.40 S&W Failure to Eject

todd5250 · February 21, 2013, 05:20 PM

I'm still fairly new to reloading but I made a batch of 5 in the starting loadout from the Hodgdon site and fired them off. None of the brass ejected, they hung up sideways like there wasn't enough powder in the load to cycle the slide all the way to the rear. I had to pull the slide back and let the spent cartridge fall out...no biggie since I only loaded one at a time in the magazine in case this happened.
So, looks like I need to up my starting load....how much do I go up at a time? .2 until it functions correctly?

Relevant Info:
Berrys plated 155gr/5.1 grains of Win231/OAL 1.125-1.126
SA XDm in the .40 flavor

Thanks

-
Todd

chris in va · February 21, 2013, 08:31 PM

According to my Lyman manual, 5.1 isn't even a starting charge .

150gr lead TC 231 5.5-6.5max.

Berry's has to use lead data BTW, not jacketed.

todd5250 · February 21, 2013, 09:56 PM

Chris, the below is what I used from the Hodgdon site that lists the powder I was using as well as the bullets. I have the Lyman manual but decided to use this since it actually listed the bullets I was using.
No matter at this point though because the 5.1 is an obvious no-go and I need to increase.

155 GR. BERB FP
Winchester 231
1.125"
Starting load 5.1 979 24,100 PSI
Max load 6.0 1130 33,900 PSI

thanks for the response

-
T

February 21, 2013, 05:20 PM	#1
todd5250 Junior Member Join Date: February 9, 2013 Posts: 2	.40 S&W Failure to Eject I'm still fairly new to reloading but I made a batch of 5 in the starting loadout from the Hodgdon site and fired them off. None of the brass ejected, they hung up sideways like there wasn't enough powder in the load to cycle the slide all the way to the rear. I had to pull the slide back and let the spent cartridge fall out...no biggie since I only loaded one at a time in the magazine in case this happened. So, looks like I need to up my starting load....how much do I go up at a time? .2 until it functions correctly? Relevant Info: Berrys plated 155gr/5.1 grains of Win231/OAL 1.125-1.126 SA XDm in the .40 flavor Thanks - Todd

February 21, 2013, 08:31 PM	#2
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	According to my Lyman manual, 5.1 isn't even a starting charge . 150gr lead TC 231 5.5-6.5max. Berry's has to use lead data BTW, not jacketed.

February 21, 2013, 09:56 PM	#3
todd5250 Junior Member Join Date: February 9, 2013 Posts: 2	Chris, the below is what I used from the Hodgdon site that lists the powder I was using as well as the bullets. I have the Lyman manual but decided to use this since it actually listed the bullets I was using. No matter at this point though because the 5.1 is an obvious no-go and I need to increase. 155 GR. BERB FP Winchester 231 1.125" Starting load 5.1 979 24,100 PSI Max load 6.0 1130 33,900 PSI thanks for the response - T