Power Pistol behind Berrys 155 gr Plated HCFP for .40SW

[OldStumps]

I'm trying to find a lighter range load for .40SW at about 500 ftlbs ME with Power Pistol. Thinking for the 155 grain plated cast bullet starting at 6.2 grains and moving up to around 6.7 grains. CCI 500 primers. Thoughts?

 

[Steve Koski]

What are you going to do with this ammo? To get 500 FPE with a 155 grainer you need 1205 fps. Power Pistol can certainly do it with style.

 

[OldStumps]

Just looking for something to shoot at my local indoor range that doesn't exceed their maximums. 1200 fps is too fast for cast so maybe closer to 800 fps. That's about what I get for comercial UMC in FMJ

 

[GLOOB]

I don't think a 500FP load is going to be a lighter range load! You have the 40SW confused for something else, maybe!

1200fps is pretty darn hot. Mind your OAL and work up carefully. Small changes can make big differences, here.

I worked up to 7.6 gr AutoComp behind a Berry's 155gr FP, and it works pretty good for me. That's a couple tenths off max, and probably pretty close to your target level of energy. I've shot over 500 of these through my G27 with decent accuracy, but recoil is stout.

When I subbed Rainer's 155gr FP, I didn't work up again. I seated to the same OAL. I figured I was a bit under max, anyway. Well, the slightly longer bullet made the ammo nearly unshootable in my G27. Recoil was so great, it broke my shooting grip on every shot. I couldn't keep the shots on a paper plate at 15 yards, and I unintentionally locked the slide back once or twice per mag.

For a really light target load, I've found 5.15gr HP38 behind a Berry's 155gr FP feels like a 9mm. But then again, it's sort of like paying 25% more for bullets just to shoot a 9mm.

 

[OldStumps]

Thanks GLOOB, but I have some Power Pistol to integrate here and want to use that. And that's the range limit. I want something along the lines I mentioned (~800fps).

 

[Steve Koski]

Try a starting load of power pistol, then work down until the gun stops functioning reliably. You'll probably find a load you like.

Koski

 

[GLOOB]

Ahh, I guess I misunderstood. I thought you wanted a 500ft-lb load for target practice.

I think Koski is going to be on the money on this one. When I tried Unique with Alliant's load data in this caliber and bullet weight, I started at almost 20% off the max load, and it still had a heck of a lot more recoil than HP38. I think there was a lot of room to go down further. Good luck with the Power Pistol!