difference between wsf and wst?

[mdp75]

I loaded 6 gr of wsf behind 155 gr hornday xtp @ 1.125 oal to fire out of my xd-40 tac

I was wondering what the differance would be with same bullet using wst?

 

[Mal H]

Well, first of all, 6.0 grains of WSF seems to be on the light side for WSF and that bullet. Why did you select that load? Where was it listed? Did you have any cycling, feeding problems with it?

WST is anywhere from 10 to 15 steps up the speed ladder (it's faster) in burn rate from WSF, depending on which chart you use. So the load range will generally be lighter than the published range for WSF for the same bullet type/weight.

If you want to experiment with WST and can't find any legitimate load data, I would use starting loads for AA #2 or Hodgdon Clays (not Universal Clays). You can work up from there, never going over the max for those powders.

Having said that, I want to emphasize that experimenting with powders without published loads from reputable sources (that doesn't include the internet), isn't something that a novice should be doing. The fact that you asked the question, makes me believe you are most likely in that category. True? Not true?

 

[Hardtarget]

I checked my chart from Winchester. They show the 6.0 charge of wsf as the start and 7.3 as max. the wst is 5.5 as starting weight with 6.0 as max. This is for the 155 gr JHP.

I don't have a .40 cal so I have not shot these loads... ever.

Go with care. We all want to count to ten without taking our shoes off!

Mark

 

[Walkalong]

The difference?

As Mal pointed out, the burn rate is quite a bit different. One cannot just substitute powders like you suggest. You must follow load books data. The charge weights between WST & WSF are vastly different.

Get a good load book, and follow it.

Welcome to THR

 

[LiveLife]

mdp75, welcome to THR and these are the load data I see on Hodgdon's website for WST/WSF using Hornady XTP bullets:

155 GR. HDY XTP Winchester WST OAL 1.125" Start 4.6 gr (957 fps) Max 5.3 gr (1039 fps)

155 GR. HDY XTP Winchester WSF OAL 1.125" Start 6.2 gr (1070 fps) Max 6.8 gr (1159 fps)

 

[evan price]

40 does not react well to fast powders. For best velocity and accuracy at lower pressures using a medium speed powder is going to work the best- HS6, 800-X, WSF, powders like that. You CAN use fast stuff like Bullseye, WST, or Titegroup, but they are NOT the best choice in the .40!

 

[mdp75]

Ok! thanks guys!

First MAl you are correct. I am an extreme novice to pistol loading. I have loaded thousands ( guess around 50K) of riffle in .223 and .308 for F-class shooting but this is my very first ever pistol load. I got the data from hodgdens manual that says starting load for wsf is 6.2 grains and winchester chart that says 6.0 grains starting load so thats were I started lol. The second part of your answer was what i was looking for.

I am not experimenting with powder at all. I guess I should have been more clear. I was wondering what the differance would between the two powders, how they react,burn rates ect at their respective starting loads and max loads using that bullet.

Not new at all to reloading just new pistol loading. I have more manuals on my shelf than most people have novels lol! But as I am quickly finding out there is huge difference between pistol powders and extreme variances that I am not familiar with. Considering many of the powders used to load up long range accuarcy have only minimal differences in burn characteristics.


I am however experiamenting with differant powder brands and bullet weight using published data to find a load my gun likes the best. I must have went through a thousand load work ups on my fclass .308 before I found that magic load!

are pistols not as picky? is their less accuracy variance between given powders? will I see a big difference in accuracy using the two powders with the same bullet at starting charges? thats the kind of information i am looking for

I understand that wst is a faster powder, so I can assume i will get a bit more felt recoil faster slide cycling and from the data slightly faster velocity from its starting load of 4.2 gr

Mat

 

[mdp75]

Evan I think my next powder I am going to try is VV-n350 can you give me some input on that powder?

 

[Walkalong]

I have used N310, N320, N330, N340, & N110 pistol powders. N330 & N340 should work very well in .40, since their "burn rate" counterparts from other makers work well.

