RMR's 40 Cal. (HST) Pulled Bullets Results

[kcofohio]

I recently bought 500 (actually 569) 40 cal. "pulled" JHP from RMR. They're listed as mix weights. And that they are.
They throw in extra bullets.

The count goes as;
198 180 gr.
181 165 gr.
156 155 gr.
34 135 gr.

The bullets have slight pull collet markings, but no deformations. No detectable dents or scuffs.

Since Federal doesn't, as far as I can tell, offer these bullets to reloaders, I tried to compare the lengths to other bullet data.
Some info for bullet lengths were listed at JBM's Bullet Length List, mostly Sierra brand.

HST Sierra Hornady
180 gr. .640" .628" .621"
165 gr. .600" .593" xxxx
155 gr. .570" xxxx xxxx
150 gr. xxxx .540" xxxx
135 gr. .515" .447" xxxx

I have had decent results with CFE-P in 9mm, so that was my primary powder for load development. But both Hodgdon and Hornady's Longshot load data for the 180 gr. XTP (both claim approx. 1150 fps at max) got my interest.

40 S&W 180 gr. HST 4" barrel
Longshot @ 7.0 gr. 1.130" OAL
CCI 500 Mixed Nickel Cases
4 shot string
High 1042 fps
Low 1031 fps
Avg. 1038 fps
ES 11
SD 4

40 S&W 180 gr. HST 4" barrel
Longshot @ 7.5 gr. 1.130" OAL
CCI 500 mixed nickel cases
Hodgdon and Hornady use the XTP in their data. Hodgdon list 8.0 gr. max, and Hornady list 7.5 gr. as max.
5 shot string
High 1100 fps
Low 1024 fps
Avg. 1057 fps
ES 76
SD 27
(I will have to revisit this load from scratch, as I screwed something up with it.)

40 S&W 165 gr. HST 4" barrel
CFE-P @ 6.4 gr. 1.130" OAL
CCI 500 mixed nickel cases
5 shot string
High 1050 fps
Low 1041 fps
Avg. 1044 fps
ES 9
SD 3

40 S&W 165 gr. HST. 4" barrel
CFE-P @ 6.8 gr. 1.130" OAL
CCI 500 mixed nickel cases
5 shot string
High 1122
Low 1070
Avg. 1094
ES 52
SD 19

40 S&W 155 gr. HST 4" barrel
CFE-P @ 6.9 gr. 1.130" Oal
CCI 500 PMC cases
5 shot string
High 1129 fps
Low 1092 fps
Avg. 1113 fps
ES 37
SD 14

40 S&W 155 gr. HST 4" barrel
CFE-P @ 7.2 gr. 1.130" OAL
CCI 500 PMC cases
5 shot string
High 1175 fps
Low 1154 fps
Avg. 1165 fps
ES 21
SD 7

40 S&W 135 gr. HST 4" barrel
CFE-P @ 8.2 gr. 1.130" OAL
CCI 500 PMC cases
5 shot string
High 1283 fps
Low 1250 fps
Avg. 1272 fps
ES 33
SD 13

40 S&W. 135 gr. HST 4" barrel
CFE-P @ 8.5 gr. 1.130" OAL
CCI 500 PMC cases
High 1334 fps
Low 1297 fps
Avg. 1311 fps
ES 37
SD 14

If someone can glean some useful info out of this, great. It was still fun and I plan on doing a more thorough test at another time.

 

[Dudedog]

I don't shoot .40 but thanks for taking the time to post you results for all of us!

Looks like you had those 135s moving pretty good.

 

[kcofohio]

I don't shoot .40 but thanks for taking the time to post you results for all of us!

Looks like you had those 135s moving pretty good.

About a year ago I was looking to get out of the 40s. Somehow it isn't working out that way. I have acquired more.

Yes, I didn't realize how fast they could be. Hodgdon list a Nosler 135 gr. JHP with max of CFE-P at 8.9 gr., getting 1392 fps. Before I had only reloaded 155 & 165 gr. plated bullets and some 180 gr. lead.

 

[vaalpens]

Thanks for sharing your load data. I have been eyeing these pulled HST bullets, but they were still a bit expensive for me.

I see you tried Longshot with the 180gr bullet. How about trying it with the 155gr bullet. Following are some load data with pulled 155gr FMJ RN FP bullets and Longshot:

40SW, P229, 3.9"
Case: LAX
COL: 1.125"
ARPulled, 155gr, FMJRNFP, Longshot, 7.7gr, CCI500
Average: 1148
ES: 25
SD: 9.1
Force: 454
PF: 177
Velocities: 1134, 1152, 1159, 1148, 1147
Grouping @ 15yd: 0.55"
Test Date: 11/20/2018

Longshot was very accurate from 7.6gr to 8.0gr. I did not test anything over 8.0gr of Longshot.

 

[kcofohio]

Thanks for sharing your load data. I have been eyeing these pulled HST bullets, but they were still a bit expensive for me.

