Seating depth issue .40S&W

recon14 · March 9, 2013, 09:02 PM

Ok so I loaded up some of the new 180 TCFP I recieved from Falcon yesterday. Started with 4.9 of 231 and seated them to 1.125. They failed ty the "plunk" test and would not fully seat in the chamber. I had to go down to 1.141 to get them to seat fully in the chamber. What will that do to my pressures? They are .628 in length and .401 diameter. My standard 180 are .638 in length so I am hoping all should be fine. Can anyone please help with a pressure calc or insight? Thanks

ScottRiqui · March 9, 2013, 09:12 PM

I think one or both of your OAL measurements is a typo, because I don't see how you can go "down" from 1.125" to 1.141".

TMD · March 9, 2013, 09:19 PM

I have three different 40's and load and have tried several different 180 grain fp bullets and have never had an issue with a 1.130" COL.

recon14 · March 9, 2013, 09:34 PM

Ok..typo. 1.114

These are cast and are a slightly different shape from my FMJ. Which is what is causing the issue I think

jersurf101 · March 9, 2013, 11:09 PM

My standard for 155 grn XTP's is 1.125 but they will feed well at 1.130 and not much past there.

PA-Joe · March 10, 2013, 10:42 AM

What did Falcon recommend as a COL? Each maker has a different standard that you have to use.

g.willikers · March 10, 2013, 10:57 AM

Without a way to measure, it's a guess.
At least get a chronograph to show the velocities.
It's not a fool proof way to measure pressure, but it's a lot better than guesstimating.

jim8115 · March 11, 2013, 09:55 AM

I went through the same thing with my XD. It seems to have a short throat, or whatever. Anyway, those style bullets I had to seat really deep to get them to chamber.
I ran a test ( different gun that doesnt care ) with W231 seating at 1.125, all the way down to 1.085, and recorded the results from my chrono.
When I get home tonight I can post the results, if that helps you.

JIM

Voyager2011 · March 11, 2013, 11:40 AM

Just spoke with a competition shooter friend who shoots exclusively the 40-180 from Falcon Bullet Company. He said a good start is 1.126 with a .418 crimp. Go slow and watch the pressure curve. That was for his XDM. Of course, his comp gun is different since it is modded. Hope this helps.

bigD01 · March 11, 2013, 08:51 PM

try to taper crimp to outside diameter of 0.422 or .421
DaD

recon14 · March 12, 2013, 12:04 PM

Thanks to all. Gonna try loading some up with a tighter crimp.

Jim...if you could post your numbers that would be great.

jim8115 · March 12, 2013, 09:16 PM

Ok heres what I have. For the test, I used a .40 carbine, since it will shoot anything i have ever put in it. Should give you an idea of how oal affects velocity / pressure
180 Gr truncated cone Flat point
W231 powder
4.5 @ 1.120 AVG 1036
4.0 @ 1.105 AVG 952
4.0 @ 1.090 AVG 950

Then, I was satisfied that I wasnt in an overpressure situation, I shot the last load from my XD 4"
AVG was 853

JIM

recon14 · March 13, 2013, 05:47 AM

Thanks. Going to do some testing today. Have them loaded from 4.0 to 4.8 in .2 increments.

recon14 · March 13, 2013, 04:55 PM

Ok...tetsted all the way up to 4.9 with no pressure warning signs. Best was 4.0 and 4.6. Guess I'll load them at 4.0 no reason to burn more powder then needed.

jim8115 · March 13, 2013, 08:57 PM

What OAL did you end up using? And what kind of gun?

recon14 · March 14, 2013, 08:45 AM

Best seemed to be 4.0 at 1.140 out of an older S&W .40VE.

I also found some info in a friends Lyman book that is pretty close as well.

brokenanew · March 14, 2013, 02:34 PM

Well...youll know when you try

. It depends on your powder load of course. 1/100ths of seating depth can make for some moderate changes in pressure especially with the 180gr. Lyman says a 180 can be seated at 1.15. I think youll be ok but be sure your not in the max range of your load. As always be safe, smart and just work up your load. The .40 can get hairy with pressures when u start messing with seating depths to much.

If your running max or close to max at 1.25. You may have to back off a tad if your going to 1.14. The .40 is pretty high pressure, so yes I would think about readjusting powder load

March 9, 2013, 09:02 PM	#1
recon14 Member Join Date: January 26, 2013 Location: Northeast, Pennsylvania Posts: 53	Seating depth issue .40S&W Ok so I loaded up some of the new 180 TCFP I recieved from Falcon yesterday. Started with 4.9 of 231 and seated them to 1.125. They failed ty the "plunk" test and would not fully seat in the chamber. I had to go down to 1.141 to get them to seat fully in the chamber. What will that do to my pressures? They are .628 in length and .401 diameter. My standard 180 are .638 in length so I am hoping all should be fine. Can anyone please help with a pressure calc or insight? Thanks

