Posted: 12/16/2007 12:32:56 PM EDT
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Okay it took a year after my move to get it but the in-laws had the kids this afternoon and I got my shotgun press setup so I can hopefully get some dummy shells made up for someone on the board I promised a year ago. And I got my Lee progressive set up for .40 S&W, so I can get that going over the Christmas break. Just a tiny corner of the garage but glad to have them at least mounted and ready to go. Anyone have a favorite load for the 40 or 1cm Kurtz? (See Eric10mm's post on 10mm) Right now I'm going with 180gr hard cast with 10gr of AA#9. Gotta make a stop in Columbia next week to pick up the powder. I'm quite giddy right now in fact. Justin 
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GOOD LORD!  That's exactly the same load (10grns of #9) that I used behind 180gn Black Talons in my 10mm. (Yes, I pulled them, dumped the factory powder charge and Tim Allen'd them with the #9.) Instead of the anemic factory load pushing those 180gn Black Talons at ~950-1000fps, the #9 was getting them up to just over 1200fps. The 10mm was loaded to a longer OAL than can the .40 in most 9/40 sized guns, and that longer length means lower pressures.Have you chrono'd those loads? What gun? Man that sure sounds like a hot load for .40. The .40, much like the 9mm and .45ACP, works fine with fast to medium burning rate powders like WW231, WST, Action Pistol, HP38, HS6, AA #2, AA #5, VV N330/N340, Blue Dot, etc. WSL is discontinued but used to be my favorite for .40 IPSC/USPSA loads with 200gn lead and loaded long to ~1.125" in a 1911 pattern pistol. It's been so long since i reloaded that they've come out with a whole new slew of powders and even a few new brands. Whenever I get around to purchasing reloading equipment again, I'll have to basically start from scratch all over again. 
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Nope its a new load for me. Hmm... now I'll have to go check my notes, I don't have my own reloading manuals I just copy down the information I'm using out of my Dads books... I'm almost positive that for 180gr it listed 10 as a starting load and 11.5 as max. Mayhaps I'll start at 9.5 I'm really just looking for a plinking round. So basically just enough of a charge to cycle the action and dump an empty case out the side. Edit: Google is my friend handloads.org shows 180 xtp (not lead) with starting 9.9 for accurate no. 9 and 11 for max. Still maybe I'll start at 9.5 and see if it'll run. I want something light. For home defense I follow the general idea that it should be a factory round. I don't make bullets for killing people :) |
Like I wrote, it's been a while since I loaded. It may well have been 12gns of #9 I was using in my 10mm.  Since I lost all my notes I can't be sure. GET A CHRONO! That's the #1 thing for safe loads, well, beyond some plain old common sense.  They're well under $100 these days.Economy loads, huh? You definitely want to go with a faster burning rate powder which will usually requires fewer grains per load, thereby extending your pounds of powder for more loads. WST, Winchester Super Target is a great fast and clean (compared to WW231 anyway) powder that'll work in darn near any pistol caliber for light to medium loads. |
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What's your guys oppinion on Hodgdon Tite Group? I've been reloading for a few months now and have been using that exclusivley for my 9mikemike loads. It's cheap, seems to be relatively clean and I haven't had any problems with it. Anything you can suggest that's better? |
Pictures ? ? I am getting ready to pick out a press and am working on the work area now. It helps give me ideas looking at what works for others... |