40s&w load start up?

[bnewc75]

What components would you recommend for starting some 40s&w loads in a perfect world? (If materials were available)

 

[Amici]

180 grain poly-coated TC bullets over WST or TiteGroup.

I also use Small RIFLE primers for reasons already discussed in detail elsewhere in this section, but only SP's are required.

 

[OKFC05]

There does seem to be a sweet spot about 925-950 fps with 180 gr TC in .40 S&W.
I'm not a fan of light bullets in .40.

 

[29aholic]

I've been using 5grs of HP38 (WW231 is the same powder) with a 155gr LSWC and it shoots awesome in my Sig 229. The load is a little on the light side according to the manuals but it has plenty of zip.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

I like 165gr bullets and WSF. The cartridge was designed for the 180 and works very well with it. Most 155gr loads seem to shoot too low from fixed sight guns.

 

[cmort666]

I don't load anything particularly hot, so:
Bullseye
Winchester or Remington primers
Penn hard cast LSWCs, any weight from 155gr. to 200gr.

 

[Skip Sackett]

bnew,

It would help to know what you want to obtain with your loads.

If it is carry ammo replacement for practice, that is one thing. If it is for putting holes in paper, quite a different matter.

I am using my favorite powder, SR4756, in my 40S&W loads under a 180gr PHP. It is strictly by the book in this caliber. No deviation from printed recipes at all.

FWIW

 

[magnum12pm]

I use 135 grn. berries copper plated bullet, why because they are the cheapest, I am shooting paper targets at 15 to 75 feet, why spend more than you have to. They do recoil less than say 180 grain bullets, but I shoot 180 grn. sometime and am just as accurate with them. These day a guys got to cut cost, that my thinking anyway.

 

[G-ManBart]

Originally posted by magnum12pm:
I use 135 grn. berries copper plated bullet, why because they are the cheapest,

Not so much any more....Berry's raised their prices quite a bit. Precision Delta makes good FMJ's for about the same price. Berry's lists the 135gr bullet at $93.63 per thousand. PD 165s are $98 per thousand (cheaper than Berry's 165s at $105 per thousand). $4 per K seems reasonable to go to a true FMJ and paying more for plated is nuts....no idea why they've gone up so much. The PD bullet is a much better bullet all around. R,

 

[magnum12pm]

Go to know Gman, I bought about 4000 or so back before Obama was elected, If I remember right I think I paid 76.00 a K. I will check out Delta, thanks for the info

Originally posted by G-ManBart:

Originally posted by magnum12pm:
I use 135 grn. berries copper plated bullet, why because they are the cheapest,

Not so much any more....Berry's raised their prices quite a bit. Precision Delta makes good FMJ's for about the same price. Berry's lists the 135gr bullet at $93.63 per thousand. PD 165s are $98 per thousand (cheaper than Berry's 165s at $105 per thousand). $4 per K seems reasonable to go to a true FMJ and paying more for plated is nuts....no idea why they've gone up so much. The PD bullet is a much better bullet all around. R,

 

[bnewc75]

I'd like to start on paper then work up to home protection and carry loads

 

[harry carey]

for a lite load in a 1911... 14 lb recoil spring, 180 cast, 3.2 AA2 imp, WSR primer,i load it a little long. i grip hard , if you don't a lighter spring will be required approx 750 fps.

 

[G-ManBart]

Originally posted by bnewc75:
I'd like to start on paper then work up to home protection and carry loads

Home protection and carry loads are generally considered to be a bad idea. Coming up with a practice load that simulates (or pretty close) your home protection and carry ammo is a great idea because they'll feel and shoot close enough that the paper won't know the difference.

Popping a bad guy with reloads can bring out the "Rambo Complex" lawsuits...it may not be likely, but why give them something to make you look bad when you're the victim?

There isn't anybody that can load ammo that's as reliable and as consistent as major manufacturers can. You can do things like tune a load to a particular gun, but that's about it that you can do "better" than they can. That's coming from someone who loads and shoots tens of thousands of rounds a year...I've been loading since before I was even a teenager so something going on 30 years now.

In general, the best bullets aren't available as components so you're likely giving up some performance to factory ammo. A few components are pretty good (Speer Gold Dots, for one), but then you have to factor in things like low-flash powder and making sure that the bullet is driven to somewhere within it's best operating velocity. It simply isn't worth the trouble and/or risk.

Reload to practice, keep some good factory ammo for home protection and carry and call it good. If, God forbid, you ever have to defend yourself it's a whole lot harder to pick apart your decisions if you've done some research and purchased ammo that was either recommended to you by experts, or by manufacturer's data. One popular idea is to find out what the local PD/SO or State Police carry (if they authorize the cartridge your gun is in) and get some of that ammo if it's available to the civilian market (most is). Then the answer is "if that ammo was good enough for the police to defend the public, I thought it would be good enough to defend myself and my family"....a responsible, logical sounding choice all things considered. R,

 

[Beans]

My personal prefence for Home defense is the new Winchester Supreme PDX1 Bonded 165gr.

As for shooting in the local IDPA tyle matches with my Glock 35 and just paper punching I am loading 180 gr cast home cast magma mold bullets (aftermarket Storm lake barrel) mixed range brass sized in a EUD die, WLP standard primers, 2.9 Grs of CLAYS (730 FPS)
PF 130 (minor load) loaded on a Dillon 650 with Dillon dies.

This load drops the brass about 2 ft from my shooting postion, very very light recoil.

At my last IDPA type match I was printing several two shot groups(double tap) with both rds touching,at 8 yards using this load.

My wife that has no great love for Semi Auto handguns, (she likes shooting single action 45's and my mountain guns), didn't want to stop shooting this load until I ran out of reloaded ammo.

 

[bnewc75]

G-ManBart,

You are right, I understand that protect loads should be factory…... my carrier instructor made that point, thanks for the reminder. I eventually would like to work up some practice loads that simulate personal protection loads.

bnewc75

 

[Skip Sackett]

There isn't anybody that can load ammo that's as reliable and as consistent as major manufacturers can.

With all due respect, hogwash. No one, I repeat, no one can load my self defense ammunition with more care and reliability or as consistently as I can. Nor can they do it with more concern for my life or the life of my loved ones than I can.

Your logic about getting the same type of ammo the LEOs carry is pretty good. I load my SD ammo to those specifications. Not the exact same components, obviously, but the same ballistics.

I just refuse to be intimidated into doing something and it not being illegal. At this point in our state, carrying handloaded ammunition for SD is not against the law. When they make it so, I will obey the law.

 

[magnum12pm]

I agree with smithCrazy on this, if professonal, hobbist, match shooters and military snipers use hand loaded ammo; "WHY?" if factory loads are better? However their certainly is nothing wrong with anyone choosing to carry factory SD ammo, if you feel more comfortable with it by all means do so. I have some myself, before it began to be grossly over priced by anyone's criteria. I think they are simply pricing it with marketing hype, not by its real value. I'm just giving my opinion now remember that

 

[bnewc75]

smith crazy,

You make some points in regards to SD reloads:

(It is not illegal to reload / hand load) I am still on the fence in regards to SD reloads because of the over zealous attorneys and lawsuits.

Agreed, mass produced factory ammo could never be as consistent or accurate for the diligent hand loader