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View Full Version : Lighter weight boolits in 40 S&W



ski2me
07-05-2012, 02:36 AM
Who has experience shooting Boolits lighter than 180gr. Just wondering what the advantages/disadvantages are. Also where would be a good starting point for using WST with 145gr LTC boolits?

garym1a2
07-05-2012, 08:20 AM
I use 3.7-3.8 gr WST with my lee 175tc mold and get good results. Nice soft loads. This is my uspsa minor load with pf about 145.

I have tried the same charge with the lee 145 semiwadcutter and accuracy was much better than the 175 tc load. Recoil was also very light and the load bairly made minor pf. This is out of a glock 22 with storm lake barrel and stock spring weights. cases barly come out the gun. I only did about 100 rounds of the 145 load as this is a 2up mold and not made very well as the hinges bind on me.

I load WST for its accuracy and load it in 45 acp also and plan to try it for 9mm reduce loads soon.

I think of it as a cleaner version of bullseye.

h1tdk00
07-05-2012, 09:31 AM
With the lighter bullets you can keep the velocity up but still have light recoil. Also, you get more bullets per pound of lead with the lighter bullets, which is nice if you shoot alot.

I also got real good accuracy with the Lee 145 gr. bullet in my guns. I just wish they would make it in a 6 cavity. The 2 cavity is way to slow.

ski2me
07-05-2012, 11:24 AM
Gary, You'd suggest using the SWC configuration? I haven't ever used those. 3.8 cycles your gun ok?

Shiloh
07-05-2012, 11:59 AM
I have a LEE 6 cav. TLSWC in .40 that has been trimmed to just past the bevel base to the next groove. Drops at 155-160 depending on whats in the pot. I also have the same mold that has not been trimmed. Both shoot just fine. I prefer a lighter boolit for the .40 and IMPO, the 175 and higher are better suited to the 10mm.

I also have the LEE traditional groove 6 cav. TCSWC that is still in the box.

I called LEE last year and asked if they would ever run the .40 cal. 145 gr SWC as a 6 cavity mold.
They said there was no demand, and the tooling change would not be worth it at the current time.
I think the LEE 145 gr boolit would be perfect for the .40 S&W

Shiloh

popper
07-05-2012, 01:58 PM
Shiloh - Does trimming like that leave any rear band left? Is the 145 a 175 that is made SWC? My 40's work with the 175 SWC but I like the regular groove better. I'd like a TC in 145 or 155 but the 145 SWC cone looks a lot smaller than the 175, don't know how well it would feed in XDm. I tried both 175s with same load and lube, the TL shoot 2" higher @ 25 yds.

garym1a2
07-05-2012, 02:03 PM
Yes, but the cases don't go very far. I need more rounds and practice with it before I want to run a match with it. Less than 100 in practice so far. Would love a 6up mold of them.

I also brought a light spring to experment with it, just no time yet.


Gary, You'd suggest using the SWC configuration? I haven't ever used those. 3.8 cycles your gun ok?