.40 reload safety question

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  • CBORNE01

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    Mar 4, 2009
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    I have 500 reloads that were loaded for a .40 that I sold. (STI Edge). They were loaded a little long b/c the gun liked them. (All around 1.140 +/- .005, with a a few thousandths below 1.150 ) . The manual calls for 1.135 +/- .0005 for standard OAL.

    Question- I have an M&P .40 that will go into battery with these rounds, but just not quite as smooth as a standard sized round. Powder charge was on the low side of SAMI specs,and its loaded with a RN lead bullet, just bullet seated a little long.

    Want some guys with more experience than I have to see if they think that it is safe to try and run through the M&P or not before I scrap 500 rds.

    Thanks
     

    bwalke1

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    Jul 27, 2010
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    Baton Rouge
    i would load several mags full and manually cycle the slide while checking to make sure the slide goes all the way forward. try that with about 50-100 rounds and if they all feed and the slide goes into battery then you should be good to go. if they are too long and you are on the low side of the powder charge like you say you are i don't see why you could not put them back on your reloading press and seat them another .005 lower unless you crimped them really hard. not the ideal situation but but it should not hurt anything and better than scrapping 500rds. just shoot them slowly for practice.
     

    CBORNE01

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    Mar 4, 2009
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    Thanks for the reply, they are crimped, that's why I didn't. Those were my thoughts as well, but I figured its not a bad idea to get some feedback.
     

    sksshooter

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    Jul 28, 2008
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    Are they roll crimped or did you use a lee factory crimp die on them? If roll crimped you run the risk of ripping the jacket but if taper crimped with a lee fcd you should be ok running them back through the seating die.
     

    340six

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    Apr 12, 2012
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    I assume you tapper crimped ti remove the bell?
    Or was it a Lee FCD?
    Long is OK as long as it works in your gun, and bullet has proper retention in case without heavy crimp. Short has more pressure
     

    CBORNE01

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    Mar 4, 2009
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    They are taper crimped, but seem to run well when manually cycled. I don't think it will be an issue,but never hurts to get a few opinions.
    thanks for your help.
     

    beauxdog

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    Sep 18, 2007
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    Corey, just do what V/S told you to do by resetting the seating die. I've done the same thing to shorten rounds.

    Beauxdog
     

    noylj

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    Oct 2, 2010
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    SAAMI COL is 1.085-1.135", but for the reloader, all that matters is getting a COL that feeds and chambers in their gun and working up the load at that COL (remember, you are not loading for ALL guns, only YOUR guns).
    In my main .40 S&W, the throat is long, so I load as long as 1.225".
    If the load was light and safe in the other gun and the rounds feed and chamber, go shot them. I really don't see what the issue is.
    Shortening the rounds will:
    1) raise the pressure slightly
    2) almost certainly damage the bullet to some extent
    3) a waste of time if the existing rounds feed and chamber
     
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