my first 60 rounds...

[trigga]

ok guy, it's been a rough week last week as my mom got sick and all the homework I had to do so I could not find time to try out my new lee press. Finally got around to finish my first batch of 60 rounds. took forever as I double and triple checked everything. kind of excited but may not be able to go out and shoot till later cause it's gun deer this weekend. here's what i made so far and will post targets if I get to a range.

x-treme bullet 180gr plated round nose
alliant bullseye - 20 rounds each @ 4.8gr, 5.0gr, 5.2gr
CCI SP Primer
OAL 1.130 with light crimp

thanks to mstreddy and vongh for the brass.

 

[trigga]

oh and gun i'm using is a glock 22. I will be using the factory barrel and my 6" storm lake barrel. Hopefully the cases don't bulge in my factory barrel as I plan on using this load primarily for plinking. did not know where to seat the bullet so i seated it at 1.30 OAL (1.2 minimum) to try.

 

[LiveLife]

x-treme bullet 180 ... bullseye ... plan on using this load primarily for plinking

Lyman #49 lists 4.8-5.4 gr for 165 gr Speer TMJ plated bullet. I think 4.8-5.2 gr for 180 gr X-Treme plated bullet is too high to start, especially for me, Bullseye produced snappier recoil in 40S&W than other slower burning powders.

I would start at 4.3-4.5 gr and see how you like the recoil and accuracy.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Lyman #49 lists 4.8-5.4 gr for 165 gr Speer TMJ plated bullet. I think 4.8-5.2 gr for 180 gr X-Treme plated bullet is too high to start, especially for me, Bullseye produced snappier recoil in 40S&W than other slower burning powders.

I would start at 4.3-4.5 gr and see how you like the recoil and accuracy.

I agree and I'll add, Bullseye really isn't a good choice for loading the 40 S&W IMO.

I'm not trying to rain on your parade, only trying to help out a new reloader...

 

[LiveLife]

did not know where to seat the bullet so i seated it at 1.30 OAL ... glock 22. I will be using the factory barrel and my 6" storm lake barrel

Did you mean 1.130" OAL/COL?

X-Treme 180 gr RNFP bullet at 1.130" works fine in my G22. Glock barrels tend to have longer leade (slower start of rifling) than aftermarket barrels with shorter leade. I have not used Storm Lake barrel so you probably want to do a barrel drop test to determine the max OAL/COL and feed/chamber from the magazine to determine the working OAL/COL.

Bullseye really isn't a good choice for loading the 40 S&W IMO.

I agree. Normally, I don't recommend powders faster burning than W231/HP-38 as they produce more snappier recoil with the exception of Green Dot but right now it's hard to find powders you want. If Bullseye is the only powder you have on hand, it will work but I would use lower powder charges that produce acceptable accuracy and recoil.

 

[Rule3]

He is using a 180 gr plated bullet not 165.

Lyman lead data for a 180 gr bullet and BE is 4.5 to 5.0 grs

Alliant lists a MAX load of BE for a 180 gr Gold Dot of 5.5 grs BE

Your max load should be less than 4.9 (5.0) grains which is 10% less than Alliants Max load.


I agree that the 40 SW is better with slower powders. BE and Titegroup, with the 40 SW in Glocks is not the best combination.

You stated "did not know where to seat the bullet so i seated it at 1.30 OAL"


Did you take your barrel out and use Walkalongs plunk test to see if the round chambered correctly?????

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=506678

 

[LiveLife]

He is using a 180 gr plated bullet not 165.

Lyman #49 load data for Speer 165 gr TMJ was the closest plated load data I could find and I referenced it to show that 4.8-5.2 is too high to start for the heavier 180 gr X-Treme plated bullet and Bullseye, especially for plinking.

With X-Treme 180 gr RNFP plated bullets, I used Lyman #49 lead load data for 175 gr bullet with good results which lists 4.2-5.1 gr at 1.125" OAL/COL.

 

[Rule3]

I agree his load is too high. I used the lYman Cast data for 180 gr which can be used for plated bullets.

Either way the OP has had this discussed before.

I kind of cringe at new reloaders starting with fast powders, in a 40SW and a Glock.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=733987

 

[LiveLife]

Rule3, I wasn't aware of that thread.

I think Green Dot probably would have been better than Bullseye but he's got Bullseye now.

 

[trigga]

i have been searching around and could not find much data on what i currently have as i do understand bullseye like mentioned before my not be ideal for the .40. i just got the 4.8-5.2 grs from similar specs (180 gr jacketed bullets) and started the OAL at 1.30 which cycles fine. again most of these sources are forums and not listed in manuals or manufacturers sites as the bullets are different. if you guys think this is too high of a charge, i could always pull the bullet apart and start over.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

i have been searching around and could not find much data on what i currently have as i do understand bullseye like mentioned before my not be ideal for the .40. i just got the 4.8-5.2 grs from similar specs (180 gr jacketed bullets) and started the OAL at 1.30 which cycles fine. again most of these sources are forums and not listed in manuals or manufacturers sites as the bullets are different. if you guys think this is too high of a charge, i could always pull the bullet apart and start over.

Don't trust guys on forums, not even us because sometimes numbers get transposed incorrectly.

No need to take them apart right now, just build the lower charge rounds and when working up see if you need to go as high as the ones you already loaded. If yes use the higher charge rounds, if no then you can take them apart.

Don't get discouraged, you will keep learning every day if you do things right! lol

 

[trigga]

thanks arch, i'll load another twenty of each at 4.4 and 4.6 and if I need, will move up.

 

[Rule3]

Don't trust guys on forums, not even us because sometimes numbers get transposed incorrectly.

