Recipes for .40 S&W 165gr Rainier HPs w/Unique?

[StrutStopper]

Hi all, load data is a bit hard to come by for this combo. Rainier says to use lead bullet data so I'm thinking starting with 5.4 grains of Unique and working up to about 6.2 should be safe? I'll be using these loads in a Beretta Px4 Storm. I'm a new reloader and want to keep all of my fingers in place so I'm looking for any advice/red flags you experienced reloaders may have to offer.

Thanks-
Paul

 

[popper]

Is that the 165 plated HP? if so I use 5 gr Unique or 4.5 gr. HP-38 in XDm .40, recoil is nice with the HP-38, action functions well and decent accuracy. I also use the 5 gr unique for MBC 180 lead. Hope that helps.

 

[StrutStopper]

Yes, that's the 165 gr plated HP. 5 gr of Unique works for you? I would have thought that was a little light. Maybe I should start there instead of 5.2.

 

[popper]

If you are just getting 'trigger-time' , anything between 5 and 6 should be OK. I used xtreme plated 180 gr and 6 gr Unique - really HOT, brass landed way behind me. Xtreme's are double plated but they still recommend staying below 1100 fps. I started at 10% below FMJ for the same weight bullet and went DOWN to find a load that cycled the action and got the bullet out of the barrel. From there you can tweak to get accuracy and recoil where you want it. 40 SW is not a 'target' round so I looked for a small group @ 50 ft. Suits me for 'trigger-time'.

 

[GLOOB]

I use 5 gr Unique

Am I missing something, or is Alliant's info for Unique + 40SW kinda on the warm side? They list 7.2 gr for a jacketed bullet. Even if you downgraded 10% to get a conservative max plated load, then another 10% to get a starting plated load, you'd be at 5.8gr.

And the listed max charge for a 155 gr jacketed 40SW is higher than the one for the 158 grain .357 magnum.

I realize this is why it's nice to have multiple reloading manuals. I'm still gonna ask.

 

[StrutStopper]

Ok, I loaded 20 each of 5.0, 5.2, 5.4, and 5.6 gr. I loaded 10 each of 5.8 and 6.0 gr. The lighter loads were nice. Low recoil and the gun functioned fine starting with 5. From 5.6 and up all I noticed was more recoil, no increase in accuracy. After I was done shooting my reloads, I fired off a mag of WWB factory ammo. What a difference! The factory ammo was pretty harsh compared to even the 6.0 charged reloads and my group opened up significantly. Shooting the reloads I achieved some of the tightest groups that I've shot with that gun. I think I'm going to load a bunch in 5.2 and shoot them for a bit before doing any more experiementing.

Paul

 

[popper]

Glad that works for you. I had the same results, HP-38 meters better and gave me the same results. Unless you trickle, I doubt that you will be able to hold 5.2 accurately. With a spread of 0.2 grn, Unique won[t give much different results, I'd set it at 5.3 so you don't go below 5.0 and have cycling problems.

 

[StrutStopper]

That really is pretty much what I was thinking. I was torn between 5.2 and 5.4 so I figured 5.3 is where I'd set things. Since my powder measure (and everything else) is new, I am weighing every charge anyway on a frankford arsenal digital scale. I'll probably start just sampling weights to make sure I'm still on when I load up the next batch.

Paul

 

[GLOOB]

The factory ammo was pretty harsh compared to even the 6.0 charged reloads and my group opened up significantly.

No kidding. 6.0gr Unique is a light load. As I stated before, per Alliant's data, that would be a good starting load for a lead bullet, using conventional estimates.

I started at 6.25 and settled at 6.8 behind a Berry's 155 gr.

I think I'm going to load a bunch in 5.2 and shoot them for a bit before doing any more experiementing.

Congrats. You figured out how to turn your 40SW into a 9mm parabellum that is 25% more spendy on bullets.

J/K. I've been through the same revelation, but instead of loading my 40SW lighter, I increased the weight of my recoil spring. I'm shooting tighter groups now with normal level 40SW ammo. Everything's good. I've come to the conclusion that pre Gen4 Glock 40's are grossly undersprung. Everyone who ever shot my G27 turned and looked at me as if to check if everything was ok. I didn't really get it until I got an FNX 40. I can shoot max loads of AutoComp all day through it, and it's in the same weight class.

 

[Steve Koski]

I shot a lot of 165 Berrys (plated, similar to your Rainiers) in my Glocks over 6.5 grains Unique. It's a medium power load.

Koski

 

[gunlaw]

I hve used unique in 40 s&w but really give AA#5 or power pistol a try. I believe that power pistol was intended for high pressure cartrideges like the 40 s&w, and I have had excellent results with AA#5 with plated bullets in this caliber.

 

[popper]

It is a light load that works fine. I shoot at a public range with with BC screens on the side, NOT behind me. I don't have to chase much brass. Follow up shots are better and I don't beat up my gun or me. You think anything (except a hog) can tell the difference of 200 fps 165 gr. HP? I reload 9mm and 40SW in lead. Below 50 ft, 180 lead TFP with 5.5 Unique smashes a whole lot more than a 9mm 115 gr. with a hot HP-38 load. If OP wants, he can load hotter for his needs.

 

[StrutStopper]

All I'm looking for are target loads for now. I kinda look at it as training wheels. I only have maybe 500 rounds thru this gun. I want to get good with it first then maybe take it up a notch to get closer to what I'd be using for SD. Any SD loads I'll be using will be factory. Gunlaw, It was a toss up between power pistol and unique. I did a bit of googling before I bought any powder and those two seemed to be pretty popular for .40. I may give power pistol a try though.

 

[popper]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=603818. Factory ammo wouldn't work. After you get reloading down pat, you may want to re-consider using just factory ammo for SD. Be sure to get trigger time in for whatever you use for SD.

 

[GLOOB]

Below 50 ft, 180 lead TFP with 5.5 Unique smashes a whole lot more than a 9mm 115 gr. with a hot HP-38 load. If OP wants, he can load hotter for his needs.

Just saying you could shoot 9mm with the same recoil for cheaper! That's assuming you have a 9mm pistol, too. And who doesn't?

Anyways, I was talking about a 165 grain PLATED bullet over 5.2 gr Unique. A 180 gr CAST bullet over 5.5gr is a heck of a lot hotter (being that it actually makes Alliant's starting load).

If you want a light plinking load, try HP-38/Titegroup/Bullseye. They'll be more consistent at lower velocities. Loading Unique down to mouse fart levels is what gives it a bad rap for being dirty.