March 9, 2013, 09:34 PM	#4
recon14 Member Join Date: January 26, 2013 Location: Northeast, Pennsylvania Posts: 53	Re: Seating depth issue .40S&W Ok..typo. 1.114 These are cast and are a slightly different shape from my FMJ. Which is what is causing the issue I think

March 10, 2013, 10:57 AM	#7
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Without a way to measure, it's a guess. At least get a chronograph to show the velocities. It's not a fool proof way to measure pressure, but it's a lot better than guesstimating. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

March 11, 2013, 08:51 PM	#10
bigD01 Member Join Date: March 9, 2010 Posts: 46	cast oal try to taper crimp to outside diameter of 0.422 or .421 DaD

March 12, 2013, 12:04 PM	#11
recon14 Member Join Date: January 26, 2013 Location: Northeast, Pennsylvania Posts: 53	Re: Seating depth issue .40S&W Thanks to all. Gonna try loading some up with a tighter crimp. Jim...if you could post your numbers that would be great.

March 9, 2013, 09:12 PM	#2
ScottRiqui Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 2,905	I think one or both of your OAL measurements is a typo, because I don't see how you can go "down" from 1.125" to 1.141".

March 9, 2013, 09:19 PM	#3
TMD Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 2011 Posts: 1,293	I have three different 40's and load and have tried several different 180 grain fp bullets and have never had an issue with a 1.130" COL.

March 9, 2013, 11:09 PM	#5
jersurf101 Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2013 Location: Eastern NC Posts: 553	My standard for 155 grn XTP's is 1.125 but they will feed well at 1.130 and not much past there.

March 10, 2013, 10:42 AM	#6
PA-Joe Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2010 Location: NEPA Posts: 909	What did Falcon recommend as a COL? Each maker has a different standard that you have to use.

March 11, 2013, 09:55 AM	#8
jim8115 Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2011 Location: Arkansas Posts: 229	I went through the same thing with my XD. It seems to have a short throat, or whatever. Anyway, those style bullets I had to seat really deep to get them to chamber. I ran a test ( different gun that doesnt care ) with W231 seating at 1.125, all the way down to 1.085, and recorded the results from my chrono. When I get home tonight I can post the results, if that helps you. JIM

March 11, 2013, 11:40 AM	#9
Voyager2011 Member Join Date: February 3, 2013 Posts: 21	Just spoke with a competition shooter friend who shoots exclusively the 40-180 from Falcon Bullet Company. He said a good start is 1.126 with a .418 crimp. Go slow and watch the pressure curve. That was for his XDM. Of course, his comp gun is different since it is modded. Hope this helps.

March 12, 2013, 09:16 PM	#12
jim8115 Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2011 Location: Arkansas Posts: 229	Ok heres what I have. For the test, I used a .40 carbine, since it will shoot anything i have ever put in it. Should give you an idea of how oal affects velocity / pressure 180 Gr truncated cone Flat point W231 powder 4.5 @ 1.120 AVG 1036 4.0 @ 1.105 AVG 952 4.0 @ 1.090 AVG 950 Then, I was satisfied that I wasnt in an overpressure situation, I shot the last load from my XD 4" AVG was 853 JIM

March 13, 2013, 05:47 AM	#13
recon14 Member Join Date: January 26, 2013 Location: Northeast, Pennsylvania Posts: 53	Re: Seating depth issue .40S&W Thanks. Going to do some testing today. Have them loaded from 4.0 to 4.8 in .2 increments.

March 13, 2013, 04:55 PM	#14
recon14 Member Join Date: January 26, 2013 Location: Northeast, Pennsylvania Posts: 53	Re: Seating depth issue .40S&W Ok...tetsted all the way up to 4.9 with no pressure warning signs. Best was 4.0 and 4.6. Guess I'll load them at 4.0 no reason to burn more powder then needed.

March 13, 2013, 08:57 PM	#15
jim8115 Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2011 Location: Arkansas Posts: 229	What OAL did you end up using? And what kind of gun?

March 14, 2013, 08:45 AM	#16
recon14 Member Join Date: January 26, 2013 Location: Northeast, Pennsylvania Posts: 53	Re: Seating depth issue .40S&W Best seemed to be 4.0 at 1.140 out of an older S&W .40VE. I also found some info in a friends Lyman book that is pretty close as well.

March 14, 2013, 02:34 PM	#17
brokenanew Member Join Date: September 14, 2012 Posts: 83	Well...youll know when you try . It depends on your powder load of course. 1/100ths of seating depth can make for some moderate changes in pressure especially with the 180gr. Lyman says a 180 can be seated at 1.15. I think youll be ok but be sure your not in the max range of your load. As always be safe, smart and just work up your load. The .40 can get hairy with pressures when u start messing with seating depths to much. If your running max or close to max at 1.25. You may have to back off a tad if your going to 1.14. The .40 is pretty high pressure, so yes I would think about readjusting powder load