cast 40 sw

[Kirk Miller]

Mike in Co, was kind enough to sell me a four cav. 401638, but I need some help before I try casting with it.

Specificaly, what type of alloy should I use. This is a 180gr. boolit, and I'm guessing that velocity will be in the 900fps range. I know that is not really quick, but the .40 operates at a much higher PSI than any of the revolver and rifles that I've cast for. So far, all I've cast with is straight ww with a little tin added, and I'm thinking that maybe with the 40sw cast, some lynotype may need to be added to harden the alloy?

Any advice or load recommendations will be very much appreciated.
Thanks
Kirk

[billyb]

i use cast in the 40s&w, 175 grainer. i use the alloy that i use in my 9,38-357 and 45auto with no problems.ww and a little tin .i use lars carnuba red lube. Bill

[9.3X62AL]

I use 92/6/2 alloy in the 40 S&W, which is half lead/half Lino. I've run straight air-cooled WW with good results, too. With the Lee 175 TC, I load 1.135" OAL atop 4.7 grains of WW-231 and get ~925 FPS from a 5" Beretta 96 and 900 from the CZ-75B (4.4" bbl). The harder alloy gets along better with the 1-10" twist many 40's come with, but the CZ's 1-16" twist does fine with WW metal.

[ebner glocken]

At 900 FPS I wouldn't have any problem water dropping straight ww and save my lyno and tin.

Ebner

[9.3X62AL]

At 900 FPS I wouldn't have any problem water dropping straight ww and save my lyno and tin.Ebner

In most pistol applications, I agree with Ebner. However--in 9mm and 40 S&W with their often-encountered insanely fast 1-10" or 4 turns/meter twist rates, you are essentially dealing with a rifle equation. High pressure and fast twist rate. Harder alloys like 92/6/2 sized to fit the throat (.401" is the standard for the 40 S&W barrels I've played with) pay off for me. An aftermarket barrel with a 1-16" twist rate can make life a whole lot easier for many 9mm and 40 S&W pistoleros considering cast boolits as primary fodder in one of these high-pressure platforms.

ETA--I haven't tried water-dropping any of my boolits. This could work as well, but is outside my experience.

[KCSO]

Wheel weighs will work just fine as long as you are not shooting a Glock. If you have a glock Lino will sometimes get the job done. I shoot an XD and wheel weighs and 4.2 of Bullseye will group into 2" at 25 yards.

[Dennis Eugene]

I shoot water droped WW's in my S&W 4006. cast an RCBS 10MM-170-SWC over 5.2 grains of Unique for around 900FPS with no problems what so ever. Dennis