Range report first handloads

[traveling1253]

Success, went out and burned through my first 100 handloads today. .40 S&W using once fired Winchester brass, CCI #500 SPP, 180gr Berry's plated RS and Hodgdon Longshot powder. 10 each 6.5,6.7,6.9,7.1 and 7.3gr also 50 with 7.0gr. My 3.8" barreled Springfield XDM digested everything, no jams, squibs or hiccups of any kind. You could definitely feel the difference from the 6.5gr starting load and the 7.3's. Brass from all loads looked great after firing. My goal was to have an affordable practice load that would simulate the same feel as my factory SD loads. 180gr bullets at around 1000 fps. 7.0gr of Longshot seems to be the ticket, feels to have about the same punch as my 180gr bonded Speer Gold Dot factory rounds.
As a bonus my XDM is much cleaner with my handloads than it would have been shooting the Winchester white box practice ammo I have been using. I was surprised to see this, considering the impressive muzzle flash the Longshot gives.
For my next loading I need to come up with a milder round with less recoil for plinking and for my wife to enjoy. I'm thinking of getting some of the 155gr Berry's and maybe HP-38. Suggestions for a soft shooting .40 load? I see that Berry's also makes a plated 135gr RS in .40, anyone try bullets this light in a .40?

Thanks

 

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My load is 4.5gn of bullseye with the 180gn berry rs set at col of 1.130. This gives it a good feeling recoil with a little bit of snap in it. Have used 5.1gn unique and seems good as well.

 

[rfwobbly]

Mr 1253 -
Hey, congrats! Feels good doesn't it! Welcome to the fraternity!

 

[2 Tall]

Your first go was WAY more successful than mine!

Of the 35 rounds I primed, only 14 made it to completion (had a problem with bullet seating depth).

I used 3.0 gr of Clays with 115 gr. Remington bullet with a COL 1.139. It turns out this is a very under-powered load.

They went bang but wouldn't eject. (slide wouldn't cycle)

Good job on your first go!

 

[Crashbox]

First of all, congratulations on your first run! I just started doing this a little over a year ago myself.

I also use Longshot in my .40 with 180 FMJ for exactly the same reasons you are, for less-expensive SD round "conditioning", if you will. Only difference WRT powder is I've been loading mine with 7.5 grains of Longshot which is on the warm side of the middle.

For what it's worth, in my .357 Magnum I use TiteGroup for medium-strength rounds and there are loadings for this powder in .40 as well, you might want to take a look at them in a handbook. I'm sure others can chime in on how this powder behaves in the .40 S&W chambering.

 

[brandon_mcg]

congratulations. it is a good feeling! keep it up.

 

[traveling1253]

With 7.5 gr you must be picking up your brass 1/2 way to the parking lot Some day I'll pick up some jacketed bullets and work up some warm Longshot loads just for fun. I don't think these plated Berry's would like being pushed that hard. Though with the XDM's 3.8" barrel, I doubt I could ever exceed the 1200fps max that Berry's suggests.

 

[Hondo 60]

Congrats - what a hoot to have reloaded your own your own, huh?

Sounds like you have the process down pat!

 

[Crashbox]

[SNIP]With 7.5 gr you must be picking up your brass 1/2 way to the parking lot [/SNIP]

How did you know?

Actually, my SIG tends to throw the brass quite a distance regardless of loading, anyway...