bcbulldog78

I use a 180 gr. LRNFP (actually cast from a .38-40 bullet mold- still .401 diameter) with 4.3 grains of WST at a COL of 1.135. Soft shooting, and very clean, to me it hits that great balance between less recoil but enough to cycle the gun smoothly, knock down steel plates, and good accuracy as well.

truthfully it is both a safety issue and an accuracy issue. it is a safety issue from the standpoint that without the proper crimp it can lead to bullet setback which in a high pressure round such as 40s&w can be really bad, really fast - basically the amount of space in the cartridge is reduced if the bullet is pushed back into the case and by reducing the space the pressure necessarily increases. From an accuracy standpoint it is on the other end of the crimp spectrum. If you crimp a round too much it can cause key-holing and other similar accuracy issues. As far as the measurement that you are looking for: bullet diameter + about 0.019 or 0.020. The actual measurement will depend on the thickness of the brass (some manufacturers are slightly different). since you mentioned 40s&w - I will use it as an example. Jacketed bullets for 40S&W are 0.400 in diameter. Lead Bullets in 40S&W are generally 0.401. Your crimp for 40S&W should be approximately 0.420-0.422. Hope this helps.

I like to load long as possible but in my 1911s I load out to 1.275. I have not had any issues with jams at all at this length. Something like an M&P probably will not function at that length. It really is about two things 1) Safety and 2) what works for your particular gun.

So what I am getting from reading the post from you guys is there is no problem with loading out to longer overall lengths. I measured my mags this weekend for 2 of my 40S&W pistols (SIG 226 and Springfield XD 40) and both mags showed an inside measurement of 1.180. I am thinking about lengthening my OAL to about 1.150 - 1.160. This would be splitting the difference between the stock OAL (1.125 - 1.135) and what the mags will take at max (1.180). The other thought that comes to mind is that making this change would neccessitate a change in the setting for the taper crimp die. Anything special to consider with that? Thanks in advance for the help, I have been reloading for a while but I have learned a ton in just the short time I have been a part of the BE forums.

Just wanted to follow-up on this post. Took my 1st 100 of this load to the range this weekend. WST is pretty awesome. I didn't do any real accuaracy work in terms of putting the gun on a rest but was very pleased with the softness of how the ronds shot and they were accurate enough to run bianchi style plates consistently. I am thinking I may tinker with the charge weight just a little and maybe drop down to 5.3 or so for plinking and then load some at 5.7 to give me a feel for wath the differences in charge weights do with this powder.

Okay - so the fail safe rod will still hook to its notch that is mounted on the other side of the press frame? Seems like this would make it easier - how come this isn't mentioned anywhere in the paperwork / manual? The powder check mechanism has been a royal pain in the keister to me so this seems like a much better set-up. I pull enough of my cases of the press to weigh the charge during my reloading process that I have not been using the powder checker so my station three has been open on my toolheads.

I have seen a number of posts from other members reffering to having the powder measure located on station 3 of the toolhead (XL650). My question is what are the advantages / disadvantages of setting up the toolheads this way? I have been using a 650 for some time but I have always used the powder measure on station 2. It would also seem to negate the use of the powder measure failsafe rod? Appreciate the help in advance.

makes sense on the overall length variation. What I was going by on the charge variation is that the loaddata.com site has a range of 5.5 to 6.0 grains. The listed PSI (seating depth of 1.125) of 27,900. If you look at the Hodgdon / Winchester data site - it listed the charge weight range as 4.6 to 5.3. This would put the max charge below what the other manual says is a starting charge. The Hodgdon site is also using a 155gr JHP at a COL of 1.125, but they are saying the pressure is up to 32,500 which is getting in the ballpark of the 35,000 SAAMI maximum. For comparison, I also checked the Lyman Second edition Pistol and Revolver handbook and it shows a 175 gr lead bullet going all the way to a max charge of 6.3 grains. Per the Lyman manual the 175gr lead bullet at a max charge of 6.3 grains (COL of 1.125) is 22,900. The published data just seems to allow for a pretty wide range of charges which seems unusual for a pistol powder to me.

Just started using Win WST powder. Starting to look at using it for service rounds in general - but mainly for 40 and 45. I loaded my first few rounds of 40 this weekend with WST and noticed that at the starting load charge weight the case is nearly full. I got the load from Load Data.com I am using: 155 JHP from Montana Gold. Mixed headstamp brass CCI SP Primers 5.5gr of Win WST COL: of 1.130 - Have not chronoed the load but per the data provided it should be around 950-980 fps. Is WST bulky for its weight? I have mainly planned to use it for lead loads but I also would like to work up the jacketed bullet loads so if I get caught in a pinch and cannot get titegroup (normal powder for jacketed 40 rounds). There seems to be a fair amount of variation in the charge weights I have found for WST in published data. Anyone have a clue as to why?

Yes - recalibrated both scales using their check weights that came with them. Both scales checked out perfectly with their check weights. I even went back after posting and checked a variety of bullets. I used several bullets for not only 380 but also 40, 45, and 44 spl / mag - the bullets all checked out consistently - 100gr on one was 100gr on the other, etc. Empty Brass checked out consistently as well. The only thing that varied was the weight read on the powder charges. After reviewing the responses - I may not have said things as clearly as I should have. After noticing the discrepacies with the first couple of charges dropped - between the two scales - I would drop the charge and weight the same charge on both scales. My next step I think is to break out the old balance beam scale and test the powder measure setting / charge weight versus the electronics.

First let me start by saying that my current focus with my reloading is to eliminate as many variables as possible. In looking at every possible variables I started checking a few powder charges on both of my digital scales. I have a Lyman DPS 1200 and a Dillon D-Terminator electronic scales. I am in the process of setting up to load .380 ACP. Using Winchester 231 powder. Based upon the bullet (100gr FMJ) - desired charge is 3.0 grains. Using the D-terminator the charge checked out as set - 3.0 grains with the occasional 2.9 grain. Without adjusting the powder measure in any way, I used several more charges and weighed them on the DPS 1200. On the DPS the same powder measure setting weighed out at either 2.5 or 2.6 grains. Just looking for why the charge would vary - both scales are set up, level, and in the case of the DPS 1200- it went through its warm-up process. Thanks in advance for any help. bcbulldog78

I have seen a few squibs but only pictures of a double charge. The closeest I have seen to a double charge was my cousin who did not zero his scale before using it to adjust the powder measure. He was loading 40s&w and instead of loading 4.4 or 4.5 like he was supposed to he was loading 6.8-6.9 grains. He was extremely fortunate in that it oly bulged the barrel / chamber to the point that the gun would not cycle in stead of it completely blowing up. The squibs I have seen have been from my own loads. When i firest started loading I had a 550b. I would try to get going too fast for my skill level and would double index the press, thereby missing the powder drop. I upgraded to a 650 and I also learned to visually inspect each case as it goes by.