Reloading 40 S&W

I just purchased a Taurus PT 100 40 S&W semi-auto pistol and thinking about reloading ammo for it. I have heard that some pistols have actually exploded when using reloads. I assume that some loaded their ammo to hot for their guns and caused this to happen. Any thoughts on this problem or has anyone had any problems shooting reloads in a semi?

I use 5.3gr.s of Unique with a 165gr. Rainer FMC and CCI 400 primers with a taper crimp.

BF, do you make major with that load? with a 165gr bullet you would need to push it a little hotter than that in my Glock.

They are club matches, just being a 40S&W makes major. Now if I were going to a real match, I'd either shoot factory or break out the chronograph.

Some of the things that seem to be happening are an unsupported chamber and an improper crimp.  The .40 opperates at a very high chamber pressure compared to many pistol calibers.  If here is some set back, then presure goes throught the roof.  Look at AA#7 and Hurco/Power Pistol for loads.

Just got off the phone with a Taurus rep. Asked the question of weather the case was fully supported in the chamber or not. They were unable to answer my question.

YOu should be able to drop a round in the barrel with the barrel out of your gun and answer that question for yourself.  Just see if it is supported all the way around the case all the way back.  If it is not there will be a big gap at the bottom of the chamber not touching the brass.  That is one nice thing about the glocks, all you ahve to do is buy a new barrel that is supporting the base and problem is solved.  Not sure if you can buy after market taurus barrels.

Also you can look at a piece of brass fired from your gun.  Does it bulge on one side near the rim of the case?

supertool73 wrote: YOu should be able to drop a round in the barrel with the barrel out of your gun and answer that question for yourself.  Just see if it is supported all the way around the case all the way back.  If it is not there will be a big gap at the bottom of the chamber not touching the brass.  That is one nice thing about the glocks, all you ahve to do is buy a new barrel that is supporting the base and problem is solved.  Not sure if you can buy after market taurus barrels.

Yes, I use my factory barrel for carry and my NM barrel for matches.   Nobody knows the difference.  Unless you pull it down and check.  LOL.

fully supported barrels are usually ramped, which requires a cut in the frame, The closest you can come to a ramped barrel is to order something like a barsto and tell them not to "break the tip over lip". Most case splits with 40s occur with glocks for two reasons, IPSC shooters trying to make major with 200 gr bullets and the the debris cuts along the side of the glock chamber are extremely thin, however I have had a Barsto actually break using 200 gr bullets were the ramp enters the frame due to the torque. You are making way to big a deal out of this. most glocks cause what is called the glock bulge which is an increase in the case just ahead of the web and makes reloading the brass and using it in tighter chambers especially in 1911 difficult. Take it from someone who has loaded over 50k rds of 40 and 10 mm, the taurus is a big and beefy gun as long as you follow standard procedures you won't have any problems.

forgot to add no-- your taurus doesn not have a fully supported chamber, nor does it need it.

Thanks for the info. Very helpful. Will try reloading and keep the powder charges just under factory specs. Also will load uncharged case and cycle it thru the gun several times to make sure the bullet is crimp properly and does not get pushed back into the caseing.