Help with .40 S&W load New to Forum

[tbh724]

I cooked up a .40 S&W recipe using the following ingredients: lead 140 grain TCFP, 7.8 grains of 3N37, OAL 1.135.
After reading all the horror stories about the dangers of reloading .40 I'm just a little leery about putting this through my Beretta. Any feed back would be appreciated.

Thanks

[scattershot]

Is that published data?

[bhn22]

It appears to be a top end load from what I've been able to extrapolate. What is the source? Which Beretta are you using? I've had a few 40s, and never considered it a dangerous caliber to load. Early Glocks made it more interesting than it really needed to be though. I had a Beretta 96 that I still regret selling.

[tbh724]

That's the problem i can't find any published data for this particular powder and bullet combination. Vihtavouri has a load for a 155grn FP starting load at 7.6 grains and max 7.9 of 3n37 and a 135 grn HP starting load at 8.3 grains and max 8.6. Another unofficial source has a 135 grain bullet from 7.2 to 9.4 grains of 3n37. With all the years of experience out there i thought i would ask for comments, I'm using a px4strom.

[randyrat]

Why not work up that load, or work up to that load. Or using a bullet puller make the OAL a little longer to reduce pressure and shoot em up.

[dragon813gt]

There is usually a reason that a powder manufacturer doesn't list a load for a particular bullet weight. If you don't feel comfortable figuring out the load from what info you can find. Then don't load it. If that is indeed a max load. Pull the rounds and start over. You should never start at max.

[tbh724]

Thanks for the feed back, I only loaded ten rounds, i believe i will take out the bullet puller and start again at a lower grain level.

[Chihuahua Floyd]

As said above, stick with published data and never start at the maximum.
In your second post you mention an unofficial source? What do you consider an unofficial source? If its Bubba's brother down at the XYZ gun shop and used tire dealership, I would not go there for all the powder Alliant makes. If I can't find it from a trusted source and verify it from a second source, I won't use it.
That said, the 40 is no more or less dangerous than any other round.
Stay safe.
CF

[tbh724]

A unofficial source, is data found through forums such as this that is not published in reloading manuals or powder companies data.

[Wayne Smith]

Don't use 'unofficial source' data unless you know the source Very well or have confirmed the data from a published (usually pressure tested) source.

[rattletrap1970]

I use 4.0gr of WW231 with a cast TL401-175-SWC. I haven't chrono'ed it, but its comfortable and accurate from my EAA Witness Match.

[gray wolf]

There is usually a reason that a powder manufacturer doesn't list a load for a particular bullet weight. If you don't feel comfortable figuring out the load from what info you can find. Then don't load it. If that is indeed a max load. Pull the rounds and start over. You should never start at max.
++1
Also a call to the powder folks can be most helpful, ALWAYS verify info, even from our forum here.
And never start with a max load, it's not the most accurate and could get you into trouble.

[NSP64]

Welcome.
all good advice.

I load a Taurus 24/7 compact. I started at min and worked down until gun would not function. Then I went up 0.2gr and shoot it all the time.
RCBS 180gr rf, over 3.2gr of win 231.

I ran it over a crony and was getting 460fps??? might be an error.
Always works the gun. So I don't care too much about speed.
Easy shooting and accurate @ 30 yrds.

Lead will always shoot faster than jacketed for the same powder charge.

[MBuechle]

The first gun I cast for was my XD40. Lee 175TLSWC. Had to play with seating depth to get reliable feed. Had to seat & crimp in separate steps, not a problem after I got my 550b. Works great with Power Pistol. Now have a Mihec MP402-190 mold for 180 gr. deep HPs, 190 gr. cup points or 193 gr. wide flat noses. I shoot lead exclusively through this gun now. .40 is not hard to load for, just pay attention to details.