Is This .40S&W Load OK?

[BinRat]

Using the Hodgdon load website, I get the following information for 180 gr bullets and W231 powder:
180 gr HDY XTP, 1.125 OAL, 4.1gr (23,800 PSI) to 5.0gr (32,900 PSI) of 231
180 gr BERB FP, 1.125 OAL, 4.4 gr (26,400 PSA) to 5.1 gr (33,500 PSI of 231

I'm shooting them from a 2nd generation .40S&W Glock 23. The thing that somewhat confuses me is that the powder load information for the plated bullet is higher than the jacketed bullet, which I wouldn't expect.

I worked up a load for a RMR (Rocky Mountain Reloading) 180 gr FMJ RSFN (round shoulder flat nose) bullet with CCI 500 primers, 4.3 gr 231, and an OAL of 1.130. I'm happy with the accuracy and the light loading for range practice. So, I'm good for the jacketed.

Now comes my question. I got some X-Treme 180 gr plated RSFN bullets and worked up some ladder loads to test. Even though the minimum amount of 231 for plated in the Hodgdon chart is 4.4 gr, I laddered from 4.3 gr to 4.9 since I was looking for a light range load. All of them shot to the point of aim at 50 feet, all cycled the gun just fine, and all had the same accuracy. I'm planning on loading a bunch at the 4.3 gr level, but thought I'd check with the brain trust here that are more experienced with the .40S&W to make sure I'm not making an error before doing so. The reason is that I just have a nagging thought that going under the minimum might be unwise, but that's confused by the fact that it's on the low end for jacketed so it should be OK. What say you?

 

[kcofohio]

If you found that 4.3 gr. worked in a work up load, what, 5-10 rds. Whats to say that when you load a bunch, that a few here and there have powder drops at 4.1 gr. Possible FTE? Temp difference from test time to actually shooting a bunch? Powder position from one time to another?

If it were me, I'd bump up at least .2 gr. Or at least load up just 50 4.3 gr in a normal loading session and try those out before doing a bunch.

 

[Blue68f100]

If your gun will function with the lower charge there is no problem using it. Just be aware that the bullet hits the target and you did not have a squib.

I've tested some BE loads with WST down to 3.8gr where the min posted is 4.4gr. My gun functioned fine at these really low power rounds but these were lead. Lead has a lower friction than a jacketed bullet. So proceed with caution.

 

[greenlion]

Going too low in charge can also make the slide sluggish and increase the time before you can reacquire the sights. If you are using the lowest loads listed in the data, there is nothing wrong with trying it, but there is probably a load somewhere in between that and the hotter loads that will have better shooting characteristics overall. Try the whole spectrum in the safe range of loads.