Need help with 40sw loads

[RAH_66]

I'm just getting back into reloading after being out of it for the last 20 years and would like to get some feedback on my 40sw loads that I made.

Bullet made from lee 401-145swc mold Measures at 151gr
Powder 6.5gr unique
primer Federal mag small pistol
Once fired brass
OAL 1.120
my problem is that when I looked at load data for 155 jacket bullets on the Alliant site and the load data that came with my lee dies they both show a max load of 8gr and the lee info says start at 7gr. I thought that 6.5gr would be a low to medium load for a 151gr lead bullet. I just picked up a Lyman load data book for Auto pistols and it is showing a start of 5gr and max of 5.6gr for the lee 145 and 6.3 for the lyman 150gr lead bullets. Any advice on this load would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Looking at the Lyman's 49th edition, it shows 150gr #2 alloy at 5.0- 6.3 gr of Unique. OAL is 1.090". WSP primers.

5.0 grains, 980 fps, 16,200 c.u.p

6.3 grains, 1196 fps, 23,000 c.u.p

 

[LiveLife]

2004 Alliant load data

 

[wackemanstackem]

8 grns is a compressed load with unique.

 

[RAH_66]

Do you think my load data above would be safe to use or am I pushing to much?

 

[wackemanstackem]

I dont use cast bullets might wana talk to guys here that do but lookin at your bullet weight and powder grns you would be fine with say a 155jhp not sure if they behave the same as a cast bullet,Not sure why you are using magnum primers no need for them in a forty of that style bullet.

 

[RAH_66]

My first choice would not be magnum primers but when I went to the store here they had 2 boxes of 1000 left and they didn't know when they would get any more in and all the internet suppliers were showing back orders for all primers, I jumped on them. Unique was not my first powder choice but it was the only pistol powder left and now I have a 4lbs jug of the stuff. I ordered 500 155gr plated bullets from X-treme bullets in January and just got them 2 days ago, while I waiting for my plated bullets I ordered a lee production pot and one of the last 40sw bullet molds I could find on the internet and 30lbs of lead and made my own lead bullets. Now that I have all my stuff I'm stuck working 10-12 hour days six days a week and have no time to shoot them. The more time that passes the more I second guess my load data with the lead bullets. I loaded my plated bullets with 6gr of Unique which in the Lyman manual is in the middle and according to my Lee data its low but I would rather be low than too high.I was hoping someone has used Unique with this weight lead bullet to let me know what to expect.

 

[RAH_66]

I was able to get to the range today and shot all my reloads without blowing up my gun . The loads I was worried about shot great and were the most accurate of the lead bullet loads I had. The barrel was lead colored after 100 rounds but did not affect accuracy and a few dozen rounds of plated bullets cleaned it right up. I'm guessing my Lyman manual load data is a little on the conservative side. The federal small pistol magnum primers were OK, out of 300 rounds I had 6 that did not fire on the first try, 2 of six fired when fired a second time 4 were dead.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Cleaning lead out of a barrel using plated or jacketed bullets is frowned upon....

 

[Matt Dillon]

Get yourself some lead cleaning cloth

 

[rsrocket1]

The easiest cleaning method for lead in a barrel is a 40 cal bore mop and some bronze wool or Chore Boy. The mop should be snug to begin with. A few strands around the mop should make it really snug. Fifteen seconds with a few up and down strokes takes all lead out. Do this outdoors because the lead dust is very fine and can be ingested.

 

[Matt Dillon]

I would first ensure that you get COPPER chore boy, and test it with a magnet to be sure it is not copper plated. You don't want to use steel chore boy!