Best Powder for 40S&W

[ants]

From your list with 155 grain bullet, HS6 and AA#5 are best in my gun.
Those are best for me, your gun will tell you what it likes.
Each gun is its own platform. Try it in your gun.

However, especially toward max load, I don't get best accuracy with plated bullets in 40S&W.
40 pressures are fairly high, and when you get to max load it's hard on plated bullets.


Nosler lists AA#5 at Max Load as accuracy load with their 150 HP. I agree with that. It is.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

There is no "best" of anything, but Longshot is an excellent, clean-burning powder for full-power loads. I use 7.0gr w/ a 180gr. lead bullet.

 

[MDof2]

There is no *best*.
There are a lot of tried and true coming from different reloading benches.
My bench has excellent results from BE86, HS6 and Longshot. YMMV.

 

[FROGO207]

Another vote for AA#5. Most accurate propellant with a 180 grain lead bullet I have found in 2 different pistols. I also like 700-X but it meters poorly for this small an amount so I stuck with AA#5 instead. I am going to try some BE-86 when I get my hands on some.

 

[cheygriz]

HS-6, AAC#7 and Longshot.

 

[fulingyu]

I have used HS6 in 40 with good results but I have settled on WSF much cleaner than HS6

I also use WSF in 40. I have excellent results in both 40 and 9. I have used 165gr xtreme hp and the fp. Also 180gr Hornady HAP bullets. All pretty good groups at 25 yards. Even out to 100 yards shooting steel.

 

[zxcvbob]

I would expect Herco to be really good in .40 if there's enough room in the case for it. (there should be, but I don't load .40S&W so not sure) It's the right speed, and it's bulky, and it doesn't get squirrelly at the top end like Blue Dot.

 

[bbqreloader]

After testing numerous powders, CFE (just bought 8#) and HS6 as the back up for 40 and 9. Still love Universal for the 45, but want to try longshot.

 

[OilyPablo]

Longshot not good for 45ACP pistols. But does quite well max load in my Camp 45.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

IMO the best powder for the 10mm/40 S&W was W571/HS-7 but it's no longer in production. My current choice is AA#7 which delivers similar results as HS-7.

Of the powders in your stock I would use Longshot, HS-6 or AA#5 in that order. Those should deliver good results but if you can get ahold of some AA#7 I think you will really like the results.