.40 S&W load data

[gunguy59]

Hi everyone...

i normally load 9mm and other rifle rounds, but I am going to start loading for my .40 cal pistol

I was wondering if someone could post me the load data for .40 s&w - i am having a hard time nailing down accurate load data.

I am using HP-38 (which i have been told that it is the same as Win 231 powder). I have berry's .40 cal 155g Flat Point bullets.

I don't have the load data in my Lyman or Hornady books. I see the load data on the powder can saying 6.0gr but the bullet is Hdy XTP and in my books I don't have the HP-38/Win231 data for my bullets. I believe the Hdy XTP are the same as the flat point but if an expert can confirm that would be great.

I do see in the lyman guide that the 231 for 155gr is starting at 5.3 .. i realize that the line does not say WIN231 but just 231.. is that the same? not sure.. If it is the same how come the big difference between what the powder can says at 6.0 and the lyman guide at 5.3.. thats a pretty big difference.

I did find some load data trolling around the site here and someone posted a load for berry's bullets and the load starts at 5.1.

I am wondering where i need to start my loads at. I normally start on the lower end and work mid-way up, but since the numbers are so skewed I am not sure where to start out at. These are just plinking rounds at 25/50 yards so i am not going to accuracy at super great distances..would be nice to get 9's at 100 with a pistol though lol

Thoughts or ideas?

(sorry in advance if the screenshots are blown up to enormous sizes..)


Thanks everyone!!

 

[2bfree]

Acording to Hodgdon 5.1/6.0 for Berrys 155 FP OAL 1.125
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

 

[gunguy59]

Perfect. Thank you! ..

 

[LiveLife]

.40 s&w ... HP-38 ... berry's 155g Flat Point

These are just plinking rounds at 25/50 yards so i am not going to accuracy at super great distances

W231 is same exact powder as HP-38. I used 155/165/180 gr bullets and W231/HP-38 for USPSA match/practice loads and W231/HP-38 produced decent accuracy even at lower charges.

Hodgdon has load data for Berry's bullets listed under "BERB" - http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

155 gr BERB FP W231/HP-38 COL 1.125" Start 5.1 gr (979 fps) 24,100 PSI - Max 6.0 gr (1,130 fps) 33,900 PSI

Accuracy from Berry's plated bullets and W231/HP-38 should be good enough for plinking but if you want to improve accuracy, try loading longer than SAAMI max of 1.135". My Glock/Lone Wolf barrels can work with TCFP nose profile bullets loaded to 1.142" for less gas leakage - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-for-lead-plated-bullets.743416/#post-9362819