Reloading 40 s&w help needed

[Xvs950t]

Hello all. I am reloading 40s&w with cfe pistol, cci small pistol primers, 180 grain berry's round nose copper plated bullets.
I am looking for some help with reloading data with references from actual data that is by Berry's. Does anyone have this and can share? I will be shooting this from a keltec sub 2k. So I would like as much of the full spectrum from lite to stout loads. I will not be shooting stouts, but would like to see how the data changes as it ramps up. Thank you

 

[Virginia Jim]

This will get you in the ballpark
https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol
See the data for BERB FP bullets, though your OAL will be different.

 

[LiveLife]

Welcome to THR

40s&w with cfe pistol ... 180 grain berry's round nose ... keltec sub 2k

I will not be shooting stouts, but would like to see how the data changes as it ramps up.

When I am conducting load development with bullet that is different from published load data (FN/FP vs RN in your case), I will reference all available load data and use most conservative load data for my initial powder work up as you can always go higher once you have reliable slide cycling and spent case extraction/ejection.

Here's Hodgdon load data Virginia Jim posted for Berry's plated FP bullet - http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

• 40S&W Berry's 180 gr FP CFE Pistol COL 1.125" Start 5.9 gr (1,007 fps) - Max 6.5 gr (1,092 fps)

But Speer load data for TMJ (Total Metal Jacket) which is thick plated bullet, shows lower start/max charges so I would suggest referencing Speer load data for your initial RN powder work up - https://reloading-data.speer-ammo.c...0_caliber-10mm_400_dia/40_SmithWesson_180.pdf

• 40S&W Speer TMJ FN CFE Pistol OAL 1.120" Start 5.0 gr (911 fps) - Max 5.7 gr (1009 fps)

your OAL will be different.

For my barrels, typical TCFP/FN profile bullets are loaded longer 1.142" OAL than SAAMI max of 1.135" and RNFP profile bullets are loaded even longer 1.155" OAL.

So use your barrel to determine the max OAL and function test by feeding from the magazine to determine the working OAL for your powder work up - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...rel-find-a-max-o-a-l-with-your-bullet.506678/

 

[sparkyv]

Howdy, from Texas.

 

[lordpaxman]

Welcome to THR!
I used to shoot a lot of 180gr Rainer RN’s in .40, but the only load data I have for CFE Pistol is for the HDY XTP. Fortunately for me the Hodgdon online data had entries for that specific bullet. I stayed within their lines, but never did achieve their velocities in a P239.
As a corollary, I used to load these 180’s with Universal, and there’s no published data for this combination so I started with the BERB FP data, at once again found I never did achieve their velocities. All chambers and barrels will be different, and certainly different from the test fixtures used by Hodgdon. The thing to note is I felt comfortable using this data as my velocities weren’t exceeding the published data. Ideally we’d measure pressure, but velocity is the only thing I can measure.
As @LiveLife pointed out, you can usually load RNs longer than spec, as you load longer with a given charge, pressure and velocity will decrease. When you load shorter, the reverse is true, that’s why it’s important for new reloaders to pay attention to the COL. Good luck!

 

[243winxb]

Hodgdon 40 S&W maxinum load data is for fully supported chambers.

Watch for bullet setback as the rounds chamber. Neck tension on the bullets is important.

Some mixed range brass may allow bullet set back on chambering.

The 40 S&W works at 35,000 PSI. Plastic gun dont hold up well at these pressures, if there is a case failure.

Not much difference in velocity from start load to maximum?