40 S&W with W231

[nelson133]

I like 231 in my 45 acp and would like to use it in my 40s but I haven't been able to find any loading data for it. I generally use 155 - 165 grain cast lead for the bullet and am looking for a practice load. I'm thinking 4.6 to 5.3 grains, but if anyone has any experience with this, I'd appreciate your informed advice. Thanks in advance.

[Scrounger]

Never loaded for the .40. But. WW231 is slightly slower than Bullseye which means that using loading data for Bullseye should be perfectly safe. Assuming you can find the Bullseye data to start with. Usual precautions, start with starting load and work up. Here are some loads lifted from Sixgun.com :(http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt40sw.htm):
LOADS FOR THE .40 S&W

FIREARM: S&W MODEL 4006 BARREL LENGTH: 4"

BRASS: WINCHESTER .40 S&W PRIMER: WINCHESTER WSP

CHRONOGRAPH: OEHLER MODEL 35P GROUPS: 5-10 SHOTS @ 25 YDS.



CAST BULLETS:

LYMAN #401043

LOAD MV GROUP

5.0 GR. WW231 975 1 1/4"

5.5 GR. WW231 1037

6.0 GR. WW231 1096 2 1/2"

6.0 GR. HERCO 928 2"

6.5 GR. HERCO 1013 2 1/8"

6.5 GR. AA#5 869 3 1/4"

7.0 GR. AA#5 971 3"

8.5 GR. AA#7 955 2 1/2"

9.0 GR. AA#7 1005 1 1/2"

9.5 GR. AA#7 1053 2 1/2"

7.5 GR. BLUE DOT 937 3 1/4"

8.0 GR. BLUE DOT 993 2 1/2"

BULL-X 175 LEAD SWC

4.5 GR. BULLSEYE 865 3 1/2"

5.0 GR. BULLSEYE 980 3 1/4"

5.0 GR. AA#2 999 2 1/2"

5.5 GR. AA#2 1015 1 3/4"

5.0 GR. WW231 1017 3"

5.5 GR. WW231 1039 3"

5.0 GR. UNIQUE 946 2 3/4"

5.5 GR. UNIQUE 1045 3"

6.5 GR. AA#5 943 3 1/8"

7.0 GR. AA#5 1028 1 3/4"

8.5 GR. AA#7 938 2 1/2"

9.0 GR. AA#7 1019 2"

7.5 GR. BLUE DOT 1004 1 1/2"

8.0 GR. BLUE DOT 1063 1 7/8"

5.5 GR. HERCO 912 3 1/2"

6.0 GR. HERCO 1004 3 1/2"


JACKETED BULLETS:

HORNADY 170 XTP

5.5 GR. AA#2 995 3"

6.0 GR. AA#2 1051

6.5 GR. AA#5 869 3"

7.0 GR. AA#5 920 3 1/4"

7.5 GR. AA#5 963 3 1/4"

9.0 GR. AA#7 977 3"

9.5 GR. AA#7 1007

5.5 GR. WW231 993

8.0 GR. BLUE DOT 936 2 3/4"

8.5 GR. BLUE DOT 1036

6.5 GR. HERCO 965

7.0 GR. WW540 846 4 1/4"

7.5 GR. WW540 918 3"

NOSLER 170 JHP

5.5 GR. AA#2 957 3 1/2"

5.5 GR. WW231 966 3 1/4"

7.0 GR. AA#5 975 2 1/2"

7.5 GR. AA#5 1035 2"

9.0 GR. AA#7 975 2 1/2"

9.5 GR. AA#7 1024 2 1/4"

8.0 GR. BLUE DOT 906 1 1/4"

7.0 GR. WW540 856 2 7/8"

7.5 GR. WW540 947 4 1/2

180 SIERRA JHP

5.5 GR. AA#2 964 4"

5.5 GR. WW231 983 3 1/2"

7.0 GR. AA#5 962 2 1/4"

7.5 GR. AA#5 1073 4"

9.0 GR. AA#7 986 1 3/4"

9.5 GR. AA#7 1048 2 1/2"

6.0 GR. HERCO 957 2 3/4"

8.0 GR. BLUE DOT 931 3"

7.0 GR. WW540 919 2 1/2"

7.5 GR. WW540 965 4 1/4"

180 SPEER PHP

5.5 GR. AA#2 1013 3 1/2"

5.5 GR. WW231 1020 3 1/4"

7.0 GR. AA#5 938 4"

9.0 GR. AA#7 969 4 1/2"

8.0 GR. BLUE DOT 1070 4 1/2"

6.5 GR. HERCO 1049 3 3/4"

Another article: http://www.handgunsmag.com/ammunition/40lite_091806/index1.html

[Curly James]

My standard load for years has been a 180 grain bullet (usuall the "j" word type), mixed once fired brass (I feel that is important as I use the load in Glock handguns), WW small pistol primers, and 5.0 grains of WW 231. Works quite well and is accurate and reliable. Also the powder works well in my Dillon 550 measure. CJ.

[mooman76]

Lyman 48 has 5.5g-6.5g for 150g boolit and 4.3g - 5.8g for 175g. boolit so your load estimates appear to be about right. I've use 5.2g 231 and 175g boolit with no problems but still looking for that magical load!

[454PB]

How's this for service?





http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/679/40swdatatk5.jpg

[nelson133]

Thanks for all the help guys, i'm going to try 5.1 grains behind the 155 semi-wadcutter and try it out this weekend.

[nelson133]

On Sunday I shot 200 rounds of 155 grain semi-wadcutter in front of 5.1 grains of W231 and I was pleased. It was a good mid-range load and as accurate as any reload I have tried. I have 3 40 S&W guns, Kel-Tec P-40, Taurus Millennium Pro, and a Beretta 96 and it worked well in all of them. I'll load the other 800 bullets this week. Thanks again for the help.