Help Pick a .40s&W powder

[Southernsorrow]

I've had good results with n320 and n340 but wanted to try one of these, which have you had best results with?

Hodgdon Hs-6
Hodgdon Longshot
Alliant Power Pistol
IMR SR4756

I like the burn rates on these as there inbetween n320 and n340

Guns of Use: Sig Sauer P229 and P226
Bullets I have/use are 165gr and 180gr. Round nose, RNFP,Gold Dot

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Even though I'm a big HS-6 fan I have to admit, of the powders you listed I would use Longshot in the 40 S&W.

 

[Southernsorrow]

longshot seems to burn like n340 "which is more of a push" on the recoil while the fast burning n320 is more of a snappy type recoil so I get a little worse grouping with the snappier stuff. hs-6 burns almost like n340 aswell

 

[GLOOB]

Win Auto Comp is supposedly a tick slower than HS-6, but somehow manages to use 10% less powder while getting faster velocities in all but one bullet weight. It sounds too good to be true. It's all I use in .40, ATM.

 

[THe Dove]

I know it's not on your list but I've had great success using Titegroup with 165 gr jacketed boolits.

The Dove

 

[Crashbox]

I use Longshot exclusively for my SP2022 .40, 7.5 grains pushing a 180-grain FMJ bullet is my standard factory SD recoil/bark clone *attempt*-

High velocities coupled with somewhat lower pressures really sealed the deal for me WRT using Longshot in the .40 S&W...

 

[sellersm]

I'd vote for Longshot to simulate a SD round 'feel'.

It's not on your list either, but I really like Win231/HP38 behind a 180gr bullet for a low-charge load!

 

[noylj]

What is the goal?
I load for accuracy (not competition, just me shooting against myself) and I find AA5, Unique, Silhouette (WAP), HS7, and HS6 to be excellent.
7.4gn AA5 and 6.0gn Silhouette under a 155gn bullet.
6.8gn HS6, 6.1gn Unique, and 5.5gn Power Pistol under a 165gn bullet.
5.5-6.0gn AA5, 5.1-5.8gn Power Pistol, 4.5-5.5gn Red Dot,under a 175gn bullet.
Your Mileage Will Vary.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I vote for Power Pistol.

 

[WanMan99]

I am using Berry's plated 185gr FP with Power Pistol in my Glock 22 and it loves them. Very clean and extremely snappy recoil with a starting load.

 

[Gadzooks Mike]

I agree with Dove. I'm currently using N-340, have tried Unique and Herco, but best results so far BY FAR have been with Titegroup for both lead and jacketed bullets.

 

[CZ57]

My favorite Vihta Vouri powder for the .40 S&W was 3N37. I have since switched to Ramshot Silhouette which was formerly Winchester Action Pistol or WAP. I believe it is the original powder that S&W used to develop the .40 S&W. Plus, it is treated for flash and is supposed to have a lower flame temperature compared to other powders. Very low flash in case your developing SD loads. Very good metering as well. Plenty of data at http://www.ramshot.com Ramshot True Blue is also a good choice but Silhouette is very similar to VV 3N37 and cost quite a bit less.

BTW, Silhouette is in your burn rate range Just between HS-6 and N-340.

 

[Hunt480]

I use bullseye in the 40s&w with 180gr fmj and 170 gr SWC. It is accurate in my gun.

 

[Southernsorrow]

Went to basspro, I WAS TOLD they had alliant powerpistol and Accurate no." 5 " and Hs-6 THE ONLY thing they had was no.7 , Longshot "out of stock" and HS-6... so after 75 minute drive there I wind up leaving with the only thing they had which was hs-6. p!sses me off being told somthing by " 2 " differant people and you get there and it's not stocked,shelved and never was stocked/shelved I'm sure I can't go wrong with the hs-6 but would have chosen Power Pistol "wanted the most" or no.5 or longshot if they had it in stock "didn't have any of those left"

they had unique and a few of the WW powders but only in 8lb jugs I'd rather try out a 1 lb before I commited to a big jug o powder

 

[GW Staar]

In the new March issue of "Combat Handguns" magazine, the reloading editor tried Bulleye, Unique, and Blue Dot loads for his 4.62" barreld .40S&W Hi-Power. He chose those loads for 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?

