Need Help with 40 SW load

[Rcromwell92]

I want to load 40 SW with a180 Grn RNFP. I am looking to load it for my wife's SCT. I kind of want a lighter load for plinking for the wife. I already have the bullets/cases and primers prepped. I was looking for WSF but came up on 2 Lbs of IMR SR4756 ($20 for both pounds). Any load recommendations are greatly appreciated... Thank you in advance

 

[Toprudder]

 

[rfwobbly]

Being a single-base powder, 4756 is going to have a recoil that's a "push" rather than a "snap". Your wife will really appreciate that.

IMHO, if need be, you can also go slightly below their Starting Load because 4756 is not reactive, like H110/W296.

 

[Palladan44]

Very similar to Toprudders here:

 

[LiveLife]

40 SW ... 180 Grn RNFP ... was looking for WSF but came up on ... IMR SR4756 ... Any load recommendations

SR 4756 burn rate is between WSF and HS-6 and I tested both for USPSA 40S&W/9mm loads and ended up using WSF due to greater flexibility to produce acceptable accuracy down to mid-to-high range load data compared to HS-6 preferring near max load data for optimal accuracy.

I haven't used discontinued SR 4756 but as @rfwobbly suggested, you can test the start charge and if you get reliable slide cycling and spent case extraction/ejection along with acceptable accuracy, you can conduct powder "work down" instead of work up until you lose reliable slide cycling and/or accuracy.

lighter load for plinking for the wife

I tested several other comparable/faster burning than BE-86 powders for 40S&W loads (Herco, Universal, Power Pistol, W231/HP-38, Green Dot, Sport Pistol, Titegroup, WST, Clays, Bullseye, Red Dot/Promo) and if you are looking for lighter target loads, found W231/HP-38 to produce acceptable accuracy below start charge with light to mild recoil and I used these loads to transition 9mm shooters to 40S&W, known to have "snappy" recoil.

With 180 gr plated TCFP and 3.9 gr of W231/HP-38, recoil is lighter than 9mm and 4.0-4.3 gr will produce mild recoil.

If using faster burning powders than W231/HP-38, unless you use lighter start/low charges, recoil will be progressively more "snappy" as burn rate gets faster. But for range blasting general purpose 40S&W loads, if your wife can tolerate 9mm recoil being mild to moderate, can even faster burning Red Dot/Promo work? Yes, with mild to moderate recoil. To me, this is possible due to 180 gr TCFP/RNFP's long bullet base producing sufficient neck tension to allow efficient enough powder burn to produce accuracy.

 

[JSneezy]

SR 4756 burn rate is between WSF and HS-6 and I tested both for USPSA 40S&W/9mm loads and ended up using WSF due to greater flexibility to produce acceptable accuracy down to mid-to-high range load data compared to HS-6 preferring near max load data for optimal accuracy.

I haven't used discontinued SR 4756 but as @rfwobbly suggested, you can test the start charge and if you get reliable slide cycling and spent case extraction/ejection along with acceptable accuracy, you can conduct powder "work down" instead of work up until you lose reliable slide cycling and/or accuracy.


I tested several other comparable/faster burning than BE-86 powders for 40S&W loads (Herco, Universal, Power Pistol, W231/HP-38, Green Dot, Sport Pistol, Titegroup, WST, Clays, Bullseye, Red Dot/Promo) and if you are looking for lighter target loads, found W231/HP-38 to produce acceptable accuracy below start charge with light to mild recoil and I used these loads to transition 9mm shooters to 40S&W, known to have "snappy" recoil.

With 180 gr plated TCFP and 3.9 gr of W231/HP-38, recoil is lighter than 9mm and 4.0-4.3 gr will produce mild recoil.

If using faster burning powders than W231/HP-38, unless you use lighter start/low charges, recoil will be progressively more "snappy" as burn rate gets faster. But for range blasting general purpose 40S&W loads, if your wife can tolerate 9mm recoil being mild to moderate, can even faster burning Red Dot/Promo work? Yes, with mild to moderate recoil. To me, this is possible due to 180 gr TCFP/RNFP's long bullet base producing sufficient neck tension to allow efficient enough powder burn to produce accuracy.

When it comes to plinking rounds, HP-38/W231 has become my absolute favorite powder. Without checking my log book, I'm pretty sure I load 180 grain Berrys FP at around 4.9 or 5.0 grains, which amounts to around 1,400 rounds per pound. Between that and the versatility, it's a hard powder to beat. I don't think there's a whole lot of pistol cartridges that don't have at least some data with HP-38.

 

[lordpaxman]

@Rcromwell92 , welcome to THR.

I kind of want a lighter load for plinking for the wife.

Typically for lighter loads, you want faster powders. I’ve not used SR 4756 but several others like Titegroup, IMR Target (discontinued), N320 and Sport Pistol. N320 being single base also is very soft. WST and Clays also are very good for target loads. My competition load is with WST and make major PF, but you don’t need to load it that fast. WSF is a good powder but a bit slower and I use it for full power loads.
There’s published data for all of these, that’s what I used to get started. Do a plunk test and a ladder and have fun.

