accurate load for 40s&w
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ronnie gore
Member
40
I cast a 175 grain tumble lube lee bullet with 5.5 gn. of accurate no. 5 that shoots great.
I cast a 175 grain tumble lube lee bullet with 5.5 gn. of accurate no. 5 that shoots great.
fredj338
Member
I have a couple of diff 40s that are finicky for accuracy., especially with lead bullets. Then I tried Unique, flat works. I have never used a lead bullet that light but give Unique a try, 2nd best would be WSF.
retired_diver
Member
As you might have noticed 140gr bullet in 40sw load data is difficult to find, esp since it is hard to get powders to buy. I have never seen a wadcutter (wc) 40sw but you must have some. I have been shooting 140gr TC using 3.4grs of 700x and they are accurate and easy shooting and still cycle the action (barely). I mean barely because they throw brass mostly on your feet. So, try it and work up with your pistol. I shoot these in a G23-2.
noylj
Member
It is probably a semi-wadcutter.
AA5 from start to about mid-range will often produce the best accuracy. If you want near max loads, use Silhouette. Most cast bullets are 145gn and not 140gn, so use 145gn data.
My .40s are most accurate with 145-155gn bullets and AA5 powder.
Bullet Weight Powder Weight Velocity Note PowerFactor COL
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 231/HP38 5.0 1018 Start 148 1.125
Bull-X Lead 140 231/HP38 5.5 1070 150
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 231/HP38 5.6 1079 Max 156 1.125
Bull-X Lead 140 231/HP38 5.9 1120 157
Bull-X Lead 140 231/HP38 6.4 1190 167
L-FN 145 231/HP38 6.6 1259 Max 183
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 800X 6.7 1085 Start 157 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 800X 7.5 1185 Max 172 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 AA2 5.0 1070 Start 155 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 AA2 5.6 1154 Max 167 1.125
Bull-X Lead 140 AA2 5.6 1120 157
LC L-TC 140 AA2 5.9 1016 Start 142 1.115
Lead 145 AA2 5.9 1040 Start 151 1.115
Bull-X Lead 140 AA2 6.1 1140 160
Bull-X Lead 140 AA2 6.3 1170 164
Bull-X Lead 140 AA2 6.5 1200 168
Bull-XL-FN 140 AA2 6.5 1209 169
Lead 145 AA2 6.6 1155 Max 167
LC L-TC 140 AA2 6.6 1155 Max 162 1.115
L-RNF 145 AA5 6.8 1075 Start 156 1.060
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 AA5 7.2 1022 Start 148 1.125
LC L-TC 140 AA5 7.2 1038 Start 145 1.115
Lead 145 AA5 7.2 1072 Start 155 1.115
L-FP 140 AA5 7.5 1155 Max 162 1.135
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 AA5 8.0 1174 Max 170 1.125
LC L-TC 140 AA5 8.0 1179 Max 165 1.115
Lead 145 AA5 8.0 1179 Max 171 1.115
Bull-XL-FN 140 AA5 8.0 1087 Accurate 152 1.135
Bull-X Lead 140 AA5 8.2 1060 148
L-FN 145 AA5 8.4 1252 Max 182
Bull-X Lead 140 AA5 8.8 1150 161
LC L-TC 140 AA7 9.0 1030 Start 144 1.115
Lead 145 AA7 9.0 1065 Start 154 1.115
Bull-X Lead 140 AA7 9.2 1030 144
Bull-X Lead 140 AA7 9.8 1060 148
LC L-TC 140 AA7 10.0 1171 Max 164 1.115
Bull-X Lead 140 AA7 10.1 1110 155
L-FN 145 AA7 10.3 1231 Max 178
Lead 145 AA9 10.8 988 Start 143
Lead 145 AA9 10.8 1021 Start 148 1.115
Lead 145 AA9 12.0 1123 Max 163
Lead 145 AA9 12.0 1123 Max 163 1.115
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 Blue Dot 8.0 1091 Start 158 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 Blue Dot 9.0 1168 Max 169 1.125
L-FN 145 Blue Dot 10.1 1244 Max 180
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 Bullseye 5.4 982 Start 142 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 Bullseye 6.0 1066 Max 155 1.125
Lead 145 Clays 3.5 915 Start 133 1.135max
Lead 145 Clays 4.0 1034 Max 150 1.135max
L-FN 145 Herco 7.0 1236 Max 179
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 HS6 7.5 1055 Start 153 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 HS6 8.3 1166 Max 169 1.125
Bull-X Lead 140 HS6 8.9 1180 165
Bull-X Lead 140 HS6 9.3 1230 172
L-FN 145 HS6 9.4 1265 Max 183
Bull-X Lead 140 HS6 9.7 1260 176
Bull-X Lead 140 HS7 9.9 1190 167
L-FN 145 HS7 10.2 1233 Max 179
Bull-X Lead 140 HS7 10.3 1230 172
Bull-X Lead 140 HS7 10.7 1260 176
L-TC 140 N310 3.8 980 137 1.080
