40 S&W and power pistol load help

[rocket420]

Hi i am fairly new to reloading all i have reloaded so far is 357 mag.
I want to start reloading 40 S&W.
what i have
power pistol powder
165 speer gold dot
cci small pistol primers
federal brass

my speer manual lists 7grs start 8grs max
my lyman manual lists 6.3grs start 7grs max
modern reloading lists 6.8grs start 7.3grs max

so what should i use for a starting load? and max load?

 

[Rollieftw]

Start at 7.2 and finish at 7.6?

Here is a cut and past from the Alliant website

 

[nevanevan]

I did some reloading with power pistol and found with my 180gn bullets, generic fmj, that 6.5grns of power pistol was quite snappy. I would try at 7.0grains as your start load and then work up as you feel comfortable. I think that the listed charge weights are maximum loads.

 

[RSA1]

I agree with nevanevan in Post #3 that 7.0gr Power Pistol is a safe starting point. However the max load of 7.8gr for me seems to be very high (1081ft/s from a 4" barrel S&W pistol). I personally would not exceed 7.3 gr if you feel it is safe to move up from 7.0gr and feel that the load and COL is safe in your pistol.

I have shot and carried 40S&W in 155-200gr in our Glock pistols from 1995 - 2006 while living in RSA. These were a Glock 27 (3.5"), G23 (4"), G35 (5.3") and a Vector SP2 (4.5"?), and I believe that the velocities listed, if achievable, are very high and will greatly increase wear and tear on the pistol.

My son sometimes used factory CorBon 135gr ammo in his Vector SP2 pistol, but based on my actual shooting experience (G23 and G35) on live animals, 155-165gr Speer Gold Dot and Federal HydraShoc, performance was good enough for any intended use, even at 100ft/s less than what manufacturers may list as max loads. Rather be safe than sorry.

RSA1