Success!!

raddoc · February 19, 2009, 12:17 PM

I reloaded my first 32 rounds of .40 S&W using 155 gr Hndy HP-XTP over 7.0 to 8.0 gr AA # 5 and fired them at the range last night. I was scared at first having never fired reloaded ammo before, but they cycled flawlessly. The 155gr HP at max load had pretty good recoil, though

What a great feeling it is to take the time to make a quality product your own and have it function perfectly.

doc

#1 Moses · February 19, 2009, 12:23 PM

Newbie you should really work up to that max load. danger danger will smith!

Doby45 · February 19, 2009, 12:34 PM

When you say over 7.0 to 8.0 gr are you saying you worked up through that range or your rounds simply fluctuated that much? That is a HUGE difference.

raddoc · February 19, 2009, 12:43 PM

Yeah, I worked it up from the published starting point (7.0 gr) in 0.1-0.2 gr increments loading 5 rounds at each load. After shooting I checked each of the cases for signs of over-pressure, but didn't see any. Should I have done it differently?

doc

Doby45 · February 19, 2009, 12:46 PM

Nope. It is just your original post did not go into that detail.

And even if you have been reloading and shooting for 50 years and yet have under a 1,000 posts here you are considered a newb.

Welcome newb, I am also a newb here.

raddoc · February 19, 2009, 12:47 PM

I measured EACH load by hand, then weighed and reweighed to make sure that my loads did not fluctuate at all. After loading five rds at a particular weight, I added 0.1 to 0.2 grs. and reloaded another group of five. I figure after several more reloads, I'll be more comfortable and may use the auto disk measure, but until then...everything double and triple checked by hand to as tight a tolerance as I can get with my scale (+/- 0.1 grain).

doc

raddoc · February 19, 2009, 12:49 PM

thx d-45,

I'm a Newbie with a capital N

doc

PCJim · February 19, 2009, 12:50 PM

Hopefully, that was his workup range. 7.0 gr is an acceptable starting load, however 8.0gr is over maximum per AA's reloading data.

For your first experience at reloading, this is not a good indication of safe practices.

raddoc · February 19, 2009, 01:07 PM

I cross referenced lyman's 3rd ed. pistol and revolver hand book, with the 48th edition handbook to be sure. Hornady's reloading data is difficult to find.

Both the pistol handbook and the 48th edition listed 8.0 gr as the max load.

doc

amamnn · February 19, 2009, 11:01 PM

Well, now you've done it!!! I hope you're happy...................and not married, because you're hooked on a female disapproved hobby.............well, mainly disappoved.

Inspector3711 · February 19, 2009, 11:46 PM

Good job... Now you can graduate into the cheaper bullets like Rainier and Barry's. Just remember not to load them above 1100-1200 fps. They are plated not jacketed and will foul your rifling once you get up to medium loads. I load 155 grain HP-XTP's too and have had great accuracy with them in my XDm. The cheaper bullets work good for practice and plinking. Welcome to my addiction. I buy bullets 1000 at a time now.

raddoc · February 21, 2009, 08:40 PM

Indeed inspector, It's an obsession, but rewarding. I have 2000 rounds on backorder for my 9mm and .45...I placed this order 6 weeks ago. I wanted my first rounds to be loaded using higher quality components. I've just finished reloading the last of the Hornady's, which I love, and I plan on pickin' up a few more hundred since my Ranier's and Magtechs wont be in for a while

Well, now you've done it...