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 N330 5.3 1012 Start 147 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 N330 5.9 1140 Max 165 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 N340 5.5 998 Start 145 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 N340 6.2 1148 Max 166 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 Power Pistol 6.4 1058 Start 153 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 Power Pistol 7.2 1179 Max 171 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 Silhouette 6.6 1025 Start 149 1.125
LCL-TC 140 Silhouette 7.3 1132 Start 158 1.135
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 Silhouette 7.3 1117 Max 162 1.125
Cu-PFP 140 Silhouette 7.5 1255 Max 176 1.070
L-FP 140 Silhouette 7.5 1261 Max 177 1.080
L-FP 140 Silhouette 7.7 1286 Max 180 1.130
LCL-TC 140 Silhouette 8.1 1258 Max 176 1.135
L-TCBB 140 True Blue 7.7 1125 Start 158 1.130
L-TCBB 140 True Blue 8.5 1250 Max 175 1.130
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 Unique 5.0 1017 Start 147 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 Unique 5.6 1127 Max 163 1.125
Bull-X Lead 140 WSF 7.1 1130 158
L-FN 145 WSF 7.3 1237 Max 179
Bull-X Lead 140 WSF 7.8 1220 171
Bull-X Lead 140 WSF 8.2 1270 178
Bull-X Lead 140 WSL 5.2 1020 143
Bull-X Lead 140 WSL 5.7 1120 157
L-FN 145 WSL 5.9 1248 Max 181
Bull-X Lead 140 WSL 6.0 1180 165
Bull-X Lead 140 WST 5.5 1050 147
Bull-X Lead 140 WST 5.9 1110 155
Bull-X Lead 140 WST 6.2 1140 160
Bull-X Lead 140 WST 6.5 1180 165
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 Zip 5.0 995 Start 144 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 Zip 5.6 1126 Max 163 1.125
L-TCBB 140 Zip 5.8 1113 Start 156 1.120
L-TCBB 140 Zip 6.4 1237 Max 173 1.120
AA5 from start to about mid-range will often produce the best accuracy. If you want near max loads, use Silhouette. Most cast bullets are 145gn and not 140gn, so use 145gn data.
My .40s are most accurate with 145-155gn bullets and AA5 powder.
Bullet Weight Powder Weight Velocity Note PowerFactor COL
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 231/HP38 5.0 1018 Start 148 1.125
Bull-X Lead 140 231/HP38 5.5 1070 150
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 231/HP38 5.6 1079 Max 156 1.125
Bull-X Lead 140 231/HP38 5.9 1120 157
Bull-X Lead 140 231/HP38 6.4 1190 167
L-FN 145 231/HP38 6.6 1259 Max 183
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 800X 6.7 1085 Start 157 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 800X 7.5 1185 Max 172 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 AA2 5.0 1070 Start 155 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 AA2 5.6 1154 Max 167 1.125
Bull-X Lead 140 AA2 5.6 1120 157
LC L-TC 140 AA2 5.9 1016 Start 142 1.115
Lead 145 AA2 5.9 1040 Start 151 1.115
Bull-X Lead 140 AA2 6.1 1140 160
Bull-X Lead 140 AA2 6.3 1170 164
Bull-X Lead 140 AA2 6.5 1200 168
Bull-XL-FN 140 AA2 6.5 1209 169
Lead 145 AA2 6.6 1155 Max 167
LC L-TC 140 AA2 6.6 1155 Max 162 1.115
L-RNF 145 AA5 6.8 1075 Start 156 1.060
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 AA5 7.2 1022 Start 148 1.125
LC L-TC 140 AA5 7.2 1038 Start 145 1.115
Lead 145 AA5 7.2 1072 Start 155 1.115
L-FP 140 AA5 7.5 1155 Max 162 1.135
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 AA5 8.0 1174 Max 170 1.125
LC L-TC 140 AA5 8.0 1179 Max 165 1.115
Lead 145 AA5 8.0 1179 Max 171 1.115
Bull-XL-FN 140 AA5 8.0 1087 Accurate 152 1.135
Bull-X Lead 140 AA5 8.2 1060 148
L-FN 145 AA5 8.4 1252 Max 182
Bull-X Lead 140 AA5 8.8 1150 161
LC L-TC 140 AA7 9.0 1030 Start 144 1.115
Lead 145 AA7 9.0 1065 Start 154 1.115
Bull-X Lead 140 AA7 9.2 1030 144
Bull-X Lead 140 AA7 9.8 1060 148
LC L-TC 140 AA7 10.0 1171 Max 164 1.115
Bull-X Lead 140 AA7 10.1 1110 155
L-FN 145 AA7 10.3 1231 Max 178
Lead 145 AA9 10.8 988 Start 143
Lead 145 AA9 10.8 1021 Start 148 1.115
Lead 145 AA9 12.0 1123 Max 163
Lead 145 AA9 12.0 1123 Max 163 1.115
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 Blue Dot 8.0 1091 Start 158 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 Blue Dot 9.0 1168 Max 169 1.125
L-FN 145 Blue Dot 10.1 1244 Max 180
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 Bullseye 5.4 982 Start 142 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 Bullseye 6.0 1066 Max 155 1.125
Lead 145 Clays 3.5 915 Start 133 1.135max
