Newbee need help with .40 S&W

Shoot-N-Scoot · April 1, 2005, 06:20 AM

I am having a terrible time getting a good batch of .40's. I am shooting them from a XD service and the action is not fully cycling. I have tried 135gr JHP, 165 FP, and 180 FP with both Winchester 231 and Hodgdon Titegroup. I have used both CCI small pistol and Winchester WSP primers. I have tried powder levels from listed starting points to list max loads. Max loads will cycle the action enough to eject the casing and chamber the next, but not lock back when the mag is empty. Medium loads have a varing degree of success in ejecting the spent case and suggested starting loads usually fail to eject the spent case. Factory ammo cycles just fine. I am obviously doing something wrong, but I can't for the life of me figure out what.

Number 6 · April 1, 2005, 09:04 AM

your loads are not generating sufficient pressure. This makes it likely that:

1. Your loads are actually too light; or

2. Your bullets are not properly crimped into the case.

There is also the possibility that your gun was shipped with too strong a recoil spring, but I suggest you start with the more obvious causes.

Compare YOUR loads with the data here:

http://home.columbus.rr.com/jmaass/ipscload.htm

You might want to bookmark that site!

Shoot-N-Scoot · April 1, 2005, 10:12 AM

If I crimp any tighter the case buckles. Lyman 48' and Speer both list similar sets of data for the round. I have been to the suggested website before and I am hesitant to try many of the loads due to my inexperience in reloading.

HSMITH · April 1, 2005, 10:46 AM

Back the crimp off, if you are doing any more than just taking the bell out of the case you are overcrimping. Overcrimping can swage the bullet down, this can lower pressures since the bullet is undersized and won't seal well. It will also drastically lower case tension and setback can happen. With a little setback the gun can rupture a case.

Try some loads again just removing the bell.

WESHOOT2 · April 1, 2005, 04:43 PM

Might need a more 'medium' powder; you got anything like that?

(AA5, Power Pistol, WAP, 3N37, N350, HS6, ?)

Shoot-N-Scoot · April 1, 2005, 05:04 PM

Right now, the only powder I have is W 231 and Titegroup. I am going to try reducing the crimp tonight and see what that produces.

Shoot-N-Scoot · April 1, 2005, 10:53 PM

Re-setting th crimp had no effect.

Cloudpeak · April 2, 2005, 12:14 AM

Shoot-N-Scoot,

You might run your problem by the guys on the HS2000/XD group.

HSMITH · April 2, 2005, 08:15 AM

Do you have a check weight for your scale? How are you dispensing powder charges?

Shoot-N-Scoot · April 2, 2005, 08:39 AM

I have a check weight. The powder is dispensed from a small cup that is part of tha scale and lifts off. It has a spout/neck to make pouring into a case easier.

Shoot-N-Scoot · April 2, 2005, 05:34 PM

Problem solved. I'm not sure exactly how I solved it though. I basically started a square one, cleaned everything, reset all of the dies, cleaned the pistol with a sand blaster (figuratively speaking) and then everything worked as advertised. I'm not sure if it was one big boo-boo, or a combination of several small things.

Black_Snowman · April 2, 2005, 08:43 PM

Quote:

or a combination of several small things

That gets my vote. Little things can stack up against you, that's why there's "margin for error" built into everything. I've used Tite Group with great success in 40 and 45 ACP for target loads. Only thing I've found that I like as well as Universal.

April 1, 2005, 06:20 AM	#1
Shoot-N-Scoot Junior Member Join Date: April 1, 2005 Posts: 11	Newbee need help with .40 S&W I am having a terrible time getting a good batch of .40's. I am shooting them from a XD service and the action is not fully cycling. I have tried 135gr JHP, 165 FP, and 180 FP with both Winchester 231 and Hodgdon Titegroup. I have used both CCI small pistol and Winchester WSP primers. I have tried powder levels from listed starting points to list max loads. Max loads will cycle the action enough to eject the casing and chamber the next, but not lock back when the mag is empty. Medium loads have a varing degree of success in ejecting the spent case and suggested starting loads usually fail to eject the spent case. Factory ammo cycles just fine. I am obviously doing something wrong, but I can't for the life of me figure out what.

April 1, 2005, 09:04 AM	#2
Number 6 Junior member Join Date: October 3, 2002 Posts: 919	It sounds as if your loads are not generating sufficient pressure. This makes it likely that: 1. Your loads are actually too light; or 2. Your bullets are not properly crimped into the case. There is also the possibility that your gun was shipped with too strong a recoil spring, but I suggest you start with the more obvious causes. Compare YOUR loads with the data here: http://home.columbus.rr.com/jmaass/ipscload.htm You might want to bookmark that site!

April 1, 2005, 04:43 PM	#5
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	or Might need a more 'medium' powder; you got anything like that? (AA5, Power Pistol, WAP, 3N37, N350, HS6, ?) __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

April 2, 2005, 12:14 AM	#8
Cloudpeak Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2005 Location: Wyoming Posts: 288	Shoot-N-Scoot, You might run your problem by the guys on the HS2000/XD group. __________________ Cloudpeak

April 1, 2005, 10:12 AM	#3
Shoot-N-Scoot Junior Member Join Date: April 1, 2005 Posts: 11	If I crimp any tighter the case buckles. Lyman 48' and Speer both list similar sets of data for the round. I have been to the suggested website before and I am hesitant to try many of the loads due to my inexperience in reloading.

April 1, 2005, 10:46 AM	#4
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	Back the crimp off, if you are doing any more than just taking the bell out of the case you are overcrimping. Overcrimping can swage the bullet down, this can lower pressures since the bullet is undersized and won't seal well. It will also drastically lower case tension and setback can happen. With a little setback the gun can rupture a case. Try some loads again just removing the bell.

April 1, 2005, 05:04 PM	#6
Shoot-N-Scoot Junior Member Join Date: April 1, 2005 Posts: 11	Right now, the only powder I have is W 231 and Titegroup. I am going to try reducing the crimp tonight and see what that produces.

April 1, 2005, 10:53 PM	#7
Shoot-N-Scoot Junior Member Join Date: April 1, 2005 Posts: 11	Re-setting th crimp had no effect.

April 2, 2005, 08:15 AM	#9
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	Do you have a check weight for your scale? How are you dispensing powder charges?

April 2, 2005, 08:39 AM	#10
Shoot-N-Scoot Junior Member Join Date: April 1, 2005 Posts: 11	I have a check weight. The powder is dispensed from a small cup that is part of tha scale and lifts off. It has a spout/neck to make pouring into a case easier.

April 2, 2005, 05:34 PM	#11
Shoot-N-Scoot Junior Member Join Date: April 1, 2005 Posts: 11	Problem solved. I'm not sure exactly how I solved it though. I basically started a square one, cleaned everything, reset all of the dies, cleaned the pistol with a sand blaster (figuratively speaking) and then everything worked as advertised. I'm not sure if it was one big boo-boo, or a combination of several small things.