anyone load lead bullets in 40 S&W ?

[cheezhed]

I want to load 180 grain lasercast bullets in my xd40 . I want to use win 231 as my powder as I have a fair amount of it but I can't find any load data for this powder and bullet combo . I am using 4.7 grains with hornady jacketed bullets of this weight and like the results I am getting any thoughts about using the same powder charge with lead bullets?

[T-Bear]

That's all I put through my xd's are 180gr lead with 231. I run
4.2gr 231
180gr LFP
light load

I use to run 3.8gr of 231 with 180LFP, but that is really really a light load.
The norm is 4.0gr I've ran them as high 4.8gr in the past.

[The Tourist]

Yes, I load lino bullets.

I use the truncated cone 200 grain H&G cast bullet originally designed for the Bren Ten.

However, I use it for plinking only.

[Jbar4Ranch]

Yep. Cast 180 grain RFN's through a pair of convertible .38-40/.40 S&W Ruger Vaqueros.

[Shoney]

My load data for W231 170 gr lead is:Start--4.0gr Max--5.2gr
My load data for W231 180 gr jacketed is:Start--4.0gr Max--5.0gr

I have similar experiences to T-Bear. I found that a 180 Lead TC with 4.2 gr W231 and a mag primer gave excellent accuracy. Using a regular primer, loads as high as 4.5 had good accuracy, but preferred the load above.

Careful on the use of the mag primers, as pressure can build rapidly to dangerous levels.

Also be careful to check and clean the barrel regularly (I clean religiously after 200 rounds of lead) and never try to clean lead out by shooting jacketed behind the lead.

[RDub]

Yep..
I use Lyman's #401043 mold and cast up some with hard alloy and size to .400". Although is bullet is designed and has been used in the 38/40 for years, it has a perfect shape for the .40 S&W and feeds flawlessly.

I have used UNIQUE, AA5, AA7, 231, 571, BlueDot, and HERCO with equal results. They all shoot this bullet very well.

[ShootingNut]

I would back off the charge if using an all lead bullet, maybe to 4.0 to 4.2 to start. That said, "if it ain't on the menu", I don't try experimenting but that's just me.
I load .40's as well, use Hodgdon Titegroup for my other calibers, but use
Accurate #5 in the .40's with 155 & 180 grain lead non jacketed bullets,
(7.0 and 5.8 gr powder). Nice mid range loads, shoot very well.

[totalloser]

I have a shooting buddy who had pretty consistent feeding problems with the truncated cone in his .40 XD. The rim at the bottom of the cone was hitting the top of the barrel and preventing chambering. Just a FYI before you buy a mold! :)

Reply to cheezhed below; I goofed- forgot to say they were lead cast bullets. The ribs on the sides were hanging up. I shoot jacketed truncated cones in my glocks all the time. Of course I didn't load his, and didn't look too close. Not my loads. He's got a XD compact pistol. I think it's like a 3.5" barrel. Could have been another problem I didn't notice, but the ribs stick out a little from the base of the cone. Good luck either way :)

[cheezhed]

I have been shooting jacketed truncated cone bullets, so far no trouble at all.
I will try the laser cast ones soon. It has been a little to cold to go to the range . The 4.6 grns of 231 load comes from several sources . I will try using 4.3 grns when the weather warms up as my pistols need a little more zip in the winter than the spring and summer.

[totalloser]

I looked at the lasercast out of curiosity. 5 cents a bullet!!! and alloyed too (though I suspect they are swaged not cast as impurities cause major problems for casting) I think my buddy was actually loading swc's (maybe I remembered it wrong?)
What is really shocking, is that I priced the lasercast at 28.99 per 500 in the Midway catalog, and on the website they list for 60.99!! Dang! :( Those definitely don't have the ridge I saw on his bullets, though.
You may well be able to get away with warmer loads on those bullets, though. Usually the lighter loads for cast are to prevent leading, and since those are alloyed, they even advertise it's OK to have jacketed velocity.

[GuateShooter]

I load 0.40 S&W lead bullets with Win 231 for my glock 22, I use 4.9 gn OAL 1:130, very low recoil, with this conbination Im in the factor limit for IPSC

[Ralph Allen]

I use 4.5 gr of either 231 or WSL for 180 gr cast flat points with standard primers. For 200 gr jacketed bullets I use Blue dot. Lots of data in the manuals for this one.
Ralph