I see you tried Longshot with the 180gr bullet. How about trying it with trying it with the 155gr bullet. Following are some load data with pulled 155gr FMJ RN FP bullets and Longshot:

40SW, P229, 3.9"
Case: LAX
COL: 1.125"
ARPulled, 155gr, FMJRNFP, Longshot, 7.7gr, CCI500
Average: 1148
ES: 25
SD: 9.1
Force: 454
PF: 177
Velocities: 1134, 1152, 1159, 1148, 1147
Grouping @ 15yd: 0.55"
Test Date: 11/20/2018

Longshot was very accurate from 7.6gr to 8.0gr. I did not test anything over 8.0gr of Longshot.

That is some good grouping you have there. Good numbers too. I have to reload some more for this next week.

I have been thinking about trying Longshot with the 155 gr. Hodgdon list 9.3 gr. with 155 gr. XTP as max, Hornady list 9.6 gr. as max for the same bullet. Both list the same primer (WSP) and Hornady as the test case. I'll do a work up to 9.3 gr.

As I stated in OP, I will restart my max 180 gr. load, and use all the same headstamp this time.

 

[vaalpens]

Hodgdon shows Longshot with a wide range starting at 7.5gr. Since the bullets I used were pulled, I just decided to start at minimum just in case of some setback. The accuracy at the lower charges surprised me, and I don't see any reason why there wouldn't be another accurate node more closer to max of 9.3gr.

I just picked up another 500 pulled bullets from RMR. These are the mixed 180/165/155 FMJ for $45 less 5%. I actually have fun sorting and testing these 40s&w pulled bullets. They can be very accurate.

Good luck and please share any future 40s&w test results.

 

[kcofohio]

Hodgdon shows Longshot with a wide range starting at 7.5gr. Since the bullets I used were pulled, I just decided to start at minimum just in case of some setback. The accuracy at the lower charges surprised me, and I don't see any reason why there wouldn't be another accurate node more closer to max of 9.3gr.

I just picked up another 500 pulled bullets from RMR. These are the mixed 180/165/155 FMJ for $45 less 5%. I actually have fun sorting and testing these 40s&w pulled bullets. They can be very accurate.

Good luck and please share any future 40s&w test results.

I finally caught a small break in the weather yesterday. It was hit and miss for a misty day. Temperature was in the high 40s. About 6 mph winds. When I got to the range, the misting had stopped. All shots over the chrony are using the isosceles stance.
Without further delay;

40 S&W 180 gr. HST, 4" barrel
Longshot @ 7.6 gr. 1.130" OAL
CCI 500 Winchester casings
5 shot string
High 1145
Low 1082
Avg 1120
ES 63
SD 24
Velocities: 1132, 1132, 1082, 1145, 1112
I'm beginning to wonder how position sensitive Longshot is. I got a little sloppy on this string and made a direct shot on a diffuser rod.

40 S&W 165 gr. HST, 4" barrel
Longshot @ 7.7 gr. 1.130" OAL
CCI 500 Winchester casings
4 shot string
High 1129
Low 1059
Avg. 1101
ES 70
SD 26
From Hodgdon's load data site, 7.8 gr. of Longshot is max for 165 gr. Sierra JHP with a velocity of 1185 fps.


40 S&W 165 gr. HST, 4" barrel
CFE-P @ 6.9 gr. 1.130" OAL
CCI 500 Winchester casings
5 shot string
High 1116
Low 1101
Avg. 1108
ES 15
SD 5
This string was at the other range that isn't chrony friendly. I had to record from about 7 yds.

40 S&W 155 gr. HST, 4" barrel
Longshot @ 8.6 gr. 1.130" OAL
CCI 500 Winchester casings
4 shot string
High 1226
Low 1183
Avg. 1201
ES 43
SD 16

40 S&W 155 gr. HST, 4" barrel
Longshot @ 9.3 gr. 1.130" OAL
CCI 500 Winchester casings
5 shot string
High 1290
Low 1248
Avg. 1268
ES 42
SD 16

I think I will order some of those pulled FMJs from RMR. As I mentioned before, I really had planned on getting out of the 40 S&W, but Jake and company has made it pretty hard to say no.

 

[kcofohio]

Here is a picture of the diffuser rod after it met a dashing bullet.




I have to hand it to the Competition Prochrono Digital, it has handled it's fair share of abuse for the 5 or so years I have had it.

 

[Walkalong]

I did that to my first one, not real hard to do. A momentary lapse of concentration and.....

But I wasn't satisfied with that, so some time later I just finished it off. *Sigh*



2nd one is still going strong, and now I have some extra rods, just in case.

No, I wasn't trying to delete the string, but I did delete the chrono. .32 wadcutter.

40 S&W 180 gr. HST, 4" barrel
Longshot @ 7.6 gr. 1.130" OAL
Avg 1120

That's moving along pretty well.

