M & P 40C Ammo

1GunLover61 · Jul 10, 2015

Just picked up a 40C yesterday and am wondering what a good 'all purpose' round is for this gun. I haven't shot the gun yet and can't wait to do so. The main reason for this gun is home defense and carry.

thanks

Pre 29 · Jul 10, 2015

Well here is an Expert answer. That gun should shoot anything you stick in the mag but you really need to shoot different loads. The last G23 I had would not shoot 165 or 180 grain bullets accurately but really liked 135 Fed HS and 155 Hornady. We sell a lot of Rem Golden Sabre, Hornady Crit Defence and Crit Duty. The copper Barns bullets are very good especially as loaded by Buff Bore and you can't go wrong with Gold Dot. I would stay away from the new "miracle" bullets like the G2 and super light Liberty stuff. In the end of course you want a load that is 100% reliable and you can shoot well. You might also want to look at what local law enforcement is using. Good luck and be safe.

Narrowback · Jul 10, 2015

I have about 400-500 rounds through my 40c. I buy WWB 180g FMJ for the range. I've put some Rem RMC JHP's through it, some Win PDX1, both 165g and 180g, and some Fed 180g FMJ. The gun shot all well except the Federal. No problems with firing or ejecting, but the slide 'thumped' harder and didn't feel quite right.

I seem to shoot better with the 180g, but am not good enough yet to really see if that's the case.

I have 2 mags loaded with PDX1 180g for HD, and use the WWB FMJ for practice.

MSG Glenn · Jul 10, 2015

At the range I've shot American Eagle & Winchester White Box with no problems. I also shoot a little SD ammo while I'm there & so far Speer Gold Dot, Hornady Critical Defense & Critical Duty & Federal HST have all gone through without a problem. I haven't shot a lot of the SD stuff through it because of the cost but enough to know I can trust them. I have about 1000 rounds of FMJ practice ammo & maybe 100 rounds or more of SD ammo through my 40C. My next step is to buy some cheap bulk FMJ but I'd like to buy a small quantity from someone to try it before I get a 1000 round pack of it.

All of the ammo I've shot is clean burning & it only takes a little time to thoroughly clean my pistols.

Arik · Jul 10, 2015

There really is no such thing as general purpose ammo for the M&P or most other guns for that matter. They should all work or at the least most of the ammo on the market should work just fine. You may find that a specific brand or weight is more accurate than another, stick with that. If you find one that doesn't work well in your gun then avoid it next time.

I usually shoot whatever is cheap and available in all my calibers.

CaptRon956 · Jul 10, 2015

1GunLover61 said:
Just picked up a 40C yesterday and am wondering what a good 'all purpose' round is for this gun. I haven't shot the gun yet and can't wait to do so. The main reason for this gun is home defense and carry.

thanks

I would suggest Winchester white box FMJ or Federal American Eagle for target/practice & for carry/home defense either Federal Hydra Shok's or Winchester PDX1 defend JHP.

PirateJim · Jul 10, 2015

CaptRon956 said:
I would suggest Winchester white box FMJ or Federal American Eagle for target/practice & for carry/home defense either Federal Hydra Shok's or Winchester PDX1 defend JHP.

I agree. People complain about Winchester white box ammo, but it runs fine in my guns and is reasonably priced for paper punching. Likewise, the PDX1 works well for me and seems readily available but is pricier, like most self defense ammo.

triggerb · Jul 10, 2015

I prefer Federal and Blazer 180 grain for the range. I purchased some Freedom Munitions brand new 180 grain and although it works fine, it's a dirty round. Winchester white box works fine but it produces more muzzle energy than the others. This being a polymer pistol, I prefer the Federal and Blazer for target practice. For defense, HST is reportedly the best hollow point out right now. However I carry Hornady Critical Duty 175 grain. The Critical Duty is designed for maximum penetration, while the Critical Defense is designed for maximum expansion.

Kframerbluvr · Jul 10, 2015

Pre 29 said:
Well here is an Expert answer. That gun should shoot anything you stick in the mag but you really need to shoot different loads. The last G23 I had would not shoot 165 or 180 grain bullets accurately but really liked 135 Fed HS and 155 Hornady. We sell a lot of Rem Golden Sabre, Hornady Crit Defence and Crit Duty. The copper Barns bullets are very good especially as loaded by Buff Bore and you can't go wrong with Gold Dot. I would stay away from the new "miracle" bullets like the G2 and super light Liberty stuff. In the end of course you want a load that is 100% reliable and you can shoot well. You might also want to look at what local law enforcement is using. Good luck and be safe.

Yep. Read this again and take his advice. Your gun may like different ammo than the one next to it on the assembly line. Test several brands and types to find what you what your particular gun likes within the parameters this gentleman mentions.

veeman · Jul 13, 2015

I don' buy ammo, roll my own, so I can't say what factory stuff works best in mine. But my best reloads are 5.0 grs. of Tite Group with Berry's 165 gr. plated FP.

Whitwabit · Jul 14, 2015

My 40c seems to shoot the 180gr a little more accurate then the 165gr. Will shoot about anything on sale for practice but like the Winchester Train and Defend rounds in 180 gr. and is what I carry for CC..

Use the same only 147 gr in my PX4 SC 9mm when I carry it ..

But there are many good SD rounds ..

I always try to finish my range practice with a mag of what I CC carry. I have not had any failures so far and just over 400 rounds down range now ..

Enjoy !

M & P 40C Ammo

1GunLover61

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Pre 29

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Narrowback

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MSG Glenn

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Arik

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CaptRon956

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PirateJim

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triggerb

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Kframerbluvr

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veeman

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Whitwabit

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