Hodgdons, Lyman, lee and speer books and could not find data on Lead 180 Gr RNFP most all reference jacketed in 180 gr and SWC in lessor weights. I was just asking so I could get an idea of where to start in a safe range so I could work up a load for my gun. I don't have a chrono yet but I plan on getting one soon.

 

[Shoney]

Unforgiven826:
With "hard cast" lead bullets, you start at the minimum load listed for jacketed, and work up until you either get an accurate load, or you get excessive leading. If there is only a max load listed, you use a starting load at 10% below the max as a starting load (you will probably find this admonition in the literature of all lead bullet makers). If you were to use Laser Cast (Oregon Trails Bullets) which have Brinell of about 26, you can usually load them to the same velocities as jacketed.

Because of the legal implications of individuals publishing loads on line, and having some idiot use that data incorrectly or by making a mistake on his/her own which blows up a weapon; I choose not to present specific loads.

Although the Hodgdon site does not list a 180 gr lead load with WW231, it does list a load for WW231 and 180 gr jacketed. Start at the min and work up in 0.2-0.3 gr increments. I load 10 cartridges in each increment, keep them clearly separated from other loads. I test fire the loads starting with the min, fire all the same loads at the same clearly marked target, and examine the barrel/chamber after each volley to see if any leading is occurring; and examin the brass to for pressure signs (pressure signs are very difficult to determin in straight wall semi-autos).

Good shooting!

 

[Redneck with a 40]

5.5 grains of Unique behind a 180 grain Oregon Trail 180 truncated cone, worked great for me, chrono'd them right at 1000 fps from my 4" XD.