First time loading for pistol...

[MontanaJack]

Loading for my Glock 23 , finally found some powder (CFE Pistol)
I looked on website and found only data that I could find,

Minimum starting load 6.9gr under 165gr plated using once fired and CCI Small pistol and lee fcd

I went to the range and fired the first one , everything worked right. However, I was not hitting the target at 10 yards... I have only fired 180gr factory ammo through this gun. I fired factory ammo for comparison and was dead on...

The question , more powder ?

 

[Bullseye]

Glock 23 is a 40 S&W I assume? Copper plated bullets should be loaded with data as if they were lead cast bullets, not jacketed. Your starting load on Hodgdon load data web page is 6.9 max is 7.5 but that is not for weight of specific type bullets. It just simply refers to 165 gr.
In my Lyman manual, I don't see CFE listed in this weight range.
But I do see that cast bullets start with lower powder charges than jacketed.

If it were me, I would start at 10 % less powder and work my way up if I couldn't hit a target at 10 yds with copper/plated bullets. Say 6.2 or 6.3 gr CFE.
Make sure your not over crimping too. Use a very light taper crimp on 40 S&W but with plated, all you usually will have to do is make sure it plunks into the barrel.

Plated bullets can be a inconsistent in width depending on who you get them from.
My go-to powder is Unique so far. I have no experience with CFE but I have loaded a lot of plated and powder coated bullets.

Now having said all that ... I am frequently wrong, so see what the general consensus is.

 

[LiveLife]

I shoot G22/G23/G27 with factory and Lone Wolf 40S&W barrels along with KKM/LW 40-9 conversion barrels.

I used to load 40S&W at 1.125" for TCFP nose profile bullets (SAAMI max 1.135") but found that factory Glock/LW barrels accepted OAL/COL out to 1.149" as max OAL with 1.143" as working OAL that would reliably feed/chamber from the magazine. This thread outlines my load development with Berry's/MBC 180 gr TCFP bullets - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9362819#post9362819

If you are loading shorter, you are going to leak a lot of high pressure gas before chamber pressures build. With RMR HM RNFP, I use even longer 1.155". Also, with plated bullets, you do not want to use too much taper crimp as squishing the bullet and cutting into the plating will decrease accuracy. Although I use Lee dies, I do not use FCD and use .422" taper crimp with plated bullets. This thread outlines my load development with RMR HM 180 gr RNFP bullets - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9639622#post9639622

Here's RMR HM RNFP loaded to 1.135" and 1.155"

Target pictures of Herco/BE-86 loads using longer 1.155"

 

[vaalpens]

The CFE Pistol load data starts with a high 1124fps for 40S&W, so there are probably better powders to start with when loading 40S&W and pistol for the first time.

Your starting load is at the MIN according to Hodgdon, and Hodgdon lists a regular plated bullet, so you should probably be good starting at 6.9gr. I prefer thicker plating bullets when getting into the 1100fps range. I started my load workup at 6.7gr and worked up to 6.9gr.

A good idea is to look at your crimping process: With the Lee FCD it should be simple. Make sure you only give it 1/2 turn crimp at the end. Nothing more.

The plunk test using your barrel is important. Drop it in hearing the plunk sound. It should turn freely while in the barrel. And it should just drop out when turning the barrel over.

What bullet are you using? What is the length of the bullet? What is your COL?

 

[Zendude]

Did your reloads feel much weaker than factory ammo? Were the reloads hitting high, low, or just all over?
The Ranier plated bullets can be loaded using FMJ recipes as long as the velocity does not exceed a certain point - can't remember exactly what the velocity limit is though.
An approach for plated bullets I use is a starting load midway between the minimum charge for lead and the max charge for jacketed and work up from there.

 

[LiveLife]

Zendude, we no longer have to guess for plated load data as there are many published load data for various plated bullets.

OP is using CFE Pistol and Hodgdon actually has plated load data under BERB for Berry's plated bullets which I have used for different plated bullets with good success with the exception of having to load longer to reduce high pressure gas leakage - http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

165 GR. BERB FP CFE Pistol OAL/COL 1.135" Start 6.9 gr (1,124 fps) 28,000 PSI - Max 7.5 gr (1,205 fps) 33,900 PSI