Disclaimer: Following post lists loads not currently published by powder manufacturer. Use them at your own risk.
witchhunter said:
Use plated data not jacketed.
Well, but there's no published Bullseye plated load data from Alliant for 180 gr 40S&W -
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reload...owderlist.aspx&type=1&powderid=1&cartridge=29
z7 said:
bullseye and 180g xtreme rnfp (Plated) for 40s&w
Alliant website states for a 180 speer gdhp 5.5g at 1.12" oal
I plan to drop to 4.9 (89%) and work up by .1 g increments to 5.4g
Although many plated manufacturers advertise their "thicker plated" bullets can be pushed to 1500 fps and therefore jacketed load data can be used, this is what X-Treme posted on their website -
http://www.xtremebullets.com/Bullet-Load-Info-s/1952.htm
Our Copper Plated Bullets can be run at mid-range jacketed velocities or higher end lead velocities. We do not recommend velocities over 1500 FPS (Feet Per Second) and only a light taper crimp.
Any velocities over 1200 FPS we recommend either our Heavy Plate Concave Base or Hollow Point products for superior accuracy. We do not recommend velocities over 1500 FPS (Feet Per Second) and only a light taper crimp.
Even with 180 gr max jacketed load data, you are not going to exceed 1200 fps.
So let's look at some lead load data and see what they are. Lyman #49 lists the following for 175 gr lead bullets:
175 gr lead TCFP Bullseye OAL 1.100" Start 4.0 gr (654 fps) 16,900 CUP - Max 5.0 gr (842 fps) 23,100 CUP
175 gr lead RNFP Bullseye OAL 1.125" Start 4.2 gr (665 fps) 17,100 CUP - Max 5.1 gr (812 fps) 22,000 CUP
And 5.0/5.1 gr max charges were obtained from .401" groove diameter test barrel using .401" sized lead bullets and I often find Lyman #49 40S&W loads higher than powder manufacturer load data that used more typical .400" groove diameter test barrels.
If you reference 2004 Alliant load data, you'll see the following -
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=182147&d=1364769070
180 JHP Bullseye OAL 1.125" Max 5.5 gr (1015 fps) 33,900 PSI
180 Laser Cast Bullseye OAL 1.125" Max 4.5 gr (911 fps) 33,000 PSI
So, if you want to use the most conservative lead load data for your plated bullet powder work up using longer than 1.125" OAL, 10% reduction of 4.5 gr would be 4.0 gr. I would test 4.0/4.2/4.4 gr. Since Bullseye downloads well, if 4.0 gr reliably cycles the slide and produce accuracy, I would test 3.8 gr also.
Let us know how things go.
I hope this helped.