No need to take them apart right now, just build the lower charge rounds and when working up see if you need to go as high as the ones you already loaded. If yes use the higher charge rounds, if no then you can take them apart.

Don't get discouraged, you will keep learning every day if you do things right! lol

Well said ARCH

trigga, as Arch said we are not ganging up on you, just trying to help and avoid any potential problems. As I mentioned in the other thread, please be careful in weighing out your charge. Bullseye certainly can be used but it can go from good to bad with a slight overcharge,

 

[Potatohead]

Don't get discouraged, you will keep learning every day if you do things right!

You'll learn for sure if you do things wrong too!

Ax me how I know..

 

[sexybeast]

I have not used bullseye in a while but I also think you are starting out too high. In most load books bullseye, red dot, and titegroup have about the same loadings and simular characterists for each particular weight bullet. Don't get your load data this way but it is a good way to double check. Example: Titegroup loads for 180gr 40s&w starts at 4.2 to start and max at 4.7gr. Find a good source of data and stick with it. And pull those bullets and start lower.
I don't like bullseye for heavy bullets either, but a very experienced world class shooter I know loves it behind a 230gr .45acp. It can be done.

 

[Rule3]

I don't like bullseye for heavy bullets either, but a very experienced world class shooter I know loves it behind a 230gr .45acp. It can be done.

Bullseye was/is the powder for the original GI load in 45 ACP. either 200 or 230 grain bullets/ It is fine in the 45. A slow low pressure round. Not so good in a high pressure round like the 40 SW.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

When we were rookies just starting out, we loaded a ton of .40s with 175 grain bullets and Bullseye. I cringe now thinking about it.
I have since switched to W231/HP38 for .40 stuff. Unique isn't bad either.
Problem is, I'm sitting on 3 pounds of Bullseye. Oh well. That'll load up a ton of .38 Special stuff.

And yes, you will likely learn something every time you step up to the bench. I know, if I had a dollar for every round I've had to pull...........well lets just say I could buy a LOT of components.

 

[trigga]

ok guys, so i've decided to pull all the rounds i just made. I don't think I want to risk it knowing this is not going to be the powder I plan on using and perhaps it's not the best powder for the .40 either. not that i'm discouraged or anything but i want to get it right with something more suitable.

don't know if i mentioned it but i was able to find some blue dot, aa 5 and aa 7. i thought I saw some Universal too. (that was after i bought the bullseye) I didn't buy them at the time because I wanted to do more research and what I found was mostly good things about all. What I was really looking at was the burn rate on them and trying to determine which one of these is more suitable for .40... it's been a couple of weeks since i've check locally and will perhaps go "powder hunting" again tomorrow after class.

my cousin offered to trade me his half full pound of power pistol for my bullseye. I'm keeping it as I do plan on loading .45 acp later. my cousin told me he got his power pistol from a shop 30 minutes away. (that was before obama got re-elected) Think I'll give them a call tomorrow.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

ok guys, so i've decided to pull all the rounds i just made. I don't think I want to risk it knowing this is not going to be the powder I plan on using and perhaps it's not the best powder for the .40 either. not that i'm discouraged or anything but i want to get it right with something more suitable.

don't know if i mentioned it but i was able to find some blue dot, aa 5 and aa 7. (that was after i bought the bullseye) of these three, which one is more suitable for .40? it's been a couple of weeks since i've check locally and will perhaps go "powder hunting" again tomorrow after class.

my cousin offered to trade me his half full pound of power pistol for my bullseye. I'm keeping it as I do plan on loading .45 acp later. my cousin told me he got his power pistol from a shop 30 minutes away. (that was before obama got re-elected) Think I'll give them a call tomorrow.

Both AA#5 and AA#7 are much better choices in the 40 S&W than Bullseye with the best being AA#7 IMO. You are really going to like AA#7 in the .40 without a doubt!!!

In the 45 Auto AA#5 is the choice especially since Accurate designed AA#5 around the 45 Auto. I would use AA#7 in the 40 S&W especially with 180gr bullets and AA#5 in the 45 Auto with all weight bullets. If you HAVE TO choose only one powder I would go with AA#5 but IMO there's no reason to go with only 1 powder as long as you can find both.

 

[trigga]

it's funny how when i went in to buy primers, gander had a shipment of cci mini-mags. it's been nearly a year since i've seen any .22 lr on the shelf. Looks like things are slowing coming back... if we look for them.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

it's funny how when i went in to buy primers, gander had a shipment of cci mini-mags. it's been nearly a year since i've seen any .22 lr on the shelf. Looks like things are slowing coming back... if we look for them.

I have seen 22LR ammo in the shelves here and there but at prices I'm not willing to pay.

 

[trigga]

I must be a week too late cause there was only the aa 5 left so I bought it. According to the Hodgdon burn chart the burn rate is slower then what I have been recommended besides aa 7 so I hope it works better than bullseye.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Yes, AA#5 will work MUCH BETTER than Bullseye, no fears...

 

[cottonpicker]

FYI My current load for 40S&W 175gr LRN is 4.7gr Bullseye w/OAL 1.110" in Glock 22.

 

[Rule3]

I feel you did the right thing pulling those rounds. Again, not that BE can not be used but if you measurements are off it can build up pressure real fast. When you have more experience and practice you certainly can use it but there are better powders out there.


Well since you mentioned Power Pistol, If you can snag some it is excellent for the 40 SW and 9mm! Hornady manual praises the stuff.

About all I use in those calibers now. HP38 is still my go to powder for about anything, I do not use any of the Accurate powders so go with what ARCH and your manuals say on those.