40 S&W which bullet weight? Powder?

[Beentown]

Just starting to load 40S&W and was wondering what bullet weight and powder everyone likes? The why would be great also.

I am currently loading 380, 9mm, 223, and 308win. The powders I have on my bench for pistol are Universal Clays and Titegroup.

Loading for a Glock 22. Just going to be a range toy for the most part with some woods carry. More than likely it will ride in my B.O.B. with a 9mm conversion barrel and mags.

 

[gamestalker]

We all have our own desired loads and bullets, mine may not be your's. That said, I like a 155 gr. JHP over a published charge of Longshot, CCI-500's, Starline brass.

GS

 

[hartcreek]

I am using 175 grain Rainier bullets and Unique. What you use will depend on what you can find in your area or can order.

 

[SFreed]

I use 180 grain Berrys over Longshot or SR 4756.

 

[area51]

Extreme 165 with 3.7 grains titegroup works great for me on my g23.

 

[leefan]

CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

4.8 grains of Titegroup with Berry's 180 grain plated flat point in pickup brass for OAL of 1.118 trying to match Federal American Eagle.

This is one grain over the max Hodgdon recommends for a Berry's FP. In development I started with 4.4, which worked fine in my Beretta PX4.

 

[gahunter12]

I load 180gr X-Treme RSFP over 3.8gr of WST for the summer, and 180gr X-Treme RSFP over 3.6gr of WST for really cold days. I load an average of 18-20k rounds every year using this load for my IDPA matches.

Titegroup worked well for me, but I don't care for the possibility of pressure spikes. To me WST is just as soft, and accurate with out the pressure spikes.

 

[Beentown]

I may pick up some Ramshoot Zip to try also.

 

[SuedePflow]

I use Rainier or Xtreme 180gr bullets over 4.6gr of Bullseye. COAL = 1.135" (shoots from a Glock)

This is a very light recoiling round and is great for speed shooting. And I can get 1500+ rounds out of a single pound of powder.

 

[edfardos]

180 extreme over 6.5grains of aa#5.

 

[Walkalong]

I like 180s at around 950 to 975 FPS for playing around.

 

[horseman1]

I like Nosler 135gr JHP Sporting Handgun. There is a lot of load data, they shoot well and are not too expensive when you can find them.

http://www.nosler.com/40-sw
http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

Ive used W231, WST, Longshot using this load data. Works great.

 

[Moreno]

I don't load for 40. That said, I will add, reloading is a pretty personal thing. You have to try some things and see what the gun likes then see if you can find something both you and the gun like. In these times it may be a matter of "What powder can I find?"

I like Unique, 231, and Titegroup for pistol powders. Others have suggested powders I have never tried. I confess, availability has been a factor in choices here too. Good luck, have fun and start low and work up.

 

[horseman1]

Yeah, with the current powder situation it pays to be a bit flexible, open minded and not get too set in your loads/ways! Unless of course you have a powder stash.....

 

[RealGun]

I have loaded 4.2gr of Titegroup for .40 SW using 180 gr FMJ-TC. Power Pistol is my preferred load but I have a number of powders that would work. Yours are rather fast burning for .40 SW, so look for the medium fast burn range where Power Pistol resides with a number of other popular powders.

Your thought of Ramshot Zip doesn't present any basis for the interest, but Western does provide data for it. Their Silhouette would be a good one, if you could find it.

Alliant powders would include Blue Dot along with others already mentioned. Good velocity.

 

[gamestalker]

Someone else here reminded of 135 gr. Nosler's and 10.5 grs. of Longshot, it really gets them out there. 10.5 is still under published max.

GS

 

[Kuyong_Chuin]

I use 180 grain Berrys over Longshot or SR 4756.

This is what I am using too except for the SR 4756 part.

 

[jr_watkins]

Alliant Power Pistol

I really like Alliant Power Pistol. My chronographed loads have been very consistent with standard deviation of 20 rounds in the high teens. Velocity is good as well, usually meeting or slightly exceeding the published data.

Aggressive load: 7.6 gr Power Pistol under Rem 165 gr HP with Rem 1 1/2 primers and OAL=1.13. This yields 1150 FPS out of Glock 22. This load is pretty stiff, but I have not experienced any abnormal (read: brass flowing into the feed ramp) bulging or other over pressure signs. Shoots to point of aim out to 20 yards.

Range load: 6.3 gr Power Pistol under Rainier Ballistics 165 gr HP with Rem 1 1/2 primers (have also used WSP with same results) and OAL=1.125. This load yields 950 FPS out of Glock 22. Very light and controllable, I prefer it for my Glock 27.

 

[SWThomas]

I like 165g Xtreme RNFP over 6.7g of Ramshot Silhouette.

 

[cowtownup]

I really have to load closer to max using Longshot with both 180 & 155 grain plated bullets or I will have smutty cases.. They are harder to tumble clean obviously. Other than that, I really like how Longshot meters and shoots...

 

[Lennyjoe]

180gr Berry's plated and Longshot here as well.

 

[Stormin.40]

I use HS-6 under plated 165gr FP or 180gr lead FP.

 

[Wyatt]

There are a few heavy bullet/fast powder recommendations on this thread! Proceed with caution if reloading for a Glock no matter what generation!

 

[david bachelder]

I shoot:

I use self cast 165 gr Hollow points and 175 grain Round nose under 5.3 grains of HP-38 or the same bullets over 5.0 grains of Universal.

Either of the above work great for me in a Glock 23 with a Lone Wolf Barrel.

I do get a bit of leading, but its manageable.

 

[Walkalong]

Aggressive load:

Universal & a Zero 165 Gr JHP.