fmj vs jhp question

[myFRAGisFUBAR]

Hey everyone. I was at a local gun show looking for 40s&w bullets but all I came across were 180 grain fmj bullets. I'm a new reloader and am doing my best not to blow myself up so I have a question for some seasoned reloaders. I will be using hodgdon longshot powder to load with. I have seen a fair amount of loading data with this weight/powder but it is all for jhp bullets. My question is this, can I use the load data of a jhp round for a fmj round? I have seen charges between 7.2 and 8.0 for jhp rounds. Will this be the same for fmj rounds? Thanks again for the help and sorry if this is a frequent noob question.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Yes....

 

[Texan Scott]

IF IF IF! They're both jacketed, of comparable weight, diameter, and seating depth, yes (probably). Start 10% low and work up carefully.

 

[LiveLife]

You could always use the lower load data for Berry's plated FP bullets - http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

180 gr BERRY'S FP Longshot OAL 1.125" Start 6.3 gr (1013 fps) 26,200 PSI - Max 7.5 gr (1150 fps) 33,400 PSI

180 gr Hornady XTP Longshot OAL 1.125" Start 6.5 gr (1009 fps) 25,000 PSI - Max 8.0 gr (1159 fps) 32,300 PSI

 

[gamestalker]

I have frequently loaded FMJ and JHP using the same data, and have been doing so for many years. It seems by all appearance that many FMJ's have a thicker jacket, so that might explain why there is some data out there that treats them exclusively, but marginally so.

Since your using Longshot anyway, just go with published JHP data, and you'll be just fine. I commonly use Nosler data when I'm loading FMJ's that don't have their own published data. I think Nosler shows 6.5 grs. - 8.0 grs. for a JHP, XTP I believe. As for data, just go to Hogdon reloading pages and see what they have for a start - max load table with Longshot. Hornady is pretty conservative with there data anyway, just a thought.

GS

 

[myFRAGisFUBAR]

Thanks for all of the info everyone. I forgot the plated was a hybrid and that max plated bullets are usually middle range for fmj loads.