Newbie to reloading?

[GlockComa]

Hey guys I just recently bought my Dillon 550B.
I'll mainly be loading .40 S&W and .45acp.
To all the reloading pro's what powder, primer, would you recommend?
And what loads would you recommend (i.e. how much grains)?

Majority of my shooting will be at the range and tactical classes.
Thanks

[scrat]

unique powder. you want to get some good loads you should start off by getting some load data books. like the abc's of reloading or lees modern loading. you need to do a lot of research before actual loading. I would not go with what ever someone on the internet tells me. Same time this forum is not really tailored to reloading. a few good forums i will list below. however i caution you the experienced loader will tell you to do some reading first. However you can get some good load information on the following sites.

http://www.thehighroad.org/index.php

http://www.reloadersnest.com/forum/

http://forums.handloads.com/ great for load data very good.

http://www.reloadammo.com/reload.htm

[scrat]

(WC= WadCutter, SWC= Semi-WadCutter, HP= Hollow Point, RN= Round Nose), (JHP= Jacketed Hollow Point and if GC indicated, means Gas Check at bottom of lead bullet)

Loads for .40 S&W special: ( .400 dia. bullet)
(Note: These are near maximum loads, you should use 10% less to start.)
(See note on Powders below or read all about various Powders.)
Due to different barrel lengths, type of bullet, seating depth, primer type and other factors, you may not get near the FPS charted. It is just a guide and the reason you should start under these charges and work up.


-----------------------------------------
135 grain JHP or JSP (Jacketed Hollow or Soft Point)
Bullseye 7.6 gr. 1,350 FPS
Unique 8.5 gr. 1,290
Universal 7.5 gr. 1,324
Clays 4.5 gr. 1,071
No. 2 7.6 gr. 1,247
No. 5 9.3 gr. 1,266
-----------------------------------------
150 grain JHP
Bullseye 6.7 gr. 1,225 FPS
Unique 8.0 gr. 1,245
Universal 6.6 gr. 1,186
Clays 4.0 gr. 937
HP38 6.0 gr. 1,105
No. 2 7.0 gr. 1,155
No. 5 8.3 gr. 1,170
WST 6.3 gr. 1,050
WSF 7.7 gr. 1,200
-----------------------------------------
180 grain Lead (Redline Truncated Cone, Cast
Bullseye 5.1 gr. 970 FPS
AA No. 5 6.3 gr. ----- (Load of Marshall Tresaugue)
(CCI 500 Small Pistol Primer)
-----------------------------------------
180 grain JHP
Bullseye 5.5 gr. 1,015 FPS
Unique 6.4 gr. 1,065
Universal 5.8 gr. 1,046
Clays 3.5 gr. 847
HP38 5.0 gr. 950
No. 2 5.6 gr. 967
No. 5 6.6 gr. 965
WST 5.0 gr. 900
WSF 6.2 gr. 1,040
-----------------------------------------
200 grain FMJ (Full Metal Jacket)
(this bullet may not seat properly or function
properly in the case. Use caution and care)
Bullseye 4.6 gr. 945 FPS
Unique 5.3 gr. 955
2400 8.5 gr. 925
Universal 4.7 gr. 903
HP38 4.7 gr. 850
HS6 6.9 gr. 902
No. 2 4.7 gr. 815
No. 5 5.5 gr. 828
WST 4.5 gr. 810
WSF 5.7 gr. 930
-----------------------------------------
200 grain LEAD RN
WST 3.5 gr. 760
WSF 5.0 gr. 920
-----------------------------------------

Discussion: Bullseye and Unique are from Alliant (also 2400). Universal and Clays are from Hodgdon and similar to Bullseye and Unique. Respectively are No.2 and No.5 from Accurate.
All these are pretty strong loads and all use a jacketed bullet. There are some loads for lead bullets, but I don't find many people interested in them. Since most of these loads are pretty hot, I don't recommend lead in any of them. I don't personally shoot a gun with the 40 S&W and all of the loads are right out of the manuals.



