Vitaly

Any other particular lubricant (aside from slide/astro-glide)? And would purchasing the press cleaning kit from Dillon be recommendable thing to do?

Thanks for the input people, I will back the load some. Normally I am using 200 gr LSWC, but someone gave me a box of 185gr heads. Hence the inquiry. Thanks again. V.

Would really appreciate some recipes for 185 Lead SWC over Titegroup. Can't find data in my books nor on Hogdon's site... Please?

Have Eclipse. Have been shooting both IDPA and IPSC with it. Love this thing to death. Put around 5K rounds through it. Sexy looking too...

Does anyone have Heinie sights installed on an XD? I am thinking about getting those soon. Feedback is truly appreciated. Also is there a site where it's possible to get some visual instructions on detail stripping of an XD? Please?

Well, as I said, I really like the cartridge, and have tried it in some all-steel guns + in Glock 35 (which was real nice!) and I can say that the kick of .40 in XD is more that I would have bargained for had I known it. I think that it’s due to a higher position of the slide in respect to frame that gives you this sort of not so pleasant muzzle jump. It rides much higher above your gripping hand than that of a Glock. I am still experimenting with my hand loads and finding that 180 grain bullets work the best accuracy and controllability-wise. That is true for the factory rounds as well. Now a couple of words about concealed carry. I have gotten a custom IWB rig way before they were available from leading manufacturers, tried to carry the gun concealed, and have found that it’s not the slimmest gun I had carried so far. It is still comfy in an IWB holster but not as comfortable as your 1911 or even any Glock for that matter. In any case, I am still happy with it, and I do carry it in my Tauris IWB holster on almost daily basis. Bottom line: it’s a great defense gun, but if you are planning on having lots of plinking/target shooting and so forth sessions with it, take my word of advise—get it in 9 mm.

Ever since I’ve handled the HS-2000 at my local gun store—it felt ergonomically just right. The only reason I didn’t get it then was that all of my allowance was going into the parts/accessories for my 1911s. Two years later it reappeared under Springfield’s name and I’ve got one in .40 cal. Although I like the cartridge a lot, now that I’ve put some 3000 rounds through my XD, I feel that even with lighter reloads it’s still a handful. I would recommend it in 9 mm. It’s much more manageable—both recoil and budget-wise.

Thanks much! I will try to load plated bullets with suggested minimum crimp. On the same subject, will "not enough" crimp affect reliable feeding of lead SWC bullets? Will the same rules of crimping apply to lead? Meaning will too much crimp affect trajectory/accuracy of lead bullets? That's 3 questions...

Recently I have started to use copper-plated bullets for my .45 loads. In one of the threads I have read that it’s not desirable to put a crimp on copper bullets (as was pointed in B. Enos reloading video). I haven’t watched the video myself, hence the question: “Why not”? Help is very appreciated!

I did try, as was suggested, to buy a box of Hardcast and load it up. The results were about the same. After going through some 120 rounds, gun started returning “in battery” every fourth time or so. No idea why or how. Maybe the answer is barrel treatment? In the meantime I’ve had much luck with electroplated bullets. Would like to thank everyone for the insights! This place is wonderful. (Edited by Vitaly at 6:40 pm on Sep. 23, 2002)

Very grateful, will try right away!

I have been looking for data on .40 S&W for 180 gr. Lead bullet (Hardcast). I have only one extensive manual that doesn’t list any (never mind the factory leaflets supplied with different powders). Can anyone enlighten me on this regard? I am looking for data that uses Universal Clays or Titegroup powders. HELP!!!

Well, getting rid of the leading is not really a problem since I'm using the Outers "Foul-Out" that does the job otherwise humanly impossible. I am using just one reloading manual "Modern Reloading" by R. Lee. Seems to be all right except it's not as extensive as I would like it to be. I have ordered some of the Hardcast bullets along with some electroplated once. Let's see what's up with those. All in all, transition from a single action trigger (no take-up) to a Glock-type one is a major change. Currently I am experiencing much frustration with that while knowing that the gun is capable of delivering decent accuracy in itself...

Where can I find it, and what is your prefered powder/charge for it? I've been currently using Titegroup. Seems good.

I didn't try the hard lead, but I'm trying to get ready for the next IDPA, and that doesn't leave me much time for tempering with mail-order companies. I would very much like to know, though, what kind of hard cast bullets (and shapes) can I use in the nearest future.

Thanks, I'll do just that. Any preferences for 180 gr JHP loads?

That's the same one. I am frustrated I can't run lead through it, but what can you do? I am switching to 180 JHP, unless I can use thouse copper-plated once...

Since I've had no previous experience with lead bullets for .40 I wouldn't know the Precision brand. I have spoken with couple of people who supposedly know their stuff and they told me that the kind of lead I've been using is too soft. I have quit it alltogether though, and now I'm reloading 180 JHP. Screw the soft lead.

It does get most of the leading in the beginning of the rifling. I know for a fact that the rifling is conventional, maye I'd try differen bullet shape? Thanks.

I have to apologize for the confusion and time it took people to answer my question. Since I have been reloading 200gr SWC for my .45, in typing the error went naturally to this amount(also because of number of tries it took me to finally post the original message). I’ve just started reloading for .40 and the data I’ve been looking for is for 175gr SWC in .40… I would never even consider using 200gr bullet in .40… Sorry about all that. Case support in XD barrel is kind of tricky, if the OAL is slightly more than 1.2 the slide does not return fully upward upon feeding the round. This is my theory though, there may be another factor as well. Any experience with this gun?

It's the new Springfild XD-40

I am going to try that load, thanks. I am not able to load to longer OAL than it is recommended though, this type of barell would not tolerate anything longer than minimum OAL... Thanks again.

I am unable to locate the data on loads for 200gr LSWC in .40 S-W seemingly anywhere I look. Is there some decent loads that I can try with Titegroup or Bullseye? HELP!

I am trying to figure out whether I should be using lead reloads for shooting the new Springfield XD-40. Apparently (visibly and reportedly) it has conventional rifling in its barrel. However, after mere 50-60 rounds fired with Lead SWC barrel gets heavily leaded. After that the slide doesn't lock on the fed cartridge all the way forward and needs a little push. Any remedies?