40 S&W 180 gr load data

[Pw]

Does anyone have some solid 180 gr cmj load data? Seems that in the lyman book 190 gr data would best suite. any issues using that data for 180's?

 

[ImjinScout]

Need some info from ya, what powder are you going to use? What is your OAL going to be. There are a lot of people here that load .40S&W including myself and would be willing to point you in the right direction but some more info will be needed.

 

[LiveLife]

I shoot a lot of 40S&W jacketed and plated bullets (Rainier/Berry's/PowerBond/X-Treme) and as recommended by Rainier/Berry's, I use lead load data or start-to-mid range jacketed load data.

Especially for higher pressure 40S&W loads, I tend to stick to powder manufacturers' load data as Lyman #49's jacketed/lead load data were tested with larger .401" groove diameter barrel fixture instead of more typical .400" and show much higher powder charges (I do not know what Lyman technicians were thinking ... ).

For 180 gr TCFP plated bullets, I like W231/HP-38 for target loads as they produce mild-moderate recoil loads that are very accurate. I load all of TCFP plated bullets to 1.125" OAL and they have worked well in all the pistols I have shot them out of. 3.8-4.1 gr will produce mild/9mm like recoil loads that are very accurate and will cycle the slide even in dual-spring recoil Glock 27. 4.3-4.5 gr will produce moderate recoil loads that are very accurate and of course, cycle the slide in all the pistols.

Hodgdon load data for 180 gr Hornady XTP:

180 gr Hornady XTP W231/HP-38 .400" OAL 1.125" Start 4.1 gr (797 fps) 23,800 PSI - Max 5.0 gr (947 fps) 32,900 PSI

For full power loads, I prefer Universal/WSF/AutoComp.

Hodgdon load data - http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

Alliant load data (BTW, Speer Gold Dot is a plated bullet) - http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/recipedetail.aspx?gtypeid=1&weight=180&shellid=29&bulletid=42


BTW, Hodgdon lists the following warning only for 40S&W:

This data is intended for use in firearms with barrels that fully support the cartridge in the chamber. Use of this data in firearms that do not fully support the cartridge may result in bulged cases, ruptured cases, case-head separation or other condition that may result in damage to the firearm and/or result in injury or death of the shooter and/or bystanders.

 

[Samari Jack]

One problem I have using my Lyman reloading book is the OAL is not a one size fits all for bullet wt and type. My Lyman guide only gives one OAL setting. I now use the loading info from the powder manufacturer for OAL. The bell recommended for my Dillon for pistols is 15-17 thousands over sized cartridge diameter.

 

[Pw]

I usually prefer .130-.135 for my oal. For the majority of load I get the best results with bullseye & 231. According to hodgen lymans 190 gr data is the closest. 180 data seems way off.

 

[REL1203]

I load 180gr Berry FP's with 5.0g Universal and my XDM loves this load. I have loaded them upto 5.2g Universal and the gun loves them as well, just 5.0 works overall.

 

[Striker Fired]

My XDM favors Missouri 180 L-TP over 6.2gr AA#5.
For Jacketed bullets =Nosler 180grJHP over 4.9ish HP-38 (don't quote me on that exact number right now).
WSF was also a solid performer.
It also liked the 180gr FP Berrys,I don't know the recipe but I believe it was with WSF .

 

[edfardos]

6.5 grains of aa#5 under a plated 180grain berrys/xtreme bullet is 875fps from a 4" ruger p944. Its accurate. Factory ammo is about 940fps fwiw.

 

[gahunter12]

I load 180gr TCFN Berry's over 4.2 gr of W231 at OAL= 1.130 for my XDm 40 4.5". I load the same bullet over 4.1 gr of W231 at OAL=1.130 for my XD40sc. Both function without fail, and are very accurate.