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Posted: 6/26/2015 10:34:53 PM EDT
| Are there any good formulas for low recoil using Universal Clays? I also have Bullseye & Titegroup but wanted to stay away due to possible pressure issues in the 40S&W. I looked on Hodgdon's website but this data tends to cater more to full loads and I was wanting something for a weaker shooter. Suggestions? |
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I have loaded some light .40 but not with Universal.
I took the starting loads of Red Dot, WST and Bullseye, and then worked lower and lower until the gun wouldn't function with the loads anymore (Glock 22). The load I ended up using a bunch of for GSSF (no power factor to consider) was 2.7 grains of Red Dot under a 200 grain Blue Bullet. (2.2 is what starte choking the gun... I wanted to make sure it ran 100% so I ended up coming up a half grain). I don't remember the charge weights of the other powders, but they were all in the same ballpark. The starting loads were out of older Alliant manuals that I found online. I wouldn't worry about the pressure issues if you're working down from the starting load as opposed to up. |
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Quoted: Are there any good formulas for low recoil using Universal Clays? I also have Bullseye & Titegroup but wanted to stay away due to possible pressure issues in the 40S&W. I looked on Hodgdon's website but this data tends to cater more to full loads and I was wanting something for a weaker shooter. Suggestions? Nothing says you have to assemble max loads. You get to decide what power range to load to.
What you want to do is begin at the start load. It will be the lightest recoiling load in the data that "should" function your pistol. If load will not function, you will have to increase the charge slightly until pistol functions. |
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Just as Dryflash stated, Hodgdon has start loads.
Start low, and find out what works best for you. I have found that 5 grains of Universal under any 180 grain plated or FMJ works well in my G23. Low recoil, functions well in my Sig Tacops also. I have used 5 grains under 165 grain plated also, good results as well. My 2 cents... |
| Thanks for the input. I've been searching for loads and some folks were stating they had soft loads well under the start load in the manual so I wanted to reach out. I have no issues loading other rounds but have never been successful with getting pressure under control with the 40cal when using published data. I've loaded tens of thousands of rounds in other calibers so I'm not new to the game, just not very comfortable with this round since it has blown up in a couple of my guns over the years.. I swore this round off but then got a great deal on a CZ a few years ago that's just been sitting in the safe so I wanted to pull it out and give it a go, but do it nice and light since I can't shoot snappy loads anymore. |
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I don't really enjoy shooting the .40 S&W round due to its snappy nature, but I do like it as a full carry self defence caliber as it fits nicely between the .45 and 9mm.
That said I use nice soft loads for range time that cycles all my .40 caliber hand guns. I don't see how you are getting into pressure issues using published data. Of one of the powders you listed this is what I use. .40 cal 180gr plated FP Xtreme Titegroup 4.2gr OAL 1.130 CCI 500 SPP 845AVG FPS glock 23 4 inch barrel .40 cal 180gr BBI Hi-Tek coated FP Titegroup 4.0gr OAL 1.145 CCI 500 SPP 831AVG FPS glock 23 4 inch barrel Work up to these loads. |
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To me, .40 is "snappier" in some guns, and not as "snappy" in others. My Daewoo .40 is a full-sized pistol (picture a S&W classic design pistol - it's almost a perfect twin), and it's no harsher than a hot-ish 9mm. My Glock 22 is the same way. Now my Taurus P140, a compact carry pistol in .40, is pretty sharp in the recoil department. For a 9mm shooter, .40 requires some extra attention to form when holding the pistol, but it's very doable.
OP, while 180gr bullets seem to be "the thing" for .40, you can get bullets down to 135gr, and there is plenty of loading data for bullets that light. Run these at modest velocities and you'll have milder-shooting rounds. |
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Quoted:
... just not very comfortable with this round since it has blown up in a couple of my guns over the years.. I swore this round off... What! How many guns have you blown up? Please don't think I'm being mean, stop loading this caliber. At least until you figure out what you were doing wrong. |
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Quoted:
What! How many guns have you blown up? Please don't think I'm being mean, stop loading this caliber. At least until you figure out what you were doing wrong. Quoted:
Quoted:
... just not very comfortable with this round since it has blown up in a couple of my guns over the years.. I swore this round off... What! How many guns have you blown up? Please don't think I'm being mean, stop loading this caliber. At least until you figure out what you were doing wrong. I've had 3 Kabooms in 3 different guns. One was shooting a reload from an area outfit which blew off the back of my Kahr - guy in gun range immediately asked if the load was from XYZ company which it was. The 2 other times were due to pressure issues from some lead reloads using Titegroup under 180gr lead bullets even though I had metered and the velocity appeared fine. That's why I'm convinced 40S&W is the worst round to reload. |
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Some time back I got rid of my .40s but I still had some Power Pistol around. I recently got a Kahr MK40 and started shooting it with factory ammo and some of my old reloads. My old reloads were had a 180 grain bullet and 6.1 grains of PP. A stout load as was the factory ammo.
Playing with a new gun and stout loads was no fun although I am familiar with Kahr triggers. I went into the Hornady manual and found a starting load for the 180 grain bullets. It was 5.1 grains of PP. This has turned out to be a great practice load and the gun (and me) is breaking in nicely. My last batch has upped the load to 5.2 grains of PP. |
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My data shows 4.3 grains Titegroup under a 180 grain coated Bayou bullet at 1.125" was a nice, pleasant load in my G35. I started at 4.0 grains, which functioned fine from my notes.
6.0 grains of Power Pistol under a Berrys 180 grain plated bullet functioned 100% and produced moderate recoil. Start load was 5.8 grains. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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