*
Bullseye, Unique and 2400 are products of Alliant (formerly Hercules) Powders.
Clays, Universal, HP38, HS6 and H4895 are products of Hodgdon Powders.
IMR 3031 and IMR 4895 are products of IMR (formerly DuPont) Powder Company.
No. 2, No. 5, #2230, and #2460 are products of Accurate Arms Company
WMR, WSF, WST, WSL, 760, 748, 231 and 540 are products of Winchester, Components Div.

References: Accurate Arms Co. 1996 Reloading booklet - - Alliant Powder Co. Reloaders' Guide (1995) - - Hodgdon's Basic Reloaders Manual (1996) - - Speer Reloading Manual, #12 - - Winchester Reloading Components Manual, 14th edition - - Lyman Piston & Revolver Reloading Handbook, 2nd edition. - - VihtaVuori Oy Company, reloading booklet (1995) - - Numerous magazine articles on reloading special calibers and personal loads where noted.

[scrat]

Left to right:-- 230 gr. RN, .45 with JRN, .45 with JHP, 230 gr. JRN

(WC= WadCutter, SWC= Semi-WadCutter,
HP= Hollow Point, RN= Round Nose), SP=Soft Point
(JHP= Jacketed Hollow Point and if GC indicated, means Gas Check at bottom of lead bullet)
Loads for .45 ACP:


(Note: These are near MAXIMUM loads, you should use 10% less to start.)
(See note on Powders below or read all about various Powders.)
Bullet sizes vary from .451" for jacketed to .452" for some lead in diameter. Due to different barrel lengths, type of bullet, seating depth, primer type and other factors, you may not get near the FPS charted. It is just a guide and the reason you should start under these charges and work up.


----------------------------------------
155 grain LSWC (Lead, Semi-Wad Cutter)
Bullseye 6.9 gr. 1,175 FPS
Unique 7.8 gr. 1,190
Universal 7.6 gr. 1,195
Clays 5.2 gr. 1,082
HP38 8.0 gr. 1,179
No. 2 7.5 gr. 1,204
No. 5 10.0 gr. 1,189
540 8.5 gr. 940
-----------------------------------------
185 grain JHP or JSP (Jacketed Hollow or Soft Point)
Bullseye 5.3 gr. 914 FPS
Unique 7.0 gr. 928
Unique 6.0 gr. 765 (actual in Colt45 for mild load)
Universal 7.2 gr. 993
Clays 4.9 gr. 981
HP38 5.9 gr. 906
HS-6 8.6 gr. 917
No. 2 7.5 gr. 1,077
No. 5 10.2 gr. 1,102
231 6.8 gr. 990
540 10.0 gr. 1,015
WST 5.6 gr. 935
WAP 8.9 gr. 1,045
-----------------------------------------
200 grain LSWC (Lead, Semi-Wad Cutter)
Bullseye 4.2 gr. 790 FPS
Unique 5.1 gr. 810
Universal 5.4 gr. 804
Clays 4.3 gr. 888
HP38 5.6 gr. 914
HS-6 8.4 gr. 907
No. 2 5.8 gr. 939
No. 5 8.7 gr. 1,025
231 5.5 gr. 910
540 8.3 gr. 925
WST 5.1 gr. 910
WAP 7.6 gr. 970
-----------------------------------------
225 grain Speer JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point)
Bullseye 4.8 gr. 884 FPS
Unique 6.0 gr. 898
Universal 6.2 gr. 820
HP38 5.3 gr. 832
HS-6 8.2 gr. 825
No. 2 5.6 gr. ---
No. 5 8.5 gr. ---
231 5.2 gr. 824
WAP 7.9 gr. 895
-----------------------------------------
230 grain LSWC or LRN (Semi-Wad Cutter or Round Nose)
(these loads work for the RN Plated bullet,too)
Bullseye 4.0 gr. 810 FPS (target accuracy load)
Bullseye 4.8 gr. 884 hot load/Maximum.
Unique 5.5 gr. 795 (I got 738 fps in my gun)
Unique 5.5 gr. 913 (in Marlin auto carbine)
Unique 6.0 gr. 840* (I got 777 fps in my gun)
Unique 6.0 gr. 924* (in Marlin auto carbine)
Universal 4.8 gr. 782
No. 2 5.6 gr. 870
No. 5 8.5 gr. 968
231 5.1 gr. 870 (I got 734 in my S&W)
540 7.6 gr. 860
WST 4.5 gr. 805
WAP 7.3 gr. 915
* Alliant shows this a Maximum load
-----------------------------------------
230 grain FMJ or JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point)
Bullseye 4.8 gr. 884 FPS
Unique 6.4 gr. 880
Universal 6.0 gr. 853
HP38 5.3 gr. 832
HS6 8.2 gr. 825
No. 2 6.1 gr. 874
No. 5 8.7 gr. 927
231 5.1 gr. 785
540 7.6 gr. 800
WST 4.9 gr. 800
WAP 7.4 gr. 885
-----------------------------------------
260 grain FMJ or JHP Revolver Loads
Bullseye 4.5 gr. 725 FPS
Unique 5.4 gr. 760
HP38 5.1 gr. 800
HS6 8.0 gr. 849
No. 2 5.5 gr. 785
No. 5 7.7 gr. 845
231 5.0 gr. 788
-----------------------------------------


