400 Legend Reloading discussion

[Greymatter762]

I'm trying to start a thread on 400 Legend handloading experience. Bullets, powders, velocities, die setup, trouble shooting issues, etc. If you have anything related to working up a load or already have some good loads worked out, please post them so members can have more insight on the cartridge. Thank you!

 

[Treerat-sniper]

I picked up Redding dies, Hornady 200 gr SSTs, and Hornady 180 XTP bullets (lighter loads) last year. Had a real busy summer (tornado cleanup still ongoing), so haven't had a chance to load any up. I want to order some BCB 165s & the Hammer 170s. IF I don't get around to loading up before deer season, I have 190 & 215 Win factory loads on hand and have some of the new Rem 210 core-lokts inbound. I have shot sub 1" 100 yard groups with the 215 Wins, using my Savage 110 Trail Hunter.

@sew may have some more insight, he started a thread on the available factory loads last fall:

Thread 'Surprise with 400 Legend and factory ammo.'

Nov 26, 2024

I posted this on a crossbow board, under non-crossbow topics. I recently got a Savage Trailmaster 110 in 400 Legend and topped it with a 2x10 Conquest scope. No brass available, yet; but many excellent 40 cal smokeless Muzzleloading bullets are available for reloading. This tremendous selection seems largely unknown since on reloading forums, I read about the nonavailability of bullets other than pistol bullets.
Below is the post I made. All shooting was done off a card table with quality rests and shot in a farm field with a 45 degree 5-7 mph quartering tailwind . No windage corrections...

• sew
• Replies: 32
• Forum: Big Stuff--7mm, 30 Cal, .338+

• 

Also some comments on bullet availability:

Thread '400 Legend'

Dec 2, 2024

Has anyone reloaded for this cal I’m having a hard time finding a bullet for this cal

• Tim Swonger
• Replies: 14
• Forum: Reloading Forum (All Calibers)

I have read that BCB has had good results with H110/W296 for their bullets.
I was at the local Scheels this weekend and ran into a gent that was picking up a pound of lil gun to try. He also has the Hor 200gr muzzy bullets. He stated that he has tried H110 with good success (I believe he had a Savage Axis XP). He said the lil gun load data was on Hodgdon's website.

 

[Treerat-sniper]

Here's a snip from Hodgdon's site:



I noticed they didn't list the SST so the col will be different.

 

[Lefty2506]

Maybe N110, Reloader 7, or N120? N110 would be somewhat comparable to H110. Guys are using RL7 and N120 with those bullets in smokeless muzzleloaders, but they are using larger charges at higher pressures. Not sure how low you can go on the powder charge with either of them and still get good ignition. I believe I saw some 400L load data somewhere for 4227 also. I believe 4227 is used in some mid range SML Loads also (heavier than N110, but not as stout as N120 or RL7). All of this is in respect to a bolt gun. For an AR, I'd stay exclusively with published loads. Guys are using the Savage small shank actions to build SMLs that push 225gr bullets north of 2800 fps, and 45 cal 300 gr bullets to the same speed, so the action will be plenty strong. In a bolt gun, I would think that Its just a question of when you start to stick/ruin your brass, or just run out of room in the case.

 

[SeabeeKen]

Maybe N110, Reloader 7, or N120? N110 would be somewhat comparable to H110. Guys are using RL7 and N120 with those bullets in smokeless muzzleloaders, but they are using larger charges at higher pressures. Not sure how low you can go on the powder charge with either of them and still get good ignition. I believe I saw some 400L load data somewhere for 4227 also. I believe 4227 is used in some mid range SML Loads also (heavier than N110, but not as stout as N120 or RL7). All of this is in respect to a bolt gun. For an AR, I'd stay exclusively with published loads. Guys are using the Savage small shank actions to build SMLs that push 225gr bullets north of 2800 fps, and 45 cal 300 gr bullets to the same speed, so the action will be plenty strong. In a bolt gun, I would think that Its just a question of when you start to stick/ruin your brass, or just run out of room in the case.

N-110 and 2400 should be a good ones. I dont load for 400 but do load for a friends 350. 2400 was the best accuracy of the tested powders shooting .1” @ 100. He was consistently hitting 6” steel at 300 yds with this load.
I also tested lil gun, a5744, h110, a11fs, and a few others that dont come to mind.

 

[Lefty2506]

For 400L powder choices, it seems like your options are the slow pistol powders that work well in 44mag, 45 Colt, 454, and 460 (obviously not at the same quantity). Of those powders, it seems like H110 always gives the best velocity. As I understand it, N110 is just a little denser, so if the case capacity is the limiting factor, maybe N110 would be a better choice but those who have used it normally say that the H110 is almost gives a little more speed. When limited to 45ksi, I don't think the slower powders are going to generate enough pressure to be efficient, nor does cartridge have enough case capacity to hold enough of those powders to reach the those higher pressures. Maybe if you want to launch some heavy (+230gr) stuff out of a bolt gun, stuff like 4227, N120, and RL7 might be worth looking into, but I don't see a benefit to slinging heavier bullets out of a 400 Legend. Seems like 180-200gr would be more than enough for what the cartridge is intended for, and you could go a fair amount lighter with a soft monolithic.