1st time loader 1st batch question

[marky707]

I just reloaded 40 s&w and want to make sure this would be safe to shoot before I shoot it.

I used 180 grain bear creek lead bullets.
5gn of bullseye powder
and the OAL is 1.12

I am using the recipe in the laymans 49th edition reloading book but the recipe isn't for a lead bullet. I am using the minimum grain amount they listed there.

Will this be o.k. for me to shoot since I am using a lead bullet.

I'm a little nervous since it is the first time I reloaded and am using reloaded bullets.

thanks.

[noylj]

I assume you meant you were using lead bullets, rather than reloaded bullets...
First question: Did you ask this question BEFORE you decided to load a bunch?
.40S&W is a very temperamental round best loaded with slow powders by experienced handloaders. You have jumped right into the heavy bullet/very fast powder loads of action pistol competition--not a place for beginners. You would really be better off with Silhouette for your first loads--and 165gn bullets.
From my compilation of loads, 3.8gn was a max load from one source for lead bullets. 3.4gn is where I would start with lead bullets and 4.4gn is where I would start with jacketed bullets. I compile my load sources so I always start with the lowest starting load I have.
Your 5.0gn is "probably" not going to be any problem, but I would have targeted a COL of about 1.135 or longer. Bullseye is much better behaved than TiteGroup or Clays, but it is still one of the very fastest powders. Please, don't try those powders except for light minor target loads. These powders are designed for light shotgun and very light pistol loads (<800fps) and are not to be trifled with.
Fire a round and inspect for signs of over-pressure, particularly compared to factory ammo with the same bullet weight, watching for larger recoil impulse, case thrown further, case expansion, and primer appearance.
Bullet Weight Powder Weight Velocity Start/Max Power Factor COL
L-SWC 180 Bullseye 3.0 757 136 1.135
Laser Cast L-TC 180 Bullseye 3.0 757 136 1.135
L-SWC 180 Bullseye 3.0 742 134 1.135
swaged L-SWC 180 Bullseye 3.4 750 Start 135
LRN 180 Bullseye 3.5 750 135 1.130
L-SWC 180 Bullseye 3.8 911 Max 164 1.125
L-FP 180 Bullseye 4.3 0 1.125
RCBS 40-180-CM RNFP 180 Bullseye 4.6 911 164
L-RNFP 177 Bullseye 4.6 883 156
swaged L-SWC 180 Bullseye 5.3 950 Max 171

Hdy XTP 180 Bullseye 3.4 754 136 1.135
XTP 180 Bullseye 3.4 731 132 1.135
XTP 180 Bullseye 3.4 733 132 1.135
JHP 180 Bullseye 4.4 628 Start 113
TMJ, GD-HP 180 Bullseye 4.9 783 Start 141 1.120
JHP 180 Bullseye 5.0 0
TMJ, GD-HP 180 Bullseye 5.5 929 Max 167 1.120
JHP 180 Bullseye 5.5 1015 Max 183 1.125
JHP 180 Bullseye 5.6 844 Max 152

[Bill Steele]

My Lee 2nd Edition lists 180gr Lead for .40S&W.

Bullseye Start 4.2gr, Max - 4.5gr, 1.125" minimum OAL.

You are over max according to Lee by a little over 10%.

Will this load blow your gun up? Likely it won't, but as a new loader, the last thing you want first go around is a broken gun. No time like the present to learn how the bullet puller works.

I have found Lee 2nd Edition to be a great source of load data, you might want tp pick up a copy.

Good luck, have fun.

[marky707]

I went to the alliant powder website and their recipe is using 5.5 grains of powder but for a 180 grain speer GDHP although it is a different bullet than mine, mine being a lead flat nose how much difference in grains would vary from a lead bullet to one that is not?

[Bill Steele]

Lead and jacketed use different load data. Lead seals better than jacketed, jacketed present more drag in the barrel than lead.

You would do well to buy a reloading manual and read it through. Lots of guys load without knowing a great deal about it. Don't be one of those guys.

[marky707]

I have the lyman reloading handbook and read most of it. I was looking bullets at the local gun store that would corrispond the recipes in the book but all they had were the lead 180 gn ones. So I am trying to figure out what would be the load data for 180 grn lead flat nose bullet with bullseye powder. I couldn't really find any. From the book it looked like 5 grains would be the start point but from listening to others online it seems like 4.3 grains is what the start point would be.

