I just got done cranking out some nice loads for 40 - qty 5000 / 180 gr Sierra JHP with X.XX grains of Blue Dot (I will not give out load data)

Nice Loads - very accurate and Blue Dot is really Clean burning.


Anyone out there got a favorite caliber to reload? I happen to ove loading 40 - like throwing a basketball into a garbage can.

I reload .40, too, but not in such huge batches! I just have a single-stage, and 150-200 rounds is plenty for an outing. I used cast 175gr SWC's this time, and AA #7 powder.

For a challenge, I reload 7.62x25. (aka .30 Tokarev.) Short bottle neck, huge variety of bullets and loads available, somewhat obscure, and a blast to shoot out of a CZ-52! What's not to love?

I've been loading some .44 Specials into some new Starline nickel brass lately and it's been like using a weight machine at the gym resizing the new cases. I only managed 200 in like an hour and a half on my Dillon SDB to due the heavy sizing and priming effort on those new nickel cases.

Bought a new toolhead and dies for .44 Magnum (too lazy to change settings on the .44 Special setup). Going to start out with some 200gr JHPs from Speer over Unique or Blue Dot.

After that it's time to replenish my 10mm supply. I have 500 Winchester Silvertips I'll load over a max load of Power Pistol. I've run over 2000 180 JFPs over Power Pistol in the past, and Power Pistol is great. I've used Blue Dot, too, but I think the Power Pistol has a little more oomph and requires about 4 grains less powder.

I usually try to load 1000 of any one caliber at a time once I have a load I like. Saves switching around the toolhead all the time.

Mobo,

The nickle plating on the case is harder that brass so it can create more resistance in the die (especially if the dies are dirty), but the usual problem is a slightly oversize chamber and (1 thou over even though it is within spec will cause the problem) (you can cast your chambers with cerrosafe and check to see if this is the source) , or very close tolerance dies. Or, you can get around this most easily by using Dillon's or Midway's spray case lube, that is unless you need the workout.

I recommend the Hornady one shot - it dries and leaves a film - does not attract dirt or other crap to ruin your day.

Past new nickel brass I've used has been stiff when initially resizing and priming. It's never noticable by the 2nd reload; the initial sizing and firing seems to either soften or weaken the "shell" that seems to be created by the nickel plating process.

I almost never load yellow brass; I think the 200 peices of .44 special yello brass I bought has seen more loading than any other yellow stuff. EVerything else I've loaded has been nickel (45 auto and 10mm).

G&A article on reloading the 40 S&W: http://www.gunsandammomag.com/reloads/40_smith_wesson/