Safe Starting Load for 40S&W with AA#5 under Berry's 180gr FP

[Parks2055]

My Lyman manual seems to leave out AA#5 for any bullet weight over 165gr. under 40S&W.
The Accurate Arm's site shows Start at 5.8 and max 6.5gr. for a 180gr Berry's.
Is there a reason why Lyman's leaves it out?
Is A#5 not as good for heavier bullets?
I have 160gr plated I can use instead if that is a better weight?
Thoughts?

 

[Walkalong]

No reason not to use AA #5 with a 180 Gr bullet in .40. I prefer Universal though.

That bullet at 900/950 FPS is pleasant to shoot.

 

[edfardos]

I've loaded and shot about 1000 berrys 180gr 40's with 6.5gr of aa#5, at 875fps from a ruger p944 (federal sm pistol primers). Start at 6.3 grains. I've tested 6.7 grains with no real signs of pressure. But for plinking why push it to max?

edfardos

 

[Parks2055]

Thanks edfardos.
Good to hear someone has been doing well with this combination.

 

[223man]

Accurate Arms Data

http://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/accurate_load_data_3.5.pdf

Accurate Arms has put a lot of data on line.

 

[gunlaw]

Yep.6.3-6.5g of AA#5 works great for me.

 

[frankmako]

i use to load 180 gr with aa#5. i got some chrono data somewhere in the man cave with the load through a glock 23. i like aa#5 in 40 s&w, 9mm, and 45 acp.

 

[mingansr]

OP, my Lee manual lists 180 copper plated as Accur #5 as 5.8 gr start, 6.5 gr. max

for Accur#2, it list 4.3 gr. start, and 4.8 gr. max.,fyi.

 

[Uncle Richard]

go to..

http://www.precisionbullets.com/PDF/maashl40sw.pdf

has 3 different loads for aa5 w/180gr; however, has over 100loads of various bullet sizes and powders specifically for 40sw

 

[Parks2055]

So, I tested my 160gr. rounds with 7.0gr of AA#5 today and all went well. Feels good firing my own made ammo!
I am going to take the advise given here a load up some 180gr Berry's with 6.3gr AA#5 to start.
I am starting to wonder what exactly I am looking for with these test loads.
The obvious points being Accuracy & Recoil, but in terms of presure signs - I know there are flattened primers to watch for. What other signs should I be watching or checking my spent cases for?
When you do up a few grains, what indicators could happen that would suggest you should go back down a bit?

 

[Walkalong]

By the time you "see" pressure signs, you will be way over. Obviously seriously flat primers are are indication, plus case head expansion, but both take pressures over max. Stick to published data.

One other thing that can indicate you are using to much powder is recoil and velocity. There is no free lunch.

If all the load books show around XYZ velocity for bullet A, and you are getting XYZ plus 100 more FPS, and your brass is getting flung into the next county, well, there's yer sign.

 

[Coltdriver]

That is the one interesting aspect of pistol loads and these AA #5 loads are a good example. The loads are small so precise measuring is important, the range from min to max is also usually small.

Double charging is easy because two charges will easily fit!

 

[edfardos]

primer condition and velocity are the onlly objective pressure indicators... Velocity is probably the best measurement, as some primer brands always show signs of pressure -- federal is notoriously soft, and they flatten easily with light loads. I try to load 10% below max, and confirm this by getting 10% less velocity than factory rounds. I expect my brass and firearms to last forever as a result. Some powders can't be reduced (h110), but every thing I've said here generally applies to 40s&w.

aa#5 and plated bullets are an awesome combo. I've tried a few others with not so good results. Take bluedot for example, I could never get it to burn completely and the large unburned grains would fowl the chamber and cause jams.


edfardos