Loading .40

[91kid]

I just bought my sd40ve, I reload for my rifles already and I want to reload for this also, I've got a coffee can full of brass from a friend who works at the range I've got primers, but when looking at bullets... All I can find is 10mm

Are these the same?
What powders are you guys using and what's a good baseline gr. to start with? For range? For defense?

Thanks

 

[cracker57]

10MM=40 cal

 

[scattershot]

10mm and .40 S&W use the same size bullet. I like a 170 grain truncated cone bullet over 4.0 Red Dot for about 850 fps. I buy defense loads, and currently I'm using Winchester Bonded hollowpoints.

 

[Erich]

The thing that I would note about the .40 is that it really does run close to the edge of pressure - I would approach maximum loads only with a great deal more caution than usual, as I've found that I would get pretty remarkable velocity increases with temperature shifts as I got up toward 90% of the max published loads.

I used 155- and 165-gr bullets, and had good results with AA#7, Unique and Bullseye.

There's an Italian saying: Chi va piano, va sano e va lontano. (More or less: "He who treads gently, goes in a long way in good health.") More than any other caliber I've loaded, this saying applies to the .40 S&W. Load in good health, my friend.

 

[cjw3]

I started reloading .40 in 1995 when I was issued a Glock 22. Many thousands of rounds later, I can only report nothing unusual or extraordinary. As with any semi-auto pistol cartridge, watch your overall length and use a good taper crimp die.

I use loads for practice that reliably function the action. With either of my Model 22's or my Model 27 that is typically the starting load or just a little above. I used a lot of cast bullets down through the years (including some of my own), but now stick with Rainier 165 grain plated bullets and WST powder. I use Unique in 9mm with excellent results and I am sure it would work well in .40 also.

For carry purposes, I leave that level of performance to the factory (Winchester 165 grain SXT's).

 

[91kid]

I have hornady critical defense that I will hold onto for carry purposes..

We use hp-38 in my step dads .45

Is this a good powder for the .40, I just like to make my loading supplies universal as possible..


Would magnum primers be alright, with a lighter powder charge? ( all I can find locally)

 

[Erich]

Partner, I write again to stress that my advice vis-á-vis the .40 S&W is to follow the recipe exactly and to be cautious about approaching the max loads that are published.

Seriously, get a manual. Read it. Follow it.

I'd hate to see you have a bad experience with your first handgun.

 

[91kid]

I've got a manual, I guess I will keep hunting for standard small pistol primers, and the base load to start with, working from there