Help Pick a .40s&W powder

[Captaingyro]

I have used Titegroup in the .40, with pretty good results, but have now settled on the rather more sedate Universal, which I'm really pleased with. When the Universal runs low, I may buy a pound of Longshot to try.

Reading the responses to this post, however, I'm impressed with the wide range of powders that can be used with this versatile and potent round. Maybe the OP should have asked, "Which of the popular handgun powders don't do well in .40 S&W?"

 

[GW Staar]

Anybody try plain Clays on .40 S&W? That seems to be a popular one with .45 ACP.

 

[noylj]

---Quote---
the reloading editor tried Bulleye, Unique, and Blue Dot loads ... to try each end of the powder burn-speed spectrom, and one in the middle....all Alliant powders......makes you wonder why that, don't it?
---Quote---
Well, maybe he had his reasons for trying Alliant powders only, but I think adding Green Dot would have provided a better comparison burn rate wise instead of Bullseye, which I think is too fast for 40S&W.
---End Quotes---
I am surprised that Blue Dot was included. Alliant officially only has four pistol powders: Bullseye, Unique, Power Pistol, and 2400.
Green Dot is also very good in .45ACP.

 

[TonyT]

I tend to use either WSF or Power Pistol for full power loads and WST for light plinking loads.

 

[REL1203]

I used 180Gr FP Plated bullets with my XDM, and just found 4.0 of WST shoots GREAT for me... About 1" high at 8yards but consistent as could be.. Loaded up 1,000 of them a few nights ago and plan on doing more.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Anybody try plain Clays on .40 S&W? That seems to be a popular one with .45 ACP.

IMO Clays is way too fast a powder for use in the 40 S&W. The .40 is a high pressure round whereas the .45 Auto is not. Clays is better suited for the .45 Auto and .38 Special and not really in the right burn rate range for the 40 S&W or 9mm.