overload question from friend

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blume357

blume357

Hawkeye
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Greenville, SC: USA
I have a good friend who has gotten into reloading and he sent me this question, I have not a clue as to if he has a slight problem or a big problem... I only buy factory ammo.

"I mistakenly loaded 100 .40 S&W rounds with about .5 grains of Bullseye over the max recommended. The bullets are 180 gr. Hornady XTP. Do you think this will be an issue? How much is too much to go over?"

Please help.
 
I don't have a good answer but a suggestion. Check several other reloading manuals to see if his load is within their normal suggested ranges. He might find that it is a good load in other manuals. If not, I would pull 'em. How much money will he waste if he has to pull them and can't re-use some of the components? Is it more or less than a trip to the emergency room?
 
YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME !!! Cost of components VS a trip to the emergency room ???!!!!!!!!!!
There is a good reason why the top loads in manuals are called MAXIMUM.
TELL THAT KNUCKLEHEAD TO SELL ALL HIS GUNS AND EQUIPMENT AND TAKE UP GOLF.
 
1/2 grain over MAX on what is basically a stubby pistol round? This is a no-brainer - assuming that he has at least 1-2 reloading manuals he *should* know better than to even have to ask!

Pull em ! Even if he wastes $40 in components, it is a hell of alot less than the price of a new gun, a hand, or a life.

Let us know where he lives so we can stay well away from him at our local shooting ranges.
 
Without all the commentary,, to be safe, I would suggest he pull the bullets, and salvage the components. He can always re-do the powder charge & then load them safely. Safety first.
 
I am the guy who asked the question originally. I was pretty sure I knew the answer before I asked, but wanted to verify. I made a mistake...I caught it. Life goes on.

I appreciate the constructive comments. I will take the suggestion to get another manual and see if there are specs different from those listed in my Lyman's. I doubt it, but it's worth looking in to.

I tried taking them apart, but it's not worth the effort. I'll probably trash them.
 
Good luck Bob.

It is far, far better to be safe, than sorry. And it is good that you caught your error before trying them out.
I find that it is always best to have a number of reloading manuals, as just 1 or 2 may not cover much different ground. I have 7 manuals, but at least with a fairly "new" round like the 40S&W, one doesn't have to contend with the "extra hot" loadings of some of the earlier manuals for the longer-lived cartridges, like 357, for example. The Lyman's pistol load manual is a good one, but it is still a Very Good Thing to get at least another one or two different ones as a sanity check. Work loads up carefully, too - never start off at maximum. And, if changing the "recipe" of components from a published load, drop down in powder charge to published starting levels or thereabouts and work up carefully - or, just don't deviate from published recipes.

I should have kept in mind that there are no stupid questions - and especially in this forum, we should try to be as helpful and supportive as we can to encourage others to do things safely.
 
The .40 S&W is a high pressure round. To be safe and safe is always the key word in reloading. I would suggest pulling or as you are thinking, trashing (safely) all the rounds. I've been reloading for 30 years and have made my share of mistakes. If reloading is an interest of yours I would suggest looking in to The Cast Boolit Forum. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forum.php Have fun safely. It was wise of you to ask this question.
 
Time to buy a bullet puller-
Everybody has rejects. Pretty cheap tool that hopefully does not get used too often. :)
 
An easy way to pull bullets without an inertia hammer or collet die is to put the bullet in your press and raise it up until you can grab it with a pair of pliers above the frame of the press. Lower the ram and the bullet comes right out. The bullet will be ruined but everything else will be ok. A hundred rounds will take no time at all.
 
I've loaded lots of calibers over the years...used to have a .40 CZ which is a very strong gun....I never shot anything over 165 grains and never hand loaded for it...the .40 is one cartridge I have always had respect for and even some misgivings..Don't know exactly why but I have read lots of things about the critical nature of the .40 and especially with projectiles in the 180 grain area...not much room for any kind of error.
 
Looks like that’s about 10% over max……not something I’d want to shoot. Pull em.....

Dennis.
 
A collet puller will pull the bullets without damage, then one can be careful to save the powder in a clean, Empty recepticle, and viola, (that's one of those old fashioned southern terms) he can reload the rounds without losing anything but a little time. Just this time, make sure he loads well below maximum and then work up.
 
In a Glock 23 , @ night when you bluge the frame it makes a nice BLue light..Your hand may hurt for several days also..They are VERY strong hand guns...P.S. The possum got away and my flash light survived also..NEVER use some one elses(sp) hand loads..Just a hint..!
 
Fast powder + heavy bullet + overload = very bad mojo.

...and my guess is because they are Hornady XTP's they would be loaded a little short, not good.

Don't think about it, pull these things apart.
 
thanks for helping my buddy out... I did not have a clue.

By the way, he is a great person who served our country for over 20 years... We call him Gunny...

I'd say he is one fine Marine... but that would be redundant.
 
Very interesting and educational thread. :wink:
 
Hi, and welcome to the Forum, Chimneybob!

I'm late to the thread and you've already done what I was gonna suggest. Here's why:

I'm not sure how that overload would fare in your gun. While we worry about sudden disastrous results, it's also quite possible no visible damage would be seen at first, DEPENDING on the gun. Problem w/ overloads is the damage is cumulative, and mistakes today may not turn into disaster/tragedy for quite some time... then when they do, it's often w/ an otherwise safe load in them. Since the .40's one of those cartridges that already "lives life on the edge" as it were, you really don't want to test your safety allowance.

Glad to hear y'all decided to pull 'em down... that's a "learning experience" that will stay w/ you!

Rick C
 
He has just gotten into reloading and he is already pushing for the max?
 
Lighten up on the guy- He made a mistake and was willing to admit it.
 
I wasn't "pushing" anything. I read the wrong data chart in my reloading book. I realized it after I finished, when I double checked the specs while writing out a label for the box.

This is why it's good to double check and re-check.
 
Chimneybob said:
This is why it's good to double check and re-check.
Click to expand...

Hi,

Always keep that mentality first and foremost and you should do just fine! And keep asking the questions: anyone who thinks he knows everything about reloading is nowhere nearly as smart as he thinks he is! ;)

Rick C
 
Good Thing you caught it.. I feel there was no need for the negative criticism I read but I got hit by some here once too for not explaining something in better detail.
I have been reloading for years myself. I had to pull rounds before cause I was unsure. Better to be safe then sorry..
Old phrase my Dad beat into my head when I was younger. "Check, Recheck, then check again."
 
Welcome Chimneybob

Don't feel bad, notice every color of the rainbow concerning bullet pullers. If they didn't sell, everyone vaguely related to reloading wouldn't have their color in their catalog.

If you have an impact (hammer) puller, here's a good tip. Rather than using the three piece collet and O-ring, use the shell holder from your reloading dies. Much faster and easier to use.

Not making excuses, more apologizing on behalf of the forum for the boorish behavior.
 
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