Newb Question

[Smoke Eater]

Hello all,
I am new to reloading and I wanted to pick the brains of some of you veteran reloaders. My question is what is a good bullet, and charge weight in .40 cal for target and plinking. I have a LEE BREECH LOCK CHALLENGER PRESS KIT that I got for Christmas, with a whole bunch of Federal once fired empties that are deprimed and clean waiting to be loaded. Thanks in advance.

 

[ranger335v]

Did your kit not include a reloading manual? If not, get one.

 

[Randy1911]

My favorite plinking load is a 180 LFP (Lead Flat Point) and 4.7 grs. of W231 and standard primer. I seat to 1.125". It is a fairly mild load but works fine in my 1911.

 

[rfwobbly]

You want to start in the middle.

I'd choose a medium weight 165 or 180gr plated bullet to start with. You can get low volumes from Berry Mfg in several different nose styles to play with. Plated bullets load and shoot easily at moderate speeds with excellent results.

Then, when you know your press, know your gun, know your powder, you can order some lead bullets if you like. Missouri Bullet comes to mind. I find lead slightly harder to load, and slightly dirtier to shoot, and much, much smokier. But you will save some money.

After doing both, you may decide that plated is worth the difference.