Lead Reloads in Sig Pro 40 cal
Hi,
I have read that you should not use lead bullet reloads in the Glock 40 cal due to high head pressure. I have a 40 cal Sig Pro and would like to reload using 175-grain lead semi-wad cutters. Does anyone see any problems that this might create? I would like to make a nice load for my wife to shoot. I usually use Winchester 231 powder for my 45's and would like to use the same powder in the 40 cal. My Speer book does not have any reloading information for the 175-grain bullets. Any recommendations for how many grains of 231 to start out with? Thanks in advance for all your help!
Jim
I have read that you should not use lead bullet reloads in the Glock 40 cal due to high head pressure. I have a 40 cal Sig Pro and would like to reload using 175-grain lead semi-wad cutters. Does anyone see any problems that this might create? I would like to make a nice load for my wife to shoot. I usually use Winchester 231 powder for my 45's and would like to use the same powder in the 40 cal. My Speer book does not have any reloading information for the 175-grain bullets. Any recommendations for how many grains of 231 to start out with? Thanks in advance for all your help!
Jim
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You shouldn't have any trouble using lead in a SIG. I'd use a load similar to a 180 grainer, but go lighter on the charge especially with a lead round. You need to avoid high pressure with the 40--it's hot as it is, so go at least 10-15 percent below whatever charge info you find until you verify it is safe.
I'd avoid a lot of lead in a 40 because the velocity is more suited to jacketed rounds.
Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead0 -
mballai, Thank you for your responce. Do you know at what velocity lead becomes less suited than jacketed rounds.
Jim0 -
The lead bullets work fire in my Sig-Pro. I use more of the 180 flat point bullets that look like the fmj Remington bullets that I use. I load both the 175 swc and 180 flat points with 5.2 gr of 231. This is full power load that works well in a lot of my 40 S&W pistols. Have you tried the new Pro-mag magazines. I use them in other guns and I noticed that they had started making them for the Sig-Pro and at much lower price than I have had to pay for the factory Sig mags. 0 -
Generally speaking high velocity calibers like 40S&W and 357 SIG/MAG tend to leave more lead in the barrel which means you'll be cleaning your gun longer and it tends to be a bit much for the average indoor range as well because more lead gets into the air. Just as an example, your typical pistol bullet moves around 800-900 fps (like in 38 Special or 45 ACP) and maybe about 1200 fps or higher for high velocity calibers.
It's not whether it's usable, but whether it's a good idea. While I still do use some lead bullets, I find jacketed ones make things simpler. For example I use to use 158 gr lead bullets in my 38 Special reloads. When I added a 357 magnum, I switched to 125 gr jacketed bullets for doing both. I can run hotter loads with the jacketed bullets, something that is what makes a 357 so appealing.
Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead
Edited by - mballai on 12/03/2002 19:53:190
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