Working up a load for 165gr w/Solo 1000

cysoto · 10-22-2010, 17:04

I posted this on another forum a few hours ago and I haven't yet received any replies. I am sure that someone here will have the answer to my question...
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My wife shoots 40 minor in Production and for the past six months or so she has been using the following load:

180gr Berry's RS
3.11gr Solo 1000
OAL 1.135"
Crimp 0.422"
Producing a PF 127.5 out of an M&P

I purchased a bunch of these Berry's bullets from a friend and, although she likes how they shoot, their prices are IMO way too expensive. Instead I purchased a case of 165gr HP Montana Gold bullets and I need a starting point for a minor load.

None of the load data books that I have checked have much information on 40 minor loads. I was thinking that because the 165gr bullets are approximately 8% lighter than the 180gr bullets, I could bump up the my current load by 8% and start there. This means that I would be starting at around 3.35gr of Solo 1000 and work the load from there (understanding that the MG bullets will be harder than the Berry's, therefore needing more powder to achieve a similar PF).

Does this make sense or am I crazy to think that an 8% bullet weight translates into an 8% powder charge?

Also, if you have any Solo 1000 .40 minor loads for 165gr bullets that you care to share, I am all ears...

Thanks,
Cy

shotgunred · 10-22-2010, 18:09

Solo varies from batch to batch. I find win 231 to be a good minor powder.

Boxerglocker · 10-22-2010, 18:15

Berry's 155 RNDS with 4.3 Titegroup at 1.130 OAL.... sweet load.... for a 165 I would start at 3.9 and chrono up...

***Fire_Medic*** · 10-22-2010, 18:35

Because of the thick jacket of the MG projectiles, it has been my experience that they usually require a little more of a charge behind them than your normal FMJ projectiles. I shot nothing but 180gr with Solo 1K for a long time in my 40's. Just follow the load data for regular FMJ and increase accordingly until you find what works for you. It does vary from batch to batch but once you dial it in, it's a great powder IMO.

cysoto · 10-22-2010, 19:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by shotgunred

Solo varies from batch to batch. I find win 231 to be a good minor powder.

True but I still have over 16 lbs of it left in my basement and would like to use it up before trying something new. In the past I have also tried Titegroup, Clays, WSF and HP-38 but I have found Solo 1000 to offer the best balance between price, availability, cleanliness and, above everything else, accuracy.

cysoto · 10-22-2010, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire_Medic

Just follow the load data for regular FMJ and increase accordingly until you find what works for you.

That's the problem; I haven't found anything in the books for 165gr minor loads.

The slowest loads I have found claim to make about 140PF with 165gr lead bullets but this was in an old book and I know that their 4.2gr suggestion will probably be above the mentioned PF. I say this because I run 4.5gr in my .40 S&W 1911 and, with 180gr bullets, this get me to 172PF. I only needed 4.6gr to make 167PF with PD 180gr RN.

I am thinking that with my current batch of Solo I should be at or bellow 3.5gr to make PF with MG bullets. What I really would like to find out is if an 8% decrease in bullet weight will translate into a 8% increase in powder charge to achieve a similar PF.

D. Manley · 10-22-2010, 20:50

Cy, below is what Accurate's ballistician emailed me for Solo in .40 caliber. Take it with a grain, I personally find some oddities in some of their data but they do respond quickly to individual email requests should you need it.

Caliber: .40 S&W.
Barrel length: 4”
Powder: Accurate – Solo 1000

Bullet weight: 135 grains.
Start load: 4.8 grains (1100 – 1200 ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 5.3 grains (1175 – 1275 Ft/p/sec).

Bullet weight: 155 grains.
Start load: 4.3 grains (900 – 1000 ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 4.8 grains (1000 – 1100 Ft/p/sec).

Bullet weight: 165-170 grains.
Start load: 4.2 grains (850 – 925 ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 4.6 grains (950 – 1050 Ft/p/sec).

Bullet weight: 180 grains.
Start load: 4.0 grains (825 – 875 ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 4.5 grains (900 – 950 Ft/p/sec).

Bullet weight: 200 grains.
Start load: 3.7 grains (800 – 850 ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 4.1 grains (875 – 920 Ft/p/sec).

Colorado4Wheel · 10-24-2010, 18:08

Do you have a chrono?

If not you need to just work it up and start with a load the barely cycle the slide and work it up from that point.

cysoto · 10-24-2010, 18:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colorado4Wheel

Do you have a chrono?

If not you need to just work it up and start with a load the barely cycle the slide and work it up from that point.

Hi Steve,

Yes, I do. I was thinking about starting the load at 3.1gr and chrono up from there. I certainly doubt that 3.1gr will make minor. I know that I can expect to be around the 3.3gr to 3.5gr before I hit that 130PF sweet spot.

What I was trying to find out when I wrote this post (and maybe I just didn't word it correctly) is if I can expect the percentages between bullet weights to correlate to powder weight.

The tricky part to this equation is that I am measuring the powder in grains while the powder thrower is basing its throws on powder volume. This is discombobulating my math skills...

Colorado4Wheel · 10-24-2010, 18:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by cysoto

Hi Steve,

Yes, I do. I was thinking about starting the load at 3.1gr and chrono up from there. I certainly doubt that 3.1gr will make minor. I know that I can expect to be around the 3.3gr to 3.5gr before I hit that 130PF sweet spot.

What I was trying to find out when I wrote this post (and maybe I just didn't word it correctly) is if I can expect the percentages between bullet weights to correlate to powder weight.

The tricky part to this equation is that I am measuring the powder in grains while the powder thrower is basing its throws on powder volume. This is discombobulating my math skills...

Your loading in Grs. Not volume. Your measure is metering by volume of course but because you are checking a your measures output by using a scale it's better to view things as being done in Grs. Now if your loading with a Lee Powder measure your actually able to load using CC's (because you can measure cc's with that scale) and thats not a bad way to go really.

For the record I am using a 155gr 9mm load @ 3.2 grs loading really short for 9mm @ 1.080"