[Bill Steele]

I have the lyman reloading handbook and read most of it. I was looking bullets at the local gun store that would corrispond the recipes in the book but all they had were the lead 180 gn ones. So I am trying to figure out what would be the load data for 180 grn lead flat nose bullet with bullseye powder. I couldn't really find any. From the book it looked like 5 grains would be the start point but from listening to others online it seems like 4.3 grains is what the start point would be.

Which book are you reading that says 5.0 grains is the start load for lead?

My Lee book says 4.3 is the start load for lead and 4.5gr is max and that is at 1.125" minimum OAL.

[marky707]

I was looking at the data for the jacked hollow point which gives a start load of 4.9 and a max load of 5.6, of course it isn't a lead bullet. For lead they give recipes for 175 grain which would be 4grain start to 5 grain maximum load for a lead bullet. It doesn't give me any information on 180 grain lead bullet.

I did find this site http://www.reloadammo.com/40loads.htm which gives me a max load of 5.5 grains using bullseye powder for a 180 grain lead bullet.

I just made some 4.3 grain lead bullets but I have about a almost a hundred 5 grain lead bullets that I don't know if I should shoot or not given all the mixed information I am finding.

[NiteQwill]

marky707

The best and only answer for you is to work your loads up. Start at the 4.3 you made and work your way up to 4.9. Keep an eye on OAL and you should be GTG.

Find out which load will work best in YOUR gun. The recipes in the books (and online) are a good starting point. A lot you have to take with a grain of salt. READ READ READ. It's a learning process.

Most important: Have fun!

[Bill Steele]

It is your gun bud, there is no shame in pulling them apart.

Having said that, if you insist on shooting them, load 1 in the magazine, rack the slide and drop the magazine. You now have a path for the hot gases to travel if things do go badly. This is not a bad proceedure to use with any new batch of reloads and for sure when trying a new load.

Also, when shooting a new load with lead. Keep an eye on your barrel for leading. After a few magazines, field strip the gun and take a look at the barrel from both ends. Leading is like gold, you will know it when you see it. Heavy leading is a signal to stop.

The way to get to be an old reloader is to always be conservative.

Have fun, good luck.

[Revoman]

I agree with the above, you should probably pull those rounds. Even if starting load for the jacketed hollow point, which is not lead, is 4.9 you should start at least 10% below that starting load, which would be around 4.4.

Looking in a 2005 Alliant Edition Manual, it lists a 180 gr lead Laser Cast bullet at 4.5 gr of Bullseye, 911 FPS. 33K PSI. (No starting or max listed.) It's always nice to have some of the older manuals handy to refer to as well as the most up-to-date and online information.

As stated, Bullseye is a fast powder and a 40 is a high pressure round, not an ideal situation on your first batch.

[rsrocket1]

I've shot those exact bullets with 5.0g Bullseye and get 960-990fps when seated to an OAL of 1.135" out of a 4.25" M&P40. You should be OK at 1.12" and you should have about a 25% margin before you exceed SAAMI pressure of 35kpsi. You will be at about 25.5k.

That being said, you will find that your loads will be pretty snappy and not a real pleasure to shoot 200 rounds in a single setting. You didn't say what your gun was. I hope it isn't a Glock because if it is, all bets are off especially if it's an earlier model without a fully supported chamber.

I like about 4.4g Bullseye for target shooting with my own 180g cast bullets and find no reason to go higher.

[lpspinner]

One thing about the Alliant website is they list the published Max. Starting load should be 10% below that.

They don't show a start and max charge like the other mfg's.

[Bill Steele]

I've shot those exact bullets with 5.0g Bullseye and get 960-990fps when seated to an OAL of 1.135" out of a 4.25" M&P40. You should be OK at 1.12" and you should have about a 25% margin before you exceed SAAMI pressure of 35kpsi. You will be at about 25.5k..

My Lee book says 911fps at 4.5 (which fits with your measured velocities at 5.0grs), but it says 4.5grs yielded 33Kpsi (at 1.125' OAL), which is very little margin below max SAAMI. I don't know where Lee gets his pressure data for Alliant powders, I know get gets measured data from Hodgdon, but Lee's data sure is a lot different than what your software is showing.

[Revoman]

"My Lee book says 911fps at 4.5 (which fits with your measured velocities at 5.0grs), but it says 4.5grs yielded 33Kpsi (at 1.125' OAL)"

The above is exactly what the 2005 Alliant manual states.