Favorite .40 S&W bullet weight?

[MCNETT]

I already know that the 165gr and 180gr weights are the most popular. Beyond these two weights, what are your favorites for PREMIUM JHP bullets for self-defense?
-Mike

 

[Kamicosmos]

i use 165 grainers. I have played around with some 155s, so they are always my secondary choice, so I voted for them.

ALthough, Black Snowman has been doing some interesting things with 135 grain bullets...

 

[murrie]

Id vote 165 since it shoots poa in my gun... (well as best as i can manage)

 

[Alan Fud]

200? Who makes a 200?

 

[krept]

165gr, so I voted 155.

 

[Black Snowman]

There's a 200 grain Hornady XTP. Mainly used in 10mm.

I found 150-165 to be the best ballence of momentum and energy in the .40 S&W and 10mm when loaded to their potential. I went with the 165 gr Golden Saber since it's cheap enough that I can eat up lots of test and practice loads with it.

If $ was no object I'd probably go with a Gold Dot. I had been using (and I'm still using, until I run out) 135 gr Noslers in my Delta Elite 10mm but with the extra velocity of the 10mm I wasn't as worried about penetration. Plus, I wanted the light bullets so it wouldn't beat up the gun as badly. I've since done some upgrades so that's no longer an issue. As soon as I'm through the 400 or so 135 gr rounds I have loaded up I'll use the 165 GS in those as well.

I voted 155, since that's still in my sweet spot, and I haven't seen data on the Nosler 150 gr for expansion or penetration, but I know the 135 gr version is quite accurate out of my guns.

 

[Chupacabra]

I haven't tried anything besides 165 and 180.

I prefer the 165s as they have a slightly lower recoil than the 180s...

 

[mrapathy2000]

hornady sells custom 200gr 40S&W.

besides that no commercial load. believe bullet setback being a concern. that and it has fps lower than 45acp in 230gr. slow flyer compared to rest.

I have no real favorite weight in 40S&W yet. then again I havent done as nice a testing as I would like with all of them and the various manufacture loads availible.

lighter weights shoot flatter 135-140-150-155.
lighter is availible though not conventional bullets. Specialty rounds with special materials.

my favorite load would be the most accurate with minimal recoil or flash though good energy+penetration.

have not seen 40S&W FMJ vs JHP penetration. JHP penetration results I saw were consistent. 12-15inches of gelatin. denim or no denim.

 

[crt360]

I mostly shoot 180 because it's usually the cheapest to buy. I seem to shoot more accurately with 155, but maybe I'm concentrating harder because I paid a whole $0.75 more a box for it. Oddly, the 165 doesn't seem to shoot as accurately for me as 180. This is mostly based on an informal long afternoon of comparing the three in the Blazer through the same pistol at various distances. Another reason I probably shoot 180 more often is its availability - S&B, Magtech, CCI and other reasonably priced practice ammo always seems to be easiest to find in 180.

 

[cratz2]

165s are my first choice, 180s are my second choice... I guess 155s would be my third choice. I've found 155s to be the most accurate (actual accuracy, not just drop) at longer distances in the two 40s I've shot at 100 yards.

 

[Black Snowman]

I expected 135s to get a better showing. I had used the Fed defensive loads in this weight until I decided they were too slow to work well with the 135s and went to my "one round for everything" plan.

 

[mrapathy2000]

135gr is not widely known or availible as say 180gr or 165gr.

wonder if doubletap ammo has 135gr-155gr availible running fullspeed. 1450-1500fps and 1250-1300fps

135gr nice for making light target/plinking loads.