Universal Clays, Lead, and the .40SW

jtc2162 · December 11, 2009, 01:51 PM

Guys I've been trying to find loading data for the 155 grain cast lead SWC bullets I should be receiving today. I'm using universal clays powder, but can't find anything other than jacketed data for the powder using the data sources I'm aware of. I know you don't want the lead going down the barrel as fast as jacketed bullets, but I don't wanna just guess at it.

Can somebody help me out with a universal clays load for the cast lead 155 grain SWC .40SW projectiles?

hans4811 · December 11, 2009, 04:38 PM

What you can do, and I've done this with my .40S&W rounds, is take the low-end data of the jacketed bullet and use that as a starting point. Take 10% off that for your rounds if you want to play it a little extra safe. A good book I got, The Complete Reloading Manual for 10mm and .40S&W, shows data 2 different ways, by bullet manufacturer and powder manufacturer. I got it from Midway I think....anyways, from the Hornady Bullet table for a 155gr HP/XTP it shows for Clays Univ 4.9gr, 5.3gr, 5.7gr, 6.1gr for FPS of 950, 1000, 1050 AND 1100, respectively. 6.5gr at 1150 is max, all at a COL of 1.125. Hornandy is usually somewhat on the safe side to begin with, so starting with 4.9gr would probably be okay. From the same book from Hodgdon Powders section, they show for the same bullet, 155gr HDY XTP, for Universal, 6.0 gr as starting load at 1082 fps and 6.6 max at 1186 fps. In this case, which I had to do the same thing for 165 lswc, is I'll look at 2 or 3 tables and pick the lowest and go from there. So the Hornandy data of 4.9gr @ 950fps is probably a good starting point and go up .2 grams or so until you hit your sweet spot.

good luck.

Foxbat · December 11, 2009, 04:41 PM

With lead bullets and the same charge as used with jacketed, you will get higher velocity, otherwise it will be fine. I used Universal with lead bullets with no issues, just loaded them slightly lower. For 155 grain something like 5.4 grains of Universal will be fine. You can then go higher.

Shoney · December 11, 2009, 10:05 PM

The following powders gave me great accuracy/velocity with 155 gr lead.

6.0 gr W231
8.0 gr Alliant #5
9.5 gr Blue dot
6.2 gr Universal

DWARREN123 · December 12, 2009, 02:53 AM

What I do if I can not find the exact data is use the jacketed min data and work from there.

Ksmoker · December 12, 2009, 10:19 AM

I know it's not the same, I've been loading 124 gr lead for my 357 Sig with Universal & using 5.5 grs, less than that didn't cycle my G32 properly. This should come out at about 900 fps, that's just an educated guess from a couple of us. So far so good.

December 11, 2009, 01:51 PM	#1
jtc2162 Junior member Join Date: October 28, 2009 Posts: 76	Universal Clays, Lead, and the .40SW Guys I've been trying to find loading data for the 155 grain cast lead SWC bullets I should be receiving today. I'm using universal clays powder, but can't find anything other than jacketed data for the powder using the data sources I'm aware of. I know you don't want the lead going down the barrel as fast as jacketed bullets, but I don't wanna just guess at it. Can somebody help me out with a universal clays load for the cast lead 155 grain SWC .40SW projectiles?

December 11, 2009, 10:05 PM	#4
Shoney Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2002 Location: Transplanted from Montana Posts: 2,311	The following powders gave me great accuracy/velocity with 155 gr lead. 6.0 gr W231 8.0 gr Alliant #5 9.5 gr Blue dot 6.2 gr Universal __________________ I pledge allegiance to the Flag - - -, and to the Republic for which it stands….Our Forefathers were brilliant for giving us a Republic, not a democracy! Do you know the difference??? and WHY?http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissue...les.asp?id=111

December 12, 2009, 10:19 AM	#6
Ksmoker Member Join Date: December 6, 2009 Location: NE Kansas Posts: 74	universal I know it's not the same, I've been loading 124 gr lead for my 357 Sig with Universal & using 5.5 grs, less than that didn't cycle my G32 properly. This should come out at about 900 fps, that's just an educated guess from a couple of us. So far so good.

December 11, 2009, 04:38 PM	#2
hans4811 Member Join Date: December 7, 2009 Location: Northeast FLA Posts: 44	What you can do, and I've done this with my .40S&W rounds, is take the low-end data of the jacketed bullet and use that as a starting point. Take 10% off that for your rounds if you want to play it a little extra safe. A good book I got, The Complete Reloading Manual for 10mm and .40S&W, shows data 2 different ways, by bullet manufacturer and powder manufacturer. I got it from Midway I think....anyways, from the Hornady Bullet table for a 155gr HP/XTP it shows for Clays Univ 4.9gr, 5.3gr, 5.7gr, 6.1gr for FPS of 950, 1000, 1050 AND 1100, respectively. 6.5gr at 1150 is max, all at a COL of 1.125. Hornandy is usually somewhat on the safe side to begin with, so starting with 4.9gr would probably be okay. From the same book from Hodgdon Powders section, they show for the same bullet, 155gr HDY XTP, for Universal, 6.0 gr as starting load at 1082 fps and 6.6 max at 1186 fps. In this case, which I had to do the same thing for 165 lswc, is I'll look at 2 or 3 tables and pick the lowest and go from there. So the Hornandy data of 4.9gr @ 950fps is probably a good starting point and go up .2 grams or so until you hit your sweet spot. good luck.

December 11, 2009, 04:41 PM	#3
Foxbat Senior Member Join Date: January 13, 2008 Posts: 367	With lead bullets and the same charge as used with jacketed, you will get higher velocity, otherwise it will be fine. I used Universal with lead bullets with no issues, just loaded them slightly lower. For 155 grain something like 5.4 grains of Universal will be fine. You can then go higher.

December 12, 2009, 02:53 AM	#5
DWARREN123 Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2006 Location: BETWEEN TN & KY Posts: 1,758	What I do if I can not find the exact data is use the jacketed min data and work from there. __________________ Have a nice day!