tisch006 Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 My 1st post. Just found this forum and looks like great info! Here's my situation. I just began shooting USPSA this spring and have decided to get into reloading. I have an XD-40 that is bone stock. So far I'm having just a blast and am learning a ton at the same time! I've picked up all my equipment and have even tried a few experimental loads. I've so far here's what I've loaded: 180 gr Berry's TMJ 5.0 gr W-231 OAL 1.120 - 1.135 CCI small pistol primers my own once fired brass I've collected during league nights Everything seems fine so far. I'm just nervous about all the horror stories about re-loading the 40 S&W. I've been "borrowing" powder from a buddy but am going to purchase my own stash this weekend and am hoping to get some suggestions. Right now I'm not overly concerned about making major. More just gaining experience, being safe, and having fun. I'm considering Universal or HP38 as candidates for powder to begin with. I'm definately going to begin w/light loads and have heard I should try for a slower burning powder. Does anybody have any suggestions for an easy to load powder that will be least likely to give me any unpleasant surprises during my wed night league? Thanks in advance for you advice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 If you can't find it here it doesn't exist! http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showforum=73 Welcome to the forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 Alliant Power Pistol. Very clean and forgiving. Fairly cheap as well, about $54 for 4 lbs. Their website has the load data, or do a google search for Jeff Maass's IPSC reloading pages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-ManBart Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 First off, welcome! Second, the horror stories about .40 are mostly from folks that simply aren't taking the time to learn the proper way to load ammo. Take the time to get the basics down, work off published data, take your time and you won't have any problems. 231 isn't a bad powder, but it's a little dirty (it's also the same as HP38). I loaded some .40 with it back in the mid-90s and then moved on to other powders. Titegroup and VV N320 are probably the two most popular powders for .40, both Major and Minor. From an economy standpoint, unless you're getting some sort of break on Berry's bullets, I'd look elsewhere. At $116/K Berrys are more expensive than Precision Delta 180gr FMJs at $110/K and slightly less than Montana Gold 180gr FMJs ($120/K if you buy a case of 2500). Both PD and MG bullets are better bullets....why pay more for less? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tisch006 Posted July 31, 2010 Author Share Posted July 31, 2010 First off, welcome! Second, the horror stories about .40 are mostly from folks that simply aren't taking the time to learn the proper way to load ammo. Take the time to get the basics down, work off published data, take your time and you won't have any problems. 231 isn't a bad powder, but it's a little dirty (it's also the same as HP38). I loaded some .40 with it back in the mid-90s and then moved on to other powders. Titegroup and VV N320 are probably the two most popular powders for .40, both Major and Minor. From an economy standpoint, unless you're getting some sort of break on Berry's bullets, I'd look elsewhere. At $116/K Berrys are more expensive than Precision Delta 180gr FMJs at $110/K and slightly less than Montana Gold 180gr FMJs ($120/K if you buy a case of 2500). Both PD and MG bullets are better bullets....why pay more for less? Thanks G-Man! I'll be definitely switchin to delta. Can't beat that price! As for powders, I bought a small container of WSF. They didn't have the power pistol and though I'd read somewhere to start with a slower burning powder. Besides, I figured it'd be easy to work with as the 231 was and they are both ball powders. I'll load up a few mags and try them his wed night and report back. Thanks agaan or the advice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walküre Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 I'm a big fan of W231 - I use it for my Major .45ACP and Minor 9mm loads - but due to lack of availability, I haven't loaded it in .40S&W. I have loaded .40S&W with a number of different powders - including PP - ending up with Universal. I'm pretty pleased with its performace. I didn't like the recoil impulse I was getting with Power Pistol at all. My Limited load: 180gr MG CMJ 5.2gr Universal WSP 1.130" OAL ~173 PF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLSlim Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 I've been loading for the 40 for less than 6 months, but FWIW, I've settled on Power Pistol and 180 gr. Precision Delta. Works quite well for me in mid range loadings. PD can be a little slow on delivery because order backlogs (I've also used Zero