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Pistol reloading |
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Sneaky
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/24/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 79 |
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Posted: February/16/2009 at 15:31 |
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Hey guys just wondering who reloads for a handgun, particular for .40 S&W? I reload for .25-06 and .204 right now, but just recently got a handgun. Just would like to know if their are any differences in reloading for rifle and handgun. Any tricks, safety issues to watch out for, or just some general information would be great. I'm never let down by the advice I get here so thanks in advance.
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geezer
Optics Apprentice Joined: October/22/2008 Location: Georgia Status: Offline Points: 133 |
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Read the section on loading pistol cartridges in your loading manual and you shouldn't have much trouble. I will be glad to offer any assistance that I can if you have any issues or specific questions.
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I would give you my two cents worth, but then you would probably have to give half to the gov't and what good is one penny
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silver
Optics Master Joined: November/04/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2291 |
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I don't load for the .40. What I can tell you is that the round is very sensative to seating depth because of the pressure levels it produces. I'd stay in the medium burn powerders. Look at VihtaVuori and Acurate Arms sites for some better options.
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"If we weren't all crazy we, We would go insane." Jimmie Buffet
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ckk1106
Optics Master Joined: December/14/2007 Location: Arizona Status: Offline Points: 1439 |
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The only pistol round I load for is my 44 rem mag. These straight walled cases require a separate die for flaring out the mouth of the case before seating a bullet.
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BeltFed
Optics Retard Joined: February/12/2008 Location: Ky Status: Offline Points: 22284 |
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Well for most pistol rounds you have 3 dies instead of 2. Ok I'm just being a smart @$$. I just started loading for the 40 S&W, but I have been loading other pistol calibers for a long time. I'm loading 165gr fmj for practice. I'm using Unique powder (can't remeber the charge weight, it's in my notes at home) and CCI small pistol primers. I like to pick powders for pistols that fill the case when the bullit is seated to reduce the airspace in the case, also if I double charge the case the powder will spill out so I know I screwed up.
That extra die is for belling the case mouth to accept the bullit without shaving the side of the bullit when seating it. Bell the case mouth only enough so the base of the bullit fits in the case mouth.
Hope this helps.
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Life's concerns should be about the 120lb pack your trying to get to the top of the mountain, and not the rock in your boot.
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Longhunter
Optics Journeyman Joined: February/02/2006 Status: Offline Points: 466 |
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+1 for Silver's comment on seating depth.
+1 for BeltFed's Unique recommendation.
Glock .40's (and apparently some other .40's) have an "unsupported chamber". Several reloading manuals point this out, and print extra cautions or caveats about reloading for such pistols. Also, some lead bullet reloads may cause lead accumulation in Glock barrels and cause a "KaBoom". (Gun Tests ran an article on this in 1994).
If you are shooting an extra small compact .40, you may also have a little less margin for error.
I reload for everything BUT my Glock and ultracompact .40's. Edited by Longhunter - February/17/2009 at 02:12 |
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silver
Optics Master Joined: November/04/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2291 |
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I looked in the Hornady book last night and that book show the round liked Power Pistol ( Hurco improved, for us old farts) and Blue dot. True Blue maybe an interesting powder.
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"If we weren't all crazy we, We would go insane." Jimmie Buffet
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Dale Clifford
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: July/04/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5087 |
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try to use four dies, the 3 mentioned and a taper crimp die, this will give you more uniform neck tension, and act as a swaging die if your loading cast bullets,. most blown glock barrels are from people loading too hot and not the lead bullets. Universal and HS6 are two outstanding choices both burn cleaner than unique, not sure blue dot will give you enough loading density.
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geezer
Optics Apprentice Joined: October/22/2008 Location: Georgia Status: Offline Points: 133 |
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My die set has a die that seats and crimps. You can set the die up to seat and crimp in the same operation. I prefer to seat and then crimp. I have a spacer that is part of a Redding kit. You first set the die up to crimp. Then take the die out of the press, place the spacer between the die and the press, and reinstall the die. This will allow you to seat or crimp without having to adjust the die in the press - other than the seating stem. I would buy an additional crimping die if I were to go to a progressive press. |
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I would give you my two cents worth, but then you would probably have to give half to the gov't and what good is one penny
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Dale Clifford
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: July/04/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5087 |
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just make sure its a taper crimp and not a roll crimping die. most taper crimp dies do not have a seater in them because it would push the bullet into the case at the same time its squeezing it. |
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Sneaky
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/24/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 79 |
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Thanks for all the replies everyone. I have a Taurus 24/7, I'm pretty sure that when I took the barrel out and slid a bullet case in the round looked supported all the way around. One wouldn't think that loading for a pistol could be so complicated but the pressures I've heard and read about in the .40 had me a little nervous. I plan on looking through my Nosler and Hornady books some more so I have a better idea on how to go about things. I'm not going to be loading any hot rounds, probably just stay middle of the road to be safe. Thanks for all the input.
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scubasteve
Optics Apprentice Joined: June/01/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 104 |
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It's easier to "double charge" a pistol round compared to a riffle.
Single stage presses suck for reloading lots of pistola rounds.
Turret presses will spoil you.
Enjoy
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ATF should be the name of a convience store, not afederal agency.
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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Automatics are a pain to load for cause they throw the brass.
You will like that you can use carbide dies so no case lube needed with them. Edited by Urimaginaryfrnd - April/10/2009 at 16:41 |
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"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger |
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tpcollins
Optics Journeyman Joined: January/12/2009 Status: Offline Points: 428 |
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amk204
Optics Apprentice Joined: December/27/2007 Status: Offline Points: 75 |
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spend the extra 10 bucks and buy the carbide dies saves you a bunch of time and money!!!! no lube no mess
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Life is to short to shoot an ugly gun
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huff143
Optics Journeyman Joined: December/08/2008 Location: Kansas City Status: Offline Points: 304 |
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I use a Dillon Square Deal 'B' with cast bullets (cheap practice) and Hodgdon HP-38 for both my .40 S&W and my .45acp. I load the .40 at 4.1 grains with the 175gr lead bullets and it makes for a great range load and not much muzzle flip.
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huff143
Optics Journeyman Joined: December/08/2008 Location: Kansas City Status: Offline Points: 304 |
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I'm got a little over 500 rounds through my XD40 with cast bullets without so much as a hiccup.
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