BT Sniper
02-19-2011, 03:03 AM
Had a few inquires latly into lighter 40 cal bullets from the 9mm brass. I said it could be done and finally got around to taking a few pics.
Here is what I made from left to right.
Standard 185 grain bullet with 125 grain .356 core in standard 9mm brass case, 165 grain bullet with 102 grian .356 core and trimmed brass, and a 145 grain bullet with 93 grian .312 core with trimmed brass.
The core weights actually dropped at around 128, 105 and 85 (yes 85 grains from a 93 grain mold ???) so we can get the nice 20 grain spread between possible bullets for the 40 cal.
http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/40cals003.jpg
Here is a pic of two 145 cal bullets. One on left is from 9mm case with 85 grain core. One on right is my custom jacket made from cut off 30-06 brass with 128 grain lead core. Notice bullet on right is made with orginal CH die with .250 metpat and bullet on left is with same die but bored the nose of the die up to .312 metplat
http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/40cals001.jpg
Last we have a pick of two identical weight bullets made from the same standard length 9mm case. Notice how we can compress the jacket just a bit to give use a shorter bullet then the length of teh case. The difference is in the size of the HP used to form the bullet. The one on the left is a smaller HP then the one on the right. I have learned it is very important for us to watch the total length of these 40 cal bullets we are making when loaded to spec lengths in a 40 S&W. In a 10mm longer length bullets is not a problem that I know of. In 40 S&W we need to keep the bullet length under .700! Problem is the longer bullets seat deep enough that it enguages with the 5 degree thicker taper of the case wall in the 40 S&W brass and can cause excessive pressure if the bullet is clamped into this area of the case. Somthing to watch out for and somthing I will make sure to check in the size of the HP for all my future 40 cal die offerings. This long bullet posted below was made with an extra large HP that I have not offered in previous dies.
http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/40cals002.jpg
Good shooting and Swage On!
BT
Here is what I made from left to right.
Standard 185 grain bullet with 125 grain .356 core in standard 9mm brass case, 165 grain bullet with 102 grian .356 core and trimmed brass, and a 145 grain bullet with 93 grian .312 core with trimmed brass.
The core weights actually dropped at around 128, 105 and 85 (yes 85 grains from a 93 grain mold ???) so we can get the nice 20 grain spread between possible bullets for the 40 cal.
http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/40cals003.jpg
Here is a pic of two 145 cal bullets. One on left is from 9mm case with 85 grain core. One on right is my custom jacket made from cut off 30-06 brass with 128 grain lead core. Notice bullet on right is made with orginal CH die with .250 metpat and bullet on left is with same die but bored the nose of the die up to .312 metplat
http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/40cals001.jpg
Last we have a pick of two identical weight bullets made from the same standard length 9mm case. Notice how we can compress the jacket just a bit to give use a shorter bullet then the length of teh case. The difference is in the size of the HP used to form the bullet. The one on the left is a smaller HP then the one on the right. I have learned it is very important for us to watch the total length of these 40 cal bullets we are making when loaded to spec lengths in a 40 S&W. In a 10mm longer length bullets is not a problem that I know of. In 40 S&W we need to keep the bullet length under .700! Problem is the longer bullets seat deep enough that it enguages with the 5 degree thicker taper of the case wall in the 40 S&W brass and can cause excessive pressure if the bullet is clamped into this area of the case. Somthing to watch out for and somthing I will make sure to check in the size of the HP for all my future 40 cal die offerings. This long bullet posted below was made with an extra large HP that I have not offered in previous dies.
http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/40cals002.jpg
Good shooting and Swage On!
BT