Lead 145 Clays 4.0 1034 Max 150 1.135max
L-FN 145 Herco 7.0 1236 Max 179
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 HS6 7.5 1055 Start 153 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 HS6 8.3 1166 Max 169 1.125
Bull-X Lead 140 HS6 8.9 1180 165
Bull-X Lead 140 HS6 9.3 1230 172
L-FN 145 HS6 9.4 1265 Max 183
Bull-X Lead 140 HS6 9.7 1260 176
Bull-X Lead 140 HS7 9.9 1190 167
L-FN 145 HS7 10.2 1233 Max 179
Bull-X Lead 140 HS7 10.3 1230 172
Bull-X Lead 140 HS7 10.7 1260 176
L-TC 140 N310 3.8 980 137 1.080
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 N330 5.3 1012 Start 147 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 N330 5.9 1140 Max 165 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 N340 5.5 998 Start 145 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 N340 6.2 1148 Max 166 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 Power Pistol 6.4 1058 Start 153 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 Power Pistol 7.2 1179 Max 171 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 Silhouette 6.6 1025 Start 149 1.125
LCL-TC 140 Silhouette 7.3 1132 Start 158 1.135
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 Silhouette 7.3 1117 Max 162 1.125
Cu-PFP 140 Silhouette 7.5 1255 Max 176 1.070
L-FP 140 Silhouette 7.5 1261 Max 177 1.080
L-FP 140 Silhouette 7.7 1286 Max 180 1.130
LCL-TC 140 Silhouette 8.1 1258 Max 176 1.135
L-TCBB 140 True Blue 7.7 1125 Start 158 1.130
L-TCBB 140 True Blue 8.5 1250 Max 175 1.130
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 Unique 5.0 1017 Start 147 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 Unique 5.6 1127 Max 163 1.125
Bull-X Lead 140 WSF 7.1 1130 158
L-FN 145 WSF 7.3 1237 Max 179
Bull-X Lead 140 WSF 7.8 1220 171
Bull-X Lead 140 WSF 8.2 1270 178
Bull-X Lead 140 WSL 5.2 1020 143
Bull-X Lead 140 WSL 5.7 1120 157
L-FN 145 WSL 5.9 1248 Max 181
Bull-X Lead 140 WSL 6.0 1180 165
Bull-X Lead 140 WST 5.5 1050 147
Bull-X Lead 140 WST 5.9 1110 155
Bull-X Lead 140 WST 6.2 1140 160
Bull-X Lead 140 WST 6.5 1180 165
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 Zip 5.0 995 Start 144 1.125
Lee 401-145-SWC 145 Zip 5.6 1126 Max 163 1.125
L-TCBB 140 Zip 5.8 1113 Start 156 1.120
L-TCBB 140 Zip 6.4 1237 Max 173 1.120
nothing for red dot?thats all i have found for powder here.
Wee Hooker
Member
Really?? Must have missed that in your first post.
They are all accurate until you reach 69 years old.
Then you get a few flyers...............
Enjoy it while you are young...........Bi-focal's sort of mess with the accuracy game.
Then you get a few flyers...............
Enjoy it while you are young...........Bi-focal's sort of mess with the accuracy game.
noylj
Member
If you want a Red Dot load, call Alliant and ask them. If you have a load for Bullseye, use the starting load for Red Dot.
Very fast powders can cause problems very quickly in .40 and I don't use anything faster than AA5--though AA2 and 231/HP38 have been well behaved the little I have tried.
I posted all the loads from various manuals I have collected.
Very fast powders can cause problems very quickly in .40 and I don't use anything faster than AA5--though AA2 and 231/HP38 have been well behaved the little I have tried.
I posted all the loads from various manuals I have collected.
Wenzomatic
US Veteran
The question is what's the best load for the powder I found? I hope we start seeing more powder on the shelves soon...
Mike Wenzel
Oklahoma City
Mike Wenzel
Oklahoma City
Rickster49
Member
The most accurate cast bullet load I've found for my FNP 40 is with the Lee 145 grn cast bullet. 4.3 grns of 700-X with either CCI or Winchester primers prints better than any other load I have tried with either cast or jacketed bullets. Functions great in my pistol and with very modest recoil.
Groo01
Member
Groo here
I only found one 40 S&W that was what I would call accurate.
The others were " combat" accurate.
That one was an EAA Witness Gold Team.
But to the op,, most any 150 to 155gr will shoot "accurately"
I only found one 40 S&W that was what I would call accurate.
The others were " combat" accurate.
That one was an EAA Witness Gold Team.
But to the op,, most any 150 to 155gr will shoot "accurately"
