40 S&W 180g TC Red River Cast Load Needed

[gunhunter75]

Just picked up some 180g TC Red River S&W bullets at Gunstop and can't find any specific data. My Lyman manual shows #401638 175g at 1.100 OAL and #401633 200g 1.115 OAL. Can't seem to find any data specific to the Red River bullets anywhere. I am looking for an accurate load - have 231 and Blue Dot on hand. I pulled a Winchester White Box 180g Jacketed FP and it measured 1.117 OAL with a taper crimp of .420. The bullet is .5835 long vs the RR TC which is .6240.

I am shooting a Beretta PX4 Storm full size, using Winchester brass and Winchester WSP primers. Appreciate any good advice/recipes. I have loaded for 45 ACP, 38 & 357.

[Sigfan220]

If they had loads specific to each bullet caster in the country the manual would be so thick you would need a forklift to move it around around.

It helps to have several manuals on hand to compare each of them. You should be able to form a load from the data you have already. I'd use the 175 data but keep in mind the 180 won't need as much powder. Start low and work your way up just like with any other load.

Same goes for jacketed, you don't need the exact manufacturers to get a load. Use what you have as a guide. Just don't try anything stupid.

[gunhunter75]

I can work up the powder load using my various sources, but was concerned about the OAL since the different length bullets result in different final case volume and pressure.

[Sigfan220]

And that's why you start low and work your way up. There is no loading manual on the plannet that will list every bullet made in each caliber. You must be new to reloading?? It wouldn't hurt to take a step back and read another manual or two. This is pretty simple load development.

[tator2k]

5.0 gr W231 on them, chrono at 1000 fps. OAL 1.115 (This is my load use at your own risk)

[rugersol]

I can work up the powder load using my various sources, but was concerned about the OAL since the different length bullets result in different final case volume and pressure.

so long as ya use a start load, and there's a decent range between min/max (at least 10%), ya s/b fine!

as to oal, of course, ya'll wanna check the first dozen to fill a mag ... if they don't pop back out, ya need to go shorter! ... otherwise, go as long as ya can!

... ya'll also wanna drop a few into the chamber (bbl removed from the gun) ... they should drop flush with the hood ... and drop back out, under gravity, alone! ... if not, ya need to go shorter! (presuming the bullet's hittin the lands, and ya don't otherwise case resize/crimp issues)

... with cast bullets, ya'll also wanna avoid havin the mouth too close (or in) a lube-groove ... with .40, that shouldn't be difficult ... they should already have that in mind, and have a really nice spot picked out for the case-mouth, already!

... if there's a normal crimp-groove (generally speakin ... like usin .45 Colt bullets in acp), ya also wanna keep the case-mouth away from that ... however, if it's very shallow (designed for a semi-auto), that would be where ya want the mouth to end up!