Nevertheless, he says Blue Dot has a "particularly good reputation with the shorty forty." His tests of course bore that out with his 10-shot 1.5" groups @ 10 yards.

So, the question is....anybody else use Blue Dot in a .40S&W????? Comments?

P.S. Bullet used was 180gr, FMJ. Brand was a secret I guess.

 

[RidgwayCO]

I don't shoot .40S&W, but helped my shooting buddy develop a load for his S&W M&P. His first attempt at reloading consisted of the starting load of Hodgdon's Universal Clays (from the Speer #14 manual) teamed with a Montana Gold 165gr CMJ bullet. He proclaimed this load to be "PERFECT!", and has never loaded anything else.

Personally, I don't know how he does it. I'm way too much of a "tinkerer" to do what he did...

 

[youngda9]

I use Unique for 9mm, .40, .357, .38, and .44. So there is my answer. One powder does it all.

(To those who claim it's dirty, I say hogwash) Just wipe down the firearm when done and that's all.

 

[winchester1886]

I'm using Longshot in my 40 with 180gr Golden Sabre with a avg of 1032fps ES of 18fps and SD of 7. It burns cleanly and meters well.

 

[hydraulicman]

i would use the slower powders to keep pressures under control . I like power pistol but longshot might be a good one to try

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I've used Blue Dot in my .40 loads and liked it. 9 grains behind a 165 gr Ranier is a stout, accurate load. The recoil was on the upper end of moderate and it had a big bark, me likey, likey! It was fun!

I've used Unique, Universal and Longshot in the .40, I like them all. Longshot is the best performing of the three, as far a power goes.

 

[LiveLife]

In the new March issue of "Combat Handguns" magazine, the reloading editor tried Bulleye, Unique, and Blue Dot loads for his 4.62" barreld .40S&W Hi-Power. He chose those loads for 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?

Nevertheless, he says Blue Dot has a "particularly good reputation with the shorty forty." His tests of course bore that out with his 10-shot 1.5" groups @ 10 yards.

So, the question is....anybody else use Blue Dot in a .40S&W????? Comments?

P.S. Bullet used was 180gr, FMJ. Brand was a secret I guess.

When I switched my match caliber from 45ACP/9mm to 40S&W, I tried Bullseye, W231, Universal, HS-6 and WSF. I found Bullseye too fast/snappy and W231 produced good accuracy with moderate recoil.

Too bad the CH editor didn't include Green Dot (another Alliant powder) in his comparison. 155/165/180 gr Montana Gold FMJ with W231/HP38 will produce 1" shot groups out of G22 at 10 yards all day. Green Dot burns comparable to W231/HP38 with close accuracy - you just need to use .2-.3 gr more.

Compare 180 gr FMJ with 4.3-4.5 gr of W231/HP38 at 1.125" OAL to your 40S&W loads and see which is more accurate.

Holes on targets speaks volumes.

 

[ssyoumans]

I've used Blue Dot with Montana Gold 155 JHP @ 1.130"
These were the velocity out of a Glock 23, 84 degrees. 5 shot groups.

9.0gr: 993fps, ES 85, SD 30.4, KE 340 ft-lbs
9.5gr: 1051fps, ES 64, SD 24.6, KE 380 ft-lbs
10.0gr: 1085fps, ES 46, SD 19.1, KE 405 ft-lbs
10.5gr: 1117fps, ES 44, SD 18.2, KE 430 ft-lbs
10.6gr: 1127 fps, ES 68, SD 27.4, KE 437 ft-lbs

NOTE: Some sources place 10.0gr as max, other manuals I had said 11gr max. Either way, I stopped at 10.6gr. Primers started flattening out pretty good.

