.40S&W recipe for reloading newbs?

curtmg said:
dies are dies, the holes and threads are all the same size, so yes they are interchangeable.
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Only Lee and Dillon have powder through expander dies. Lee has the patent on them and Dillon licenses the patent from Lee.


CanuckShooter said:
So would Titegroup be a good powder for .38spl and 9mm as well?

My dad currently uses Clay's powder for reloading. I found out he is using an aftermarket Bar-Sto barrel on his 4006 if that makes any difference.
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Tightgroup is a good powder for 38sp and 9mm. Clays (not Universal Clays) is a faster powder than Tightgroup and is a good powder for 38 spl, and for 9mm, but NOT for max loads.

Because the charge weights are so low with both TG and Clays, it is VERY easy to double charge a 38 spl case and not see it. Trailboss is a special bulky powder that is designed for light loads in long cases.
 
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So we are starting to reload tomorrow finally, and my dad is looking to buy a bunch of bullets for when he runs out (he only has a few hundred if that).

Are Frontier CMJ bullets that Marstar sells good bullets? Any issues or disadvantages from buying Winchester etc? I am either buying those from Marstar or something else from Higginson's. How comes the Frontier are so much cheaper?

If the Frontier bullets ARE good, should I buy flat point or round nose flat point?

Should the Frontiers be treated as FMJ or lead when working up a load?

These will be for my dad's gun mainly, but we go shooting with a guy that has a G22. I have read that the Frontier bullets have given some people crappy results in Glocks due to the polygonal rifling. Can anyone confirm this?

Sorry for all the questions lol

Thanks
 
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CanuckShooter said:
So we are starting to reload tomorrow finally, and my dad is looking to buy a bunch of bullets for when he runs out (he only has a few hundred if that).

Are Frontier CMJ bullets that Marstar sells good bullets? Any issues or disadvantages from buying Winchester etc? I am either buying those from Marstar or something else from Higginson's. How comes the Frontier are so much cheaper?

If the Frontier bullets ARE good, should I buy flat point or round nose flat point?

Should the Frontiers be treated as FMJ or lead when working up a load?

These will be for my dad's gun mainly, but we go shooting with a guy that has a G22. I have read that the Frontier bullets have given some people crappy results in Glocks due to the polygonal rifling. Can anyone confirm this?

Sorry for all the questions lol

Thanks
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Frontiers are all I use now.

They are cheaper because they are a plated bullet.

As for the shape, you need to try what works in your guns.

Yes they are treated like FMJ's.

Here's the answer to an e-mail to Frontier.

Good day Peter,

Unfortunately, we do not have access to any powders apart from the South African Somchem powders.

Treat the bullets the same as any FMJ bullet of the same weight and load according to the data of the powder manufacturers.

Please let us know how you are doing and once you have worked out your loads?



Kind regards,

Susan Economakis

Frontier Metal Processing
As for crappy results in Glocks - I load for 2 of them - G17 and G35 - without problems.
 
Thanks RePete,

Can you recommend a good manual? After reading my dad's Lyman manual from 1992, I have way too many unanswered questions, and the recipes are very few and limited, so I would like to buy a quality book.

I see that you have recommended the Lyman book to others. maybe the newest edition is better than mine which is 17 years old? lol
 
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Here's some chrony data from a couple weeks ago.
XD40 tactical (5 inch barrel)
180 grain cast bullets (Shooters Choice)
Remington 5½ primers

3.7 grains Titegroup = 831.1 fps
4.1 grains Titegroup = 924.9 fps
4.3 grains Titegroup = 945.4 fps
4.6 grains Titegroup = 986.7 fps
 
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I have a Stormlake .40cal barrel for my G20C. While I was coming up with a load for the 180gr TMJ bullet, I accidentally used 5.5gr of Titegroup. Wheeew, that was a kick ass round. :runaway: No problems with bulging though so that's a good thing. I've since dropped the grains to just below 5.0. I still want to make major power factor for IPSC though.
 
CanuckShooter said:
Thanks RePete,

Can you recommend a good manual? After reading my dad's Lyman manual from 1992, I have way too many unanswered questions, and the recipes are very few and limited, so I would like to buy a quality book.

I see that you have recommended the Lyman book to others. maybe the newest edition is better than mine which is 17 years old? lol
Click to expand...

Get yourself the Lyman Pistol and Revolver Handbook.
 
Last question,

We are going to use up the last of my dad's bullets and powders, after which we are going to be buying Titegroup at everyone's recommendation, and Frontier CMJ 180gr's.

He currently has 180gr PLATED bullets, and both Hercules Bullseye, and Winchester 231 powders.

Can anyone recommend loads using this bullet weight, and these 2 powders as well as including the OAL of the finished cartridge?

I can't find any recipe in his reloading book, nor can I find anything on the Hodgdon website for the above combinations.

Why is it that even on the Hodgdon website, a FMJ load is not included for every bullet weight? I thought that would be a given, but there are many bullet weights in a number of calibres without a FMJ recipe? What gives?
 
CanuckShooter said:
Last question,

We are going to use up the last of my dad's bullets and powders, after which we are going to be buying Titegroup at everyone's recommendation, and Frontier CMJ 180gr's.

He currently has 180gr PLATED bullets, and both Hercules Bullseye, and Winchester 231 powders.

Can anyone recommend loads using this bullet weight, and these 2 powders as well as including the OAL of the finished cartridge?

I can't find any recipe in his reloading book, nor can I find anything on the Hodgdon website for the above combinations.

Why is it that even on the Hodgdon website, a FMJ load is not included for every bullet weight? I thought that would be a given, but there are many bullet weights in a number of calibres without a FMJ recipe? What gives?
Click to expand...


With Titegroup, I believe it is 4.2gr - 4.7gr (max) when using a 180gr FMJ bullet...not sure for Winchester 231 for Bullseye.
 
I use IMR 700X for my .40 plinking reloads (simply because I am a shotgunner too so I have A LOT of it on hand). My data is as follows:

XD-40 Tactical with 5" OEM barrel, Gamma Master Chrony:

4.6gr IMR 700X, WSP primer
COL 1.125"
180gr Hornady FP/XTP bullet
957.5 fps @ 366.53 ft / lbs

4.6gr IMR 700X, WSP primer
COL 1.125"
180gr Frontier CMJ
1006.5 fps @ 405 ft/ lbs


These all cycle perfectly with no issue. I also usually clean / polish my brass as a matter of personal preferance and preventing damage or fouling of the dies. Not sure if this matters in the XD pistols (mine works a-ok with clean or dirty brass) but I know it can be an issue in picky handguns.

Regards,
 
My pal Rick

I also shoot a very nice S&W 4006 with a BarSto barrel. Tight fit on the bushing and the chamber is totally spec. Everything must be right.
My pal Rick at R&Rbullets@mountaincable.net has a superb 155 cast SWC bullet that flies real nice.
Makes that nasty 40S&W 180 kick a thing of the past. Your should try the 155's, they work great. I am using Alliant's very energetic PROMO powder as the propellant. Rick is on the Hamilton mountain and makes a quality bullet. Really. I don't use crap. Tell him I sent you.
 
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