Amen to that amamnn...however, my wife and kids have been wonderfully quiescent about the whole thing

February 19, 2009, 11:01 PM	#10
amamnn Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2006 Location: WA, the left armpit of the USA Posts: 1,323	Well, now you've done it!!! I hope you're happy...................and not married, because you're hooked on a female disapproved hobby.............well, mainly disappoved. __________________ "If the enemy is in range, so are you." - Infantry Journal

February 19, 2009, 11:46 PM	#11
Inspector3711 Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2008 Location: Puget Sound Washington Posts: 1,553	Good job... Now you can graduate into the cheaper bullets like Rainier and Barry's. Just remember not to load them above 1100-1200 fps. They are plated not jacketed and will foul your rifling once you get up to medium loads. I load 155 grain HP-XTP's too and have had great accuracy with them in my XDm. The cheaper bullets work good for practice and plinking. Welcome to my addiction. I buy bullets 1000 at a time now. __________________ "If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun." The Dalai Llama (5/15/01, The Seattle Times) "That rifle on the wall of the labourer's cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." George Orwell

February 19, 2009, 12:17 PM	#1
raddoc Member Join Date: December 31, 2008 Posts: 16	Success!! I reloaded my first 32 rounds of .40 S&W using 155 gr Hndy HP-XTP over 7.0 to 8.0 gr AA # 5 and fired them at the range last night. I was scared at first having never fired reloaded ammo before, but they cycled flawlessly. The 155gr HP at max load had pretty good recoil, though What a great feeling it is to take the time to make a quality product your own and have it function perfectly. doc

February 19, 2009, 12:23 PM	#2
#1 Moses Senior Member Join Date: November 24, 2008 Posts: 114	Newbie you should really work up to that max load. danger danger will smith!

February 19, 2009, 12:34 PM	#3
Doby45 Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2009 Location: Powder Springs, GA Posts: 213	When you say over 7.0 to 8.0 gr are you saying you worked up through that range or your rounds simply fluctuated that much? That is a HUGE difference.

February 19, 2009, 12:43 PM	#4
raddoc Member Join Date: December 31, 2008 Posts: 16	Yeah, I worked it up from the published starting point (7.0 gr) in 0.1-0.2 gr increments loading 5 rounds at each load. After shooting I checked each of the cases for signs of over-pressure, but didn't see any. Should I have done it differently? doc

February 19, 2009, 12:46 PM	#5
Doby45 Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2009 Location: Powder Springs, GA Posts: 213	Nope. It is just your original post did not go into that detail. And even if you have been reloading and shooting for 50 years and yet have under a 1,000 posts here you are considered a newb. Welcome newb, I am also a newb here.

February 19, 2009, 12:47 PM	#6
raddoc Member Join Date: December 31, 2008 Posts: 16	I measured EACH load by hand, then weighed and reweighed to make sure that my loads did not fluctuate at all. After loading five rds at a particular weight, I added 0.1 to 0.2 grs. and reloaded another group of five. I figure after several more reloads, I'll be more comfortable and may use the auto disk measure, but until then...everything double and triple checked by hand to as tight a tolerance as I can get with my scale (+/- 0.1 grain). doc

February 19, 2009, 12:49 PM	#7
raddoc Member Join Date: December 31, 2008 Posts: 16	thx d-45, I'm a Newbie with a capital N doc

February 19, 2009, 12:50 PM	#8
PCJim Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2008 Location: FL Posts: 570	Hopefully, that was his workup range. 7.0 gr is an acceptable starting load, however 8.0gr is over maximum per AA's reloading data. For your first experience at reloading, this is not a good indication of safe practices.

February 19, 2009, 01:07 PM	#9
raddoc Member Join Date: December 31, 2008 Posts: 16	I cross referenced lyman's 3rd ed. pistol and revolver hand book, with the 48th edition handbook to be sure. Hornady's reloading data is difficult to find. Both the pistol handbook and the 48th edition listed 8.0 gr as the max load. doc

February 21, 2009, 08:40 PM	#12
raddoc Member Join Date: December 31, 2008 Posts: 16	Indeed inspector, It's an obsession, but rewarding. I have 2000 rounds on backorder for my 9mm and .45...I placed this order 6 weeks ago. I wanted my first rounds to be loaded using higher quality components. I've just finished reloading the last of the Hornady's, which I love, and I plan on pickin' up a few more hundred since my Ranier's and Magtechs wont be in for a while Well, now you've done it... Amen to that amamnn...however, my wife and kids have been wonderfully quiescent about the whole thing