N350 should work well.

My favorite powder for .40 is Universal Clays, which is more in the N330/N340 burn rate. I liked it so much I never got to trying N330 & N340 in .40, both of which are excellent powders in 9MM.

WST is an very good powder IMHO. It is pretty fast as far as pistol powders go, burns clean, can be very accurate, and goes a long way. It works well to very well anywhere a fast powder is suitable. It is my choice for light .45 ACP loads in my S&W 25-2 revolver.

 

[rcmodel]

Why not pick a powder you can find load data for easily?
VIHT-N350 might be great stuff, but hardly anyone except them lists load data for it.

Hornady manual does list N-340 with your bullet, but not N-350.

Looks to me like Power Pistol or Autocomp would be a good choice, and everybody has data for it.

And unlike VIHT powder, it might even be possible to find some for sale somewhere.

rc

 

[918v]

WST is more bulky than WSF. It fills the case better if you are using it for light target loads.

 

[mdp75]

sorry guys I meant n340. Still new pistol powders. I want to try power pistol and the hodgdens universal clays also.

I am just working up light target loads right now.
I figure I can use most of these powders to load my glock 17 I shoot in production uspsa

I am pretty sure these are going to be the loads I try

180 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon Clays 1.125" 3.0 g
and
180 GR. Delta precsion FMJ power pistol 1.125 7.2 g

 

[LiveLife]

If you want accurate target load with faster follow up shots, I would recommend W231/HP38 (same powder) - I start everyone I help setup with reloading with W231/HP38 because it is versatile for most pistol pistol calibers with plenty of load data. Very accurate and it is my designated match powder I compete with.

 

[WV_Vizsla]

WSF

I like WSF in 9mm and 45. OK I know it is not the "preferred 45 powder" but I have 16+ pounds of it. It meters so consistently in my LNL press compared to American Select that I will not use large flake again in HG reloading.

 

[mdp75]

I found that the wsf @ 6 grains was really week and inaccurate the wst was a little more snappy and had some better accuracy but neither produced great results. So I am going to use the wsf on my 9mm loads

 

[noylj]

WST, as a fast powder, will reach max pressures with a much smaller increase in powder charge.
For .40S&W, I use AA5. The powder range that works best for me in terms of accuracy (not max velocity) is:

AA5 (Accurate)
WSL (Winchester)
Power Pistol (Alliant)
SR-7625 (IMR)
Silhouette (Ramshot)
N340 (Vihtavuori)
WSF (Winchester)
AA7 (Accurate)

 

[ArchAngelCD]

sorry guys I meant n340. Still new pistol powders. I want to try power pistol and the hodgdens universal clays also.

I am just working up light target loads right now.
I figure I can use most of these powders to load my glock 17 I shoot in production uspsa

I am pretty sure these are going to be the loads I try

180 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon Clays 1.125" 3.0 g
and
180 GR. Delta precsion FMJ power pistol 1.125 7.2 g

I see a problem already. Clays is not Universal Clays which is more suitable for the 40 S&W. Hodgdon made a mistake IMO naming 3 powders with the word Clays in it. Universal is much more suited for the 40 S&W than the very fast Clays. Don't make the mistake many make in mixing up these powders.

BTW, if you don't find a powder you like in the group you are going to try give Longshot a try. I think you will like it...

 

[Walkalong]

I bought some Longshot locally the other day. I have just played with it a little, but it has potential. It might fill a niche somewhere.

In all fairness, many powders work very well in many apps, certainly well enough. I am just a seriously picky fellow who will end up narrowing down a powder choice for a certain app.

I could pick three powders and they would fill all my pistol needs and do it reasonably well. Heck, I could pick several different combo's that would. We have the luxury of having many good powders to choose from.

 

[mdp75]

yeah I am trying to find a powder that will work well in my 9mm and my 40 s&w loads that way i can get an 8 lb keg and call it a day for a while.

Like h335 for .223 loads
and varget for .308 and 69 gr+ .223 love those powders for that aplication