 

[Walkalong]

Without checking my log book, I'm pretty sure I load 180 grain Berrys FP at around 4.9 or 5.0 grains

That’s a great load with most any 180 Gr .40 S&W bullet. I’m using 5.0 under a coated 180 right now. (Work it up)

 

[JSneezy]

That’s a great load with most any 180 Gr .40 S&W bullet. I’m using 5.0 under a coated 180 right now. (Work it up)

I checked out my log book, and it looks like I load at 4.9 grains, but I also use small rifle primers in that load. I don't think I've used any primers but small rifle in most of my pistol loads, aside from .357 magnum, where I use small pistol magnum. I also use small pistol in .380, but only because I haven't tested the LCP II to see if it will reliably set off small rifle.

That particular load in the .40 is great though. Great accuracy with good grouping in the guns both my wife and I shoot, but it does feel a little snappy in my Kahr CW40. It's nothing I can't manage, and the recoil is great in her Ruger SR40C.

 

[Walkalong]

The only .40 I have anymore is an FNS-40, and I only have it because when the market was flooded with used Glock .40s I got it on sale new for $300, couldn’t pass it up. Nice pistol. Not only is that load very accurate, the recoil impulse is very nice to shoot over similar FPS loads with other popular powders.

 

[vaalpens]

I have not tested any WSF or IMR SR4756 loads in 40S&W, but following are two accurate plinking loads I tested:

40SW, P229, 3.9" Case: RP COL: 1.125" RMR, 180gr, FMJRNFP, W244, 4.6gr, SBPRSP Average: 816 ES: 47 SD: 18.7 Force: 266 PF: 146 Velocities: 829, 789, 836, 822, 808 Grouping @ 15yd: 0.54" Test Date: 11/01/2020

40SW, P229, 3.9" Case: Federal COL: 1.125" Pulled, 180gr, FMJRNFP, HP38, 4.4gr, GINEXSP Average: 771 ES: 26 SD: 11.8 Force: 238 PF: 138 Velocities: 781, 786, 761, 768, 760 Grouping @ 15yd: 0.95" Test Date: 10/08/2017

 

[cshoe44]

I have not tested any WSF or IMR SR4756 loads in 40S&W, but following are two accurate plinking loads I tested:

40SW, P229, 3.9" Case: RP COL: 1.125" RMR, 180gr, FMJRNFP, W244, 4.6gr, SBPRSP Average: 816 ES: 47 SD: 18.7 Force: 266 PF: 146 Velocities: 829, 789, 836, 822, 808 Grouping @ 15yd: 0.54" Test Date: 11/01/2020

View attachment 1183310

40SW, P229, 3.9" Case: Federal COL: 1.125" Pulled, 180gr, FMJRNFP, HP38, 4.4gr, GINEXSP Average: 771 ES: 26 SD: 11.8 Force: 238 PF: 138 Velocities: 781, 786, 761, 768, 760 Grouping @ 15yd: 0.95" Test Date: 10/08/2017

View attachment 1183311

Would it be okay to ask if you guys could add the source for the data charts that you are posting, please? Toprudder, too....

 

[Toprudder]

Would it be okay to ask if you guys could add the source for the data charts that you are posting, please? Toprudder, too....

Mine was from the Hodgdon reloading web page.

Reloading Data Center – Hodgdon Reloading Data Center

hodgdonreloading.com

 

[vaalpens]

Would it be okay to ask if you guys could add the source for the data charts that you are posting, please? Toprudder, too....

The load results are mine. The load data is from Hodgdon: https://hodgdonreloading.com/

 

[Stevenvalleyky]

Never used that powder. However its very easy to make mousefart loads for 40S&W. Heavy bullet plus light load of some fast powders equal very soft shooting loads. My personal favorites are 180 gr RNFP with either titegroup or accurate#2. My compacts can run lower charge weights than my fullsized 40s. To do testing with either of those powders I just reduced charge weight by .1 grain until the gun will no longer cycle. With titegroup, I have 1 that I can as low as 3.5 gr, another I can go down to 3.2 gr. Just keep reducing until the pistol wont cycle then go up .2grains. This is what I do. However, thats not within published loads so do this at your own risk. I have however shot thousands of mousefarts thru several 40S&w pistols. I love having all my brass in a nice pile by my right foot and the soft recoil that allows me to shoot fast.

 

[LiveLife]

With 180 gr plated TCFP and 3.9 gr of W231/HP-38, recoil is lighter than 9mm and 4.0-4.3 gr will produce mild recoil.

Would it be okay to ask if you guys could add the source for the data charts that you are posting, please?

From Hodgdon - https://hodgdonreloading.com/rldc/

• 40S&W 180 gr Berry's plated FP COL 1.125" Start 4.4 gr (872 fps) - Max 5.1 gr (984 fps)