Arg.. gotta pull 200+ reloads...

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Anmut

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Over the weekend I have been loading some .40sw. I have some Hornady HAP 180g HP's and Accurate #5 which is the same powder I use for my .45, 380 and 44mag loads.

Anyway my Lee load book that I uses as my bible says starting load is 6.2g up to 7g. I load on the light side because, well why put up with the extra flash and recoil if you don't have to and I've got a glock 22, known for their KB's with the stock barrel and hot loads.

So last night I get on the Accurate website and check our their load data and for the same jacketed bullet and weight their start load is 5.6 and their top end is 6.6.

Because I use the Lee powder measure and do a starting and ending load I can tell the most of my powder throws were going to be in the 6.2-6.4 which was before on the starting side but now close to the max load.

So instead of taking a chance I'm going to pull them and reload them. I bought an RCBS puller and a 40 size collet for it for $30.

What a pain - but better than blowing up a barrel/mag/hand, right?
 
So the Lee book that is used by thousands of reloader says the load is all right up to 7 grains. You check another site and there top load is 6.6, you think your loads are between 6.2 to 6.4 and you feel there unsafe? Did you work up your load, I assume not or you would know they were safe. But still you are under the book max and are worried about it. Pick a book and stay with it, I use Speer #14 for all my loading needs unless they don't list a bullet or I am shooting something like an all copper bullet. You can pick up 20 books and they will all have a different listing for the same bullet powder combo in the end you are going to drive yourself crazy.

Work up your load then you will know whats safe for your weapon.
 
Man.. I'd shoot 'em.

But that's just me.

If you are REAL worried, work up a set of rounds to GET you to where you are at.

THEN shoot them once you've proven up to that point. :)

But either way, I'd shoot 'em.
 
Muddydogs - well it's a pretty significant difference in start and max grains. Not only that but if you google Accurate #5 and glock kb's there are a lot of different instances. One of the things that I noticed in all of them was that most were loading 6.5-8g's of powder!

I'm going to error on the side of caution when it comes to creating small bombs in my favorite carry piece.
 
If you are concerned work some up from 5.6 and check on the way to where you have the others loaded. If you get there successfully then I would not pull them. You may find a better load lower anyway. My 2 cents.....I check a few sources before selecting a start point as I have jumped on with a certain book and found them all very hot. My rule of thumb is check 2 to 3 sources.
 
Oh and I forgot to add to this story was that I had to settle for small pistol magnum primers (due to the current climate) so I'm already starting with a 10% over pressure in my load.
 
Just load up 5 of each of 5.6, 5.8 and 6.0 grains. shoot em starting low, catching the brass and inspecting it for any pressure signs such as splits, buldges or flatened/cratered primers. If the 6.0 load is fine, then move up to the 6.2/6.3 that you loaded up and check for pressure signs.

when working up a new load with a different powder or bullet, make up several of each powder charge and test em to see what you like the best. im sure the 200 you loaded up are safe.
 
Anmut said:
Muddydogs - well it's a pretty significant difference in start and max grains. Not only that but if you google Accurate #5 and glock kb's there are a lot of different instances. One of the things that I noticed in all of them was that most were loading 6.5-8g's of powder!

I'm going to error on the side of caution when it comes to creating small bombs in my favorite carry piece.
Click to expand...
Well I guess if you were that worried about your favorite carry piece then you should have worked up the load. Do what others suggest and work up a load and see were you get pressure. If you don't past your current loaded rounds then you are good to go.
 
Mike 27 - I'm going to do exactly that - or at least get close to it. Like I said originally I'm not a fan of hot loads for practice shooting so even if I wasn't worried about hot load in an stock glock barrel in the .40sw caliber I would have probably pulled them anyway.

It's a learning experience for me though, I should have double checked the manufactures website first and compared it like I have in the past. Instead I went into full ammo making mode and cranked them out on my single-stage!
 
Accurate load data lists 5.9 gr as start charge and 6.6 gr as max charge for 1.135" OAL. AFAIK, HAP is similar to XTP but has more rounded nose profile for easier feeding/chambering for match shooting. If it was me, I would shoot the 6.2 - 6.4 gr loads if the OAL was not too short. What OAL are you using?

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Muddydogs - With the bullet puller in the mail I'm going to try to do some reverse engineering on some of my favorite factory loads and work from there.
 
If you are using 1.132" OAL, I would pull a few random samples to verify the powder charge of 6.2-6.4 grains and shoot them.


Anmut said:
I'm going to try to do some reverse engineering on some of my favorite factory loads and work from there.
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You do realize that factory ammunition uses bulk non-canister powders that are different from canister powders we use?

Many have tried to match factory ammunition but only come close using published load data and chrono.

Here's a thread that shows factory ammunition pulled apart use different powder than what we use - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=706260
 
Leave 'em loaded, work up to the charge they have--changing nothing else but the powder charge, and see how the workup goes. If you make it to 6.2 with no pressure issues, then they're good to go.
 
BDS yes I get that -well measure out the grains, compare it to the reloading book, find something similar, build up and shoot! Sounds like a good time!
 
Better safe than sorry as the old saying goes. If you have doubts, then I would pull the bullets. It wont take that long and you will feel better. As already mentioned, I also look at starting loads from several sources before I begin a new load. While manuals always vary, it makes since not to go overboard on a starting load. I use the Lyman and Speer manuals for the majority of my info.
 
OP, I have been using a Lee Powder measure for over 5 years. I use AA#2 and AA#5 because they meter perfectly in my powder measure. I cant believe you are getting that kind of variation with that fine of a granule powder.
 
Invest in a Hornady manual....

When using Hornady bullets you should use Hornady load data.
The MAX is 7.3 of AA5 for a 180gr HAP in 40S&W.
At 6.4gr you're way under the maximum....and there's absolutely no need to pull any bullets.
 
There are some interesting contrasts here. On the one hand you are so cautious that you want to pull 200 rounds that may well be perfectly safe, but on the other you are willing to "reverse engineer" factory ammo by attempting to visually identify what is certainly a non-canister grade powder.

One of these things is MUCH more dangerous than the other, and it ain't the one that uses published load data.
 
Sounds like the real problem is the Glock. I'd get something that's not so fragile and shoot the ammo.

35W
 
Elkins45 said:
There are some interesting contrasts here. On the one hand you are so cautious that you want to pull 200 rounds that may well be perfectly safe, but on the other you are willing to "reverse engineer" factory ammo by attempting to visually identify what is certainly a non-canister grade powder.

One of these things is MUCH more dangerous than the other, and it ain't the one that uses published load data.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing.

Although maybe you should pull 150 of them as punishment for not working the load up with 5-10 or each charge.

Be safe.


PS I second ditching the glock :p

Sent from my CZ85 Combat
 
Sounds like the real problem is the Glock. I'd get something that's not so fragile and shoot the ammo.

35W
Click to expand...

Never miss an opportunity to bash someones gun of choice(especially a glock) right?:cuss:

Its great when people post something that isnt helpful at all, just to sneak an insult in. Its exactly what the name The High Road is all about!:banghead:
 
ljnowell, I read on an internet forum that Glocks cause reloaders to load squibs, overcharged and double-charged loads on Saturdays but not on Sundays ... so what Whelen posted could be true. :uhoh:

:D:D:D
 
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