Discussion: The small case and short powder burning time of the .45 ACP requires a faster burning powder, like Bullseye or Unique. The almost standard bullet is the 230 grain round nose, since it feeds so well in autos. However, the SWC has a round enough nose that it feeds well in most autos and makes a cleaner target cut-out. If you were to be hunting or for protection, you might consider the Jacketed Hollow Point bullet shown in the loaded round. Whether you use the lead or full metal jacketed bullet is up to you, but the lead is, of course, much cheaper if you shoot very much. Because of lead fumes in the air, you should use a jacketed or copper plated bullet indoors.



*
Bullseye, Unique and 2400 are products of Alliant (formerly Hercules) Powders.
Clays, Universal, HP38, HS6 and H4895 are products of Hodgdon Powders.
IMR 3031 and IMR 4895 are products of IMR (formerly DuPont) Powder Company.
No. 2, No. 5, #2230, and #2460 are products of Accurate Arms Company
WMR, WSF, WSL, 760, 748, 231 and 540 are products of Winchester, Components Div.

References: Accurate Arms Co. 1996 Reloading booklet - - Alliant Powder Co. Reloaders' Guide (1995) - - Hodgdon's Basic Reloaders Manual (1996) - - Speer Reloading Manual, #12 - - Winchester Reloading Components Manual, 14th edition - - Lyman Piston & Revolver Reloading Handbook, 2nd edition. - - VihtaVuori Oy Company, reloading booklet (1995) - - Numerous magazine articles on reloading special calibers and personal loads where noted.

[jtv3062]

the only thing I will add is be carful loading for the Glock. I get bulges in the .40 S&W when I shoot my reloads that are near max in the Glock. The Glock chamber does not fully support the round.

[DV8]

I've been using Bullseye powder, Winchester primers and Speer bullets for the longest time. I get really good results with those components. If money is tight, I'll use hard cast bullets instead.

Being new to reloading, buy a good reloading book then read up A LOT before you start. Then when you decide on a powder, get the manufacturers loading data, start with 10% less powder than what they have listed and work your way up real slow from there.

To jtv, I'd be real careful with your bulging 40 loads in your Glock. Those plus the unsupported chamber might mean a kaboom in your future. You might want to tone down your loads a bit.

[scrat]

buying books is all your going to get.

[GlockComa]

Thanks for all the info. I actually have 2 reload books at home.
Don't remember the titles but I'll definitely read through it.
Scrat thanks for all the info.

Heres the equipment I have Dillon 550B, 2 Tumblers, Electronic scale, Lymans case trimmer, electronic caliper, carbide dies.

[jtv3062]

thanks DV8, I've been loading reduced loads.Glockcoma 1 tip that is always given is to start low and work your loads up

[GlockComa]

JTV thanks for the advice.

I plan on starting at 4.1- 4.5grains of Win 231 with 180gr. FMJ bullets.

My main shooting is ranges and tactical classes so I'm guessing this would be good enough.