ANYONE HAVE a PET RECIPE for .40 S&W with 180 grain HP??

[satx78247]

Friends,

The title says it all.

Given the current HIGH price & (at best) "mixed availability" of factory ammo, I am planning to start loading .40 S&W, for the compact S&W "old-school" semi-auto that I've found in serviceable condition.

Once we make the move OCONUS, I will not be able to carry/possess my 9x19mm or .45ACP handguns at our new address but .40 S&W, .38 SUPER and/or .357 SIG are perfectly acceptable to carry concealed with a pistol permit.

THANKS for reading this thread.

yours, satx

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Per Hodgdons, Longshot works just great with their START load over 1K fps (!) and another "grain & a half to go" to their recommended MAX using a 180gr XTP... Their CFE Pistol data is no slouch, either.

The factory American Gunner load is a claimed 950 fps: Underwood's 180gr uses a Nosler JHP at a claimed 1100 fps.

I have personally had great results with 800-X in both 40 S&W & 10mm, but I still hand weigh (verify, if you prefer?) all my loads.

Cheers!

P.S. Hodgdons also has published loads for the 180gr Berrys FP if you are interested in plated bullets for range/practice work.

 

[dla]

I'm a big fan of Longshot and Hodgdon's load data for the 40sw. My velocities out of my 4" M&P have been quite respectable.
I'm only loading hitek coated cast right now and 7.5gr of LS nets 1150fps pushing a Brazos 180gr RNFP.

 

[Funflyer]

I load SD ammo, and a few range plinkers for three different pistols using either a 180XTP, 180Gold-Dot, or cast/coated 180FP. Haven't found a powder that I like better than BE-86 and CFE-Pistol. As for the actual load, each varies by a tenth or two and are within .5gn of book max.

 

[scattershot]

I use factory ammo for defense, but my favorite handload with the 180 grain bullet is 4.0 Red Dot. About 850 fps or so.

 

[mtgianni]

I am a big fan of a max book load with Power Pistol and a 175 gr cast bullet. I would look for a 180 load with the same.

 

[Puller]

I've loaded thousands of rounds of .40 and my preferred bullet weight is 180 grain. I use 4.5 grains of Titegroup and have been very pleased with it.

 

[Univibe]

Try a max loading AA#5 as published in the Accurate online loading guide.

 

[gwpercle]

The BIG question now is ... What Powder(s) Can You Get ???

No sense me listing loads if you can't get the powder ...
What Cha Got or what can you get ?
Possible Suspects :
Auto Comp
Longshot
Power Pistol
Silhouette
SR 4756
IMR 800X
HS - 6
Unique
AA #5 (Accurate)
Blue Dot
AA #7 (Accurate)
These powders work well in the 40 S&W pressure range .
Can you get a supply of one or two?

My pet load is 180 gr. JHP (Speer GDHP ) with 6.5 grs. Unique for right at 1,000 fps
Gary

 

[Paul in Nevada]

I have been loading Berry's 180gr flat points with 6.0gr of WSF with good results. I will have to switch to something else in my stash once it runs out. It looks like anything that works for 38 or 9mm can be used in 40. Pay attention to COL with max loads.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Never tried WSF but........

I heard it is a winer,winer, chicken dinner, type powder.