.40S&W load using Universal Clays?

[Matt Dillon]

Folks, I have run out of HP38 (which I have been using to load .40S&W) and have a pound of Universal Clays sitting around (unused), so I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for a good .40S&W load using Universal Clays underneath a 155 grain lead semi wad cutter round nose pill?

Thanks so much in advance for your help!

 

[JDGray]

This genaric site is usually spot on. I say genaric because they dont specify which type of bullets, just weight.
http://www.stevespages.com/page8a.htm

 

[Walkalong]

I have had excellent luck with Universal Clays and 165 Gr. jacketed bullets in the .40.

 

[FieroCDSP]

I did a 40cal work-up on regular Clays on 155's. Not sure if this help with universal.

Oregon Trail 155gr LRNSWC
3.7 gr Clays
1.125 OAL

I'm not a steady enough shot to test accuracy but 3.7 was the minimum I needed to cycle my M&P 40 reliably. 3.4gr made for a lot of feed failures. No noticible case damage.
Ambiant temperature was 30 degrees F, so you might want to work up from 3.5gr. in case warmer temps spike the pressure.

 

[Shoney]

The Universal will work quite well. Although Hodgdons site does not list a load for 155 gr, the Lee Manual lists max at 6.6gr, and Speer Manual and Steve's list at max 7.0 gr. I use a lot of Univeral with jacketed 165 and 180 grain bullets.

With lead, I find mid range loads of universal to be most accurae. When you shoot up the Universal, try Clays. Clays has about a 40% lower charge, and is therefore much more economical.

 

[Matt Dillon]

Thanks folks, for the suggestions. Sierra recommends 5.5 grains of Universal Clays for a 150 grain JHP @ 1050 FPS, and 5.8 grains of Universal Clays for a 165 grain JHP @ 1050 FPS. So, that's probably where I'm going to start.
Does anyone know how to estimate the difference to apply this data to lead bullets, as they are given for JHPs? Thanks so much in advance!

 

[JDGray]

Reduce jacketed data by 10%, but you also need to keep fps down, so its not an exact science. Most load manuals will give data for both.