I am ready to start Reloading!!!

[xJPxHatchet]

I put drier sheets in side it an to cut down on the noise i put it in the box and placed a towel over it. But yeah i guess i will tumble it elsewhere or find a different way to clean my brass.


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[xJPxHatchet]

okay I have ordered 1000 165g FMJFN from Montana Gold. My next order will be from Precision Delta. So i need some help with finding the proper load date i have the lyman 49th and the lee 2nd. tuff to decipher with me being a newb and all.
So i am using
165g FMJFN
Unique
CCI primers
Mixed brass.
And this is for my Xdm 40 3.8

This will be my first batch of reloads ever so a little nervous don't want to do something stupid. I am just looking for a starting point and a stop point i can work the middle. or at least the book that has the data i am looking for.

Thanks in advanced.

[prof_fate]

Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide

I would say this is a max load...so start at say, 6.5 to 6.8gr of powder.

You'll have to check the bullet though as FN may need a different length than a RN.
Is the bullet jacketed or plated? Berrys says use jacketed data for their plated bullets but other co's say use lead data on plated.

Also check several sources to make sure their's no typos.

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by xJPxHatchet

okay I have ordered 1000 165g FMJFN from Montana Gold. My next order will be from Precision Delta. So i need some help with finding the proper load date i have the lyman 49th and the lee 2nd. tuff to decipher with me being a newb and all.
So i am using
165g FMJFN
Unique
CCI primers
Mixed brass.
And this is for my Xdm 40 3.8

This will be my first batch of reloads ever so a little nervous don't want to do something stupid. I am just looking for a starting point and a stop point i can work the middle. or at least the book that has the data i am looking for.

Thanks in advanced.

PD are jacketed. Use the average starting data form both manuals. Add 1/10gr to that & that is your starting data. Load 10, then load 10 more in 1/10 increments to average max. DO NOT EXCEED average max. Shoot them in order. Note functioning or lack of, accuracy, low or high pressures signs. The gun will tell you what load it likes.

[XD5.25Shooter]

Read all you can about pressure signs. Flat primers, primer cratering........ OAL can make or break you as stated before. I weigh each charge while working up a load. Not for everyone but it's what I do. Precision Delta makes a fine bullet at a great price. I've shot a few local steel matches and a lot of guys like the Montana Gold bullets you ordered.

Be careful, start slow, and have fun.

[xJPxHatchet]

here is what i have to go by for 165g FMJ FN using unique

lyman - 165g TMJ OAL 1.120 5.4-6.0
lee - 165g XTP OAL 1.120 6.3c-7.2c (no data for jacketed for unique powder)
Alliant Powder Website as mentioned above.

As you can see this is were i get confused. I guess i am having issues deciphering the hand-loading lingo.

I could go to Walmart and get a Speer and Hornady manual if i have to.

[prof_fate]

Originally Posted by xJPxHatchet

here is what i have to go by for 165g FMJ FN using unique

lyman - 165g TMJ OAL 1.120 5.4-6.0 TMJ is total metal jacket - plated.

lee - 165g XTP OAL 1.120 6.3c-7.2c (no data for jacketed for unique powder) XTP is a specific bullet and it's jacketed. And you MUST use the recipe for the powder you're going to use! You cannot substitute another poweder.
Alliant Powder Website as mentioned above.

As you can see this is were i get confused. I guess i am having issues deciphering the hand-loading lingo.

I could go to Walmart and get a Speer and Hornady manual if i have to.

powder burns at different rates and that affects the pressure - too much pressure and things explode....i've talked in person to 2 folks that reload...one of which blew up his gun (thinks it was a double charge...not really sure)

You have the amount of space in the case with the bullet seated - shorter OAL means less space - same powder in a smaller space = higher pressure. A too long case (for you gun with the bullet you're using) will put the bullet against the rifling and you get higher pressures again. Can't win for losin', I know!

I've seen recipes for what I"m doing show 3.8 to 4.4...and in another book same bullet and powder 4.2 to 5.1... some of that variance is based on their test barrel, perhaps the brass they used, primer, etc. This is why you need to start at the lower end of a recipe and work up watching for pressure signs.

I've done a lot of searching and research to find what I feel confident in using - you can google for your bullet, your powder and sometimes for 'xd 40 load for idpa' or similar and just begin to make a spreadsheet of everything you find. After 4 or 5 hours of this (no lie) you'll have a pretty good cross section of info and knowledge to worth with.

I need a 1.06 OAL for my berry's FN bullets...there is ONE book out there that lists it (a book I don't have but found quoted by differnt folks in different forums). I also ran across folks having the issue as me with XD9 and the berry's FN and there were a few posts from folks that talked to a guy at berry's that got a recipe. Once I had info on that bullet and length and found 3 different powder loads (some with chrony info) I felt pretty confident to give it a go.

I also learned that for every inch of barrel you add about 80 FPS to the speed, and my comp gun has a lightened slide- combined these mean lower power loads should work the action fine so beginning on the low end is I think safer for me - YMMV of course.

Reloading means you'll spend more time on the hobby and have a lot more knowledge - and appreciation - for what happens and why when you pull the trigger!

[xJPxHatchet]

those were for the unique powder in my books sorry should have mentioned that. but thats all i had to go off of. but i will keep searching thanks for your help

[Frontier Owner]

Im loading my SC with unique. I find the mid ranges work the best for me with 180 gr Hornady HP.
I load with a single stage press, just do something every now and then when Im bored. prep brass, prime, reload, save for components, etc.

[xJPxHatchet]

man i am having a hard time trying to find published data for the load i want to use. In the hour or so i have spent looking on the internet i have found loads from 5.5g of unique to 6.6g of unique for 165g FMJ FN different makers of course. For Montana Gold fred mentioned 6.0g for in a post a while back that i found. So would it be safe to say the i should start at 5.5g ( found on this site) of unique and not exceed 6.6g (found on a glock forum)