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Posted: 6/16/2011 10:08:07 AM EDT
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Hello everyone, I will be reloading some 40S&W for the first time. I already have everything I need.
I am using the following: Bullet: Hornady XTP 180 gr Primer: CCI 500 Powder: Hodgdon Longshot Cartridge: Federal The Hodgdon loading data site suggests the a starting load and max load as follows: Starting: 6.5 gr for 1009 ft/s Max: 8.0 gr for 1159 ft/s My Hornady 8th Ed. Suggests 4.8 and 7.5 gr respectively. I will be shooting out of a S&W M&P 40c. Can someone suggest a good starting load? |
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welcome to reloading. you will love it and at times hate it and then love it again! i feel your confusion. i ran into the same issue about loading 308. hornady's book says the max charge was the same value as the starting charge from the hodgdon's site.
here is some advice. with any starting load when u test: make dummy rounds without powder or primers to make sure they will cycle in your weapon. if they dont and get stuck u wont have to worry about blowing off something u might need later in life load 1 and fire check to make sure the projectile actually went out of the barrel. a wooden dowel or empty 22 casing will verify it. I write on the casing with a sharpie the grain of the load when u get to the upper end you want to start checking for signs of high pressure always be safe and never in a rush when making ammo. if u dont have time to do it right, wait. i promise the range isnt going anywhere. a lady at the range where i shoot blew up her gun with a double charge. she didnt get hurt, but destroyed her weapon. ended up that it was a batch that she made while multi tasking while loading. lojack |
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