and they to can be a bit slow). I bought some WSF to try--I've read positive things about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sal1950 Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 Everything seems fine so far. I'm just nervous about all the horror stories about re-loading the 40 S&W. I've been "borrowing" powder from a buddy but am going to purchase my own stash this weekend and am hoping to get some suggestions. Right now I'm not overly concerned about making major. More just gaining experience, being safe, and having fun. I'm considering Universal or HP38 as candidates for powder to begin with. I'm definately going to begin w/light loads and have heard I should try for a slower burning powder. Does anybody have any suggestions for an easy to load powder that will be least likely to give me any unpleasant surprises during my wed night league? Thanks in advance for you advice! I've been loading for almost 30 years and am in complete agreement with your thoughts on using slower burning powders, the very fast powders leave very little margin for error and pressure spike way too rapidly for my comfort. Here's the load I use for day to day shooting. Precision Delta 180g FMJ Universal Clays 5.2g Federal 200 SP Magnum primer OAL 1.130 Started using the Magnum primers during the shortage when they were all I could get. Found they seem to give a cleaner burn with Universal and are more consistent so I've stayed with them. This is a pretty light load and should come in at just under 1000FPS. Sal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jar Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 Are you shooting L10 (major) or production(minor)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tisch006 Posted August 4, 2010 Author Share Posted August 4, 2010 Are you shooting L10 (major) or production(minor)? production (why minor?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-ManBart Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 Are you shooting L10 (major) or production(minor)? production (why minor?) Because if you're shooting Minor, you can use fast powders, that are softer feeling, cleaner burning, and less expensive (use less) and still have a huge safety margin....it's the tastes great, less filling of the reloading world! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tisch006 Posted August 4, 2010 Author Share Posted August 4, 2010 (edited) Are you shooting L10 (major) or production(minor)? production (why minor?) Because if you're shooting Minor, you can use fast powders, that are softer feeling, cleaner burning, and less expensive (use less) and still have a huge safety margin....it's the tastes great, less filling of the reloading world! Nice! ...but seriously, I don't have a preference yet as to Major/Minor. I was under the impression that the faster burning powders cause pressure spikes that are a no-no in .40? Edited August 4, 2010 by tisch006 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWFAN Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 You dont have to shoot major in production. (you can, it just wont matter to your score). So you're only at a disadvantage by shooting more powerful major loads. Production is only scored minor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tisch006 Posted August 5, 2010 Author Share Posted August 5, 2010 Just thought I'd report back on my 1st impressions. 180g Berry's plated 5.4g WSF CCI 500 primers once fired federal brass OAL 1.135 XD40 stock service model Everything seemed to work just fine w/my 1st attempt at reloading. No malfs in the XD. Accuracy was good (probably my fastest time shooting steel this year!), recoil seemed similar to factory ammo, and not too dirty. I think I'll burn through this bottle and give the Universal a try next. I appreciate all of the advice! BTW - I ordered 1000 of the Zero 180 TCFM. I wanted to order the Deltas but the 2000 minimum order was out of my current budget. Thanks again to everyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OzzieF Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 I've been loading with WSF for a bit now. With plated 180gr bullets I've been getting about 169-170PF with 5.7gr WSF Berry 180 TCFM 1.125 OAL wolf small pistol primers With Mollycoated lead, I load 5.2gr WSF to get same major PF Same as above on OAL and primers I tried 1.135 for a while but my Sig seems to load alot easier with the 1.125 OAL better. My Glock 35 didn't seem to matter as much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tisch006 Posted August 26, 2010 Author Share Posted August 26, 2010 Ozzie, my XD likes the 1.135 just fine however, at 5.4 gr of WSF I'm finding some unburnt powder?!?!? Not sure if I should try bumping it up a bit or not? Berry's 180 RS WSF 5.4 gr CCI #500 primers OAL 1.135 stock XD-40 w/4" barrel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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