 

[lordpaxman]

Thanks for the update on the .40's. I haven't tried Longshot yet but may add it to the long list.

Here is a picture of the diffuser rod after it met a dashing bullet.

I substituted the metal rods with 1/8" wooden dowel. The wood doesn't transfer as much energy to the plastic housing or delicate electronics inside.

No, I wasn't trying to delete the string, but I did delete the chrono.

LOL! A couple of pieces of angle iron and a 3/8" steel plate at an angle, just enough to hide that outline and your chrono will survive the day. It's affectionately called a boo-boo plate.

 

[kcofohio]

I did that to my first one, not real hard to do. A momentary lapse of concentration and.....

But I wasn't satisfied with that, so some time later I just finished it off. *Sigh*

View attachment 839927

2nd one is still going strong, and now I have some extra rods, just in case.

No, I wasn't trying to delete the string, but I did delete the chrono. .32 wadcutter.


That's moving along pretty well.

I keep wondering when I will do that. I have 2 streaks of lead and a slight groove on the top side. At least I was shooting parallel with the chrono.

I agree, 1120 fps is cooking for a 180 gr. Hodgon list max load for XTP with Longshot @ 8.0 gr. and 1159 fps. I'm thinking of loading them down at 7.3 or 7.4 gr.

 

[kcofohio]

Thanks for the update on the .40's. I haven't tried Longshot yet but may add it to the long list.


I substituted the metal rods with 1/8" wooden dowel. The wood doesn't transfer as much energy to the plastic housing or delicate electronics inside.


LOL! A couple of pieces of angle iron and a 3/8" steel plate at an angle, just enough to hide that outline and your chrono will survive the day. It's affectionately called a boo-boo plate.

I did have some 1/4" dowel rods with the ends sized down to about 3/16". After a while I got (over)confident and went back to the metal rods. Guess I will be stopping at the lumber yard soon.

 

[ray15]

I've found the key is to take off the rods and shades. You don't have to shoot nearly as close to the top of the chrono as the shades force you to in order to record shots reliably, and I find the shades themselves add no reliability in addition to giving you something else to hit. I (now) put the chrono close and low, use no shades, and shoot waaay over the top to ensure chrono survival.

I've been playing with 40S&W and 357 Sig hollowpoints, and was trying to resist buying some of the pulled HSTs to experiment with. I blame this thread for pushing me over the edge. Or something like that..

In 40 I've tried the following:
new 155 Gold Dots with BE86 and Longshot.
new 180 Zero JHPs with Longshot
Factory 180 HST
Factory 165 Winchester Ranger Bonded Q4384

In 357 Sig I've tried:
Pulled 125 5-petal Gold Dots from RMR with BE86
RMR 124MPR HPs with Longshot
Factory 125 6-petal Gold Dot
Factory 125 HST

I've managed to recover representative expanded version of all of the above, plus 357 Mag 125 and 158 XTPs smoking along from my 6" GP100. I'll probably post the pics in a new thread, but here's my 40 load and chrono data (which coincides well with kcofohio's)

Name 40SW 180 HST Factory
XD Mod.2 4"
Number of Shots 5
Extreme Spread 21
Average 989
Standard Deviation 9

Name 40SW Ranger Bonded 165gr
XD Mod.2 4"
Number of Shots 5
Extreme Spread 22
Average 983
Standard Deviation 9

Note: These handloads are all either at max pressure or within 0.1gr. of max. All were worked up from safe starting charges of 10% less by weight. Don't start this high in your gun.

Name 40SW Zero 180 JHP Longshot 7.6gr
Win NT brass CCI 500
OAL 1.125"
XD Mod.2 4"
Number of Shots 5
Extreme Spread 45
Average 1140
Standard Deviation 18

Name: 40SW 155GDHP Longshot 9.0gr
Win NT brass CCI 500
OAL 1.125"
XD Mod.2 4"
Number of Shots 10
Extreme Spread 38
Average 1292
Standard Deviation 12

Name: 40SW 155GDHP BE86 7.7gr
Federal brass CCI 500
OAL 1.125"
XD Mod.2 4"
Number of Shots 10
Extreme Spread 40
Average 1195
Standard Deviation 12

 

[vaalpens]

In 357 Sig I've tried:
Pulled 125 5-petal Gold Dots from RMR with BE86
RMR 124MPR HPs with Longshot
Factory 125 6-petal Gold Dot
Factory 125 HST

I've managed to recover representative expanded version of all of the above, plus 357 Mag 125 and 158 XTPs smoking along from my 6" GP100. I'll probably post the pics in a new thread, but here's my 40 load and chrono data (which coincides well with kcofohio's)

I will definitely be interested to see some of your 357sig results.

 

[ray15]

I will definitely be interested to see some of your 357sig results.

I posted all the pics and the 357 load data in this thread: https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/expanded-hollowpoint-pictures.851162/