.40 S&W over charge?

[fabguy]

I did a search and couldn't find anything similar, and didn't want to thread jack someone elses new post. My question is I hear of this Kaboom from. 40 and don't want that so I want to make sure I got this down before I try these test loads.
I am using :
mixed nickel cases
Win. WSP primers
155 gn XTP bullets
and the following charges of HS-6
7.2 gn , 7.6 gn, 7.8 gn, 7.9 gn, 8.0 gn
I made up 5 rounds of each. I also made 5 each of 180 gn FMJ FP with these charges
6.4 gn, 6.6 gn.
Hornady, hodgdon, speer, manuals are all different so I was wondering if these are right, or should I re charge them. I will be testing them in Colorado next week and can fix them there if I need to. Any info/ input is deeply appreciated.
thank you

[Bill Steele]

On the Hodgdon site they list the following:

155gr XTP Start load 7.7gr, Max load 8.5gr with a Minimum OAL 1.125"

180gr XTP Start load 6.1gr, Max load 6.9gr with a Minimum OAL 1.125"

Seems like you are below the maximums in both bullet weights as long as they are at least 1.125" long.

[Bongos]

Problem with Glocks is the factory barrel has a unsupported chamber, this is OK wiht new factory but possibly an issue with reloader, the problem arises as the brass expands thru each firing and reloading, the section of the brass which gets thinner is the rear end, just in front a little infront of the rim. if you pick up brass from the range like most do, you do not really know if that brass has been reloaded and how many times.

[fabguy]

For some reason which I didn't understand before until I read another thread about. 40 S&W , is that case manufacturer and wall thickness can change the crimp and it would also effect OAL right ? Because mine were varying between 1.122 - 1.125 a couple which I fixed came in at 1.127. I am going to seperate my cases by manufacturer and load that way. I hadn't done it with pistol due to not loading as match rounds, but mainly for plinking.

[fabguy]

Problem with Glocks is the factory barrel has a unsupported chamber, this is OK wiht new factory but possibly an issue with reloader, the problem arises as the brass expands thru each firing and reloading, the section of the brass which gets thinner is the rear end, just in front a little infront of the rim. if you pick up brass from the range like most do, you do not really know if that brass has been reloaded and how many times.

Mine is a new XD-40

[hoffman259]

I am using.a 7.1 charge of hs-6 with pmc spp 180gr extreme plated bullets oal 1.130.

Watch your oal if you seat to deep the pressures will go up especially with the 40 round

[noylj]

In most guns, 7.6-7.7gn HS6 is a starting load and 8.5-8.6gn is a MAX load for 155gn jacketed bullets.
In some guns, 6.9gn is a MAX load with a 180gn Jacketed bullet. Again, you are well below that.
KBs happen most with fast powders, particularly powders that are too fast for the bullet weight. Action pistol shooters love heavy bullets (shooting 185-220gn bullets in .40S&W, when most manufacturers recommend no more than 180gn bullets) and fast powders (such as Clays, TiteGroup, N310, AA N100, and Solo 1000).
You are not in this zone, so standard reloading practice is all you need. Just remember that .40S&W is actually a small case for the caliber, just as 9x19 and .380Auto cases are very small for 9mm caliber. ANY bullet set-back in these cartridges will cause a huge boost in pressure.
Load to a COL that is as long as practicable for your gun and magazine, check each round for bullet set-back, and stay with slower powders.

[fabguy]

In most guns, 7.6-7.7gn HS6 is a starting load and 8.5-8.6gn is a MAX load for 155gn jacketed bullets.
In some guns, 6.9gn is a MAX load with a 180gn Jacketed bullet. Again, you are well below that.
KBs happen most with fast powders, particularly powders that are too fast for the bullet weight. Action pistol shooters love heavy bullets (shooting 185-220gn bullets in .40S&W, when most manufacturers recommend no more than 180gn bullets) and fast powders (such as Clays, TiteGroup, N310, AA N100, and Solo 1000).
You are not in this zone, so standard reloading practice is all you need. Just remember that .40S&W is actually a small case for the caliber, just as 9x19 and .380Auto cases are very small for 9mm caliber. ANY bullet set-back in these cartridges will cause a huge boost in pressure.
Load to a COL that is as long as practicable for your gun and magazine, check each round for bullet set-back, and stay with slower powders.

Thank you very much for the replies and the priceless info,

Alright i see, so where Hornady says in their manual that COL is max 1.125, it should be norm for these although 1.126- 1.128 is ok correct? so long as they feed through magazine and load ok?

[Bigtwin]

Also if it helps in your search the XD40 has a fully seated chamber unlike some other guns.
DAmn, I cant seem to find the pics showing multiple guns barrels and the bullet as to how it sits in the chamber.
Not that it means your gun will "kaboom" if not fully seated. But you will get a bulge from spent cases!

[noylj]

I don't care what the manual says, there is no such thing as a maximum COL until you get up to the maximum of 1.135". For the shooting industry, SAMMI establishes a maximum COL for testing, under the assumption that the industry will load to that or a longer COL. Thus, load data will mostly show a "safe" max for most guns properly chambered and loaded to a longer COL.
You, the reloader, are loading for your gun and not the other million gun so chambered. You should always load to the longest COL that functions with your magazine (or cylinder) and feeds and chambers.
My .40S&W loads range from a COL of 1.135 to 1.215". The most accurate loads tend to be in the 1.200-1.215" region.
IF you need to load to a shorter COL than listed in the manual (I have never had this happen), then you should probably drop at least a couple tenths of a grain of the STARTING load as your rounds will produce more pressure than rounds tested.
For a case drawing for .45S&W, go to http://www.saami.org/PubResources/CC...40%20SandW.pdf
Chambers vary and you need to load to the requirements of your barrel.