I did not get a chance to test these for accuracy, I will probably do that with the 9.5, 9.7, and 9.9 grs and see if I can find one that is better than the rest.

Reference factory loads:
Corbon 150gr's clock at 1176fps, ES 15, SD 7, KE 461 ft-lbs
Speer 155gr Gold Dots: 1140fps, ES 15, SD 6.3, KE 447 ft-lbs *advertised as 1175fps, 475 ft-lbs
Federal 155gr HST: 1150fps, ES 23, SD 10.0, KE 456 ft-lbs
Winchester 155gr Silvertips: 1117fps, ES 25, SD 10.1, KE 429 ft-lbs * well short of the advertised 1205 fps, 500 ft-lbs
Hornady 165gr Critical Defense: 1059fps, ES 21, SD 7.9, KE 411 ft-lbs * Well short of the advertised 1175fps, 506 ft-lbs

Perhaps the advertised velocities were out of a 5" tube.

 

[GW Staar]

When I switched my match caliber from 45ACP/9mm to 40S&W, I tried Bullseye, W231, Universal, HS-6 and WSF. I found Bullseye too fast/snappy and W231 produced good accuracy with moderate recoil.

Too bad the CH editor didn't include Green Dot (another Alliant powder) in his comparison. 155/165/180 gr Montana Gold FMJ with W231/HP38 will produce 1" shot groups out of G22 at 10 yards all day. Green Dot burns comparable to W231/HP38 with close accuracy - you just need to use .2-.3 gr more.

Compare 180 gr FMJ with 4.3-4.5 gr of W231/HP38 at 1.125" OAL to your 40S&W loads and see which is more accurate.

Holes on targets speaks volumes.

Hang on....not my loads, Mr. Mike Beliveau's loads (remember...the CH editor?)

I only started loading .40 and very little of it 2 years ago, using up cans/bottles of Unique I already had. Unlike my long experience and love affair with 1911's and.45ACP, I wasn't that worried about performance and accuracy...after all, the only .40 I had was a tiny short barreled CW40 Kahr.

The reason this thread caught my attention is that I just bought a new CR40 Ruger Friday. Wow! What a really nice shooter, and in spite of its 15 round magazine, the gun actually fits my small hands!! I shot a cheap box of Independence 180gr FMJ and was I impressed! Always liked the SR9 but never felt anything for the 9mm, so when the 40S&W version showed up....could not resist. Even the trigger is near perfect...for a double action that is.

Back to the O.P.'s subject. So now, like him, I also want to develop a SD load. I want to shoot 180gr. Hornady FTX, Speer Gold Dot, or similar... and I'd also prefer not to have a wrist snapper, which means a slower powder....and of course accuracy is pretty d. important....and so is pressure in this caliber.

So you prefer W231 over the rest of the pack? You mentioned Green Dot....actually tried it yet?

 

[LiveLife]

I also want to develop a SD load.

For full power loads, like many, I would recommend slower powders than W231/HP38 which I prefer for mid-high range target loads.

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?

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.

So you prefer W231 over the rest of the pack? You mentioned Green Dot....actually tried it yet?

For range/target/match loads, yes. W231/HP38 has been my designated 40S&W powder that has proven to be very flexible. For 180 gr, 3.8-4.1 gr will produce light recoil yet accurate loads that are great for new/female/9mm shooters transitioning to 40S&W. 4.3-4.5 gr will produce mild/moderate recoil and accurate loads. I tested Green Dot last year when W231/HP38 got hard to find. It was a good substitute but required .2-.3 gr more charge to match W231/HP38's performance/felt recoil.

 

[CZ57]

If you're going to load for SD you really ought to consider Silhouette. It will give you superb accuracy and it's treated for muzzle flash. Especially if your aim is factory equivalent velocity. Powders like Green Dot and W-231 fall short IMO. http://www.ramshot.com