Powder for loading .40 S&W

[DrewW]

I just bought a new M&P in .40 S&W and was wondering what powder everyone likes for loading up some target loads for the .40 S&W. I have bullseye at home for my .38 specials and some clays for shotshells, anybody have any experience with loading .40 with these powders.

 

[DrewW]

I just bought a new M&P in .40 S&W and was wondering what powder everyone likes for loading up some target loads for the .40 S&W. I have bullseye at home for my .38 specials and some clays for shotshells, anybody have any experience with loading .40 with these powders.

 

[29aholic]

I am using HP38 which is identical to WW231. This is the only round I load using a Lee Auto-Disk measure and the hole I'm using drops almost a dead even 5grs which is actually about .2grs below minimum, but it shoots great. I am pushing a 155gr cast bullet.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

I use WSF.
Doesn't seem like too many other people do.

 

[Skip Sackett]

This is kind of like asking what kind of car you like, you are going to get some pretty opinionated answers!

Like mine.

I would say that neither of the powders you mention are the best thing to load the 40S&W with. The reason is, they are too fast.

Too steep of a pressure spike and they only get worse as you load them higher.

If you want velocity equal to or exceeding factory ammo, my suggestion is to use something in the Unique area of the burn rate chart, or slower.

Personally, I use Hodgdon Longshot or IMR SR4756 with good results. There are loads for both with bullet weights from 155gr to 200gr.

With either of these powders you will obtain higher velocities with lower pressures. That is a win/win in my book.

FWIW

 

[Littledragon777]

I use AA#5 with winchester fmj 165 grain bullets and cci primers.

 

[OKFC05]

anybody have any experience with loading .40 with these powders

Lots, but until you tell me what bullet weight and power factor you're wanting, hard to advise.

For USPSA major, near max loads of 231, Titegroup or WSF behind a 180gr are common, with some shooting a 165gr.

For IDPA minor in ESP, lighter loads of Titegroup or bullseye. (May not work slide with stock M&P recoil spring)

For maximum power potential, a slower powder is appropriate.
Look at Hodgdon loading data:
http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp
Both bullseye and clays will work with certain loads.

 

[G-ManBart]

Clays is on the limit for being too fast with 180gr bullets. It can be done, but you've got to make sure you're not near the max and that you get plenty of neck tension so you don't get bullet setback which will spike pressures into the broken gun zone quickly.

For soft, accurate loads that aren't powder puffs I like VV N320 behind a 180gr bullet. My USPSA Major load runs about 930-940fps. It's so much softer than something like WWB that there's no comparison. Accuracy is outstanding....1.25" groups at 25yds is common.

Lots of folks use WSF and Power Pistol. HS-7 and VV N350 will get right up there with those two using heavier bullets as well.

 

[240grJHP]

I have been using Bullseye for 165 and 180 grain bullets. The Alliant website has the weights of powder. I keep a little below their recommendations. Over a thousand rounds fired from a 4006 with no signs of pressure problems or failure to cycle. I agree their are better powders but this works for me.

 

[DrewW]

I was figuring a new powder was probably in order, I am looking at loading up some lead bullets if I can to save a little cash, I typically buy lead bullets from Missouri Bullet Company and they offer 2 bullets for the .40, but I am new to semi-autos and don't really know how well lead bullets feed in them, especially something like the SWC that MBC offers in 170 gr, seems like that wouldn't feed to good. Anyway here are the two lead bullets that I am considing.

http://www.missouribullet.com/...egory=5&secondary=11

My second notion is to go ahead and spend a little more for berry's plated bullets. If I go that route I am planning on using one of their 155 or 165 grain bullets for the .40.

I would like something that is accurate and will properly cycle the gun without changing any springs so I am would say I need to stay around the velocities that store bought ammo provides.

Thanks for all your help so far guys, I really appreciate it.

 

[G-ManBart]

Don't bother with Berrys or Rainier plated bullets. Their prices have jumped up significantly and you can buy good jacketed bullets for roughly the same price...give or take a few dollars either way.

Right now Precision Delta has a 165gr FMJ for $98 per thousand (2K minimum) shipping included.

Montana Gold has a 165gr FMJ for $105 per thousand if you buy a case of 2,700.

Berry's and Rainier are running $112-115 per thousand...and I've seen them at $135 from one source.

Not only that, but some guns don't shoot plated worth a darn. You've got to be very careful with powder choices and crimp settings or you'll get keyholes, tumbling etc....some guns won't shoot them no matter what you do.

I've shot many, many thousands of Precision Delta and Montana Gold bullets with no problems. Probably more USPSA shooters are using MG than all other brands combined now that Zeros are so hard to get....just great bullets and a great company. If I order MG's on Monday, they're here by Thurs or Friday! R,

 

[handgunner356]

I use the 170-175gr LSWCs' in my fortys with good results. I use 5.0grs Universal Clays which pretty much matches the Unique load but cleaner. I like the clean hole the SWC makes and have never had any feed problems in my guns, I keep them 1.120" except in 1911 platforms where I run them out to 1.165".

 

[Skip Sackett]

Don't bother with Berrys or Rainier plated bullets.

$161/1000 for jacketed 180gr 40S&W versus $112/1000 and that includes shipping.

Am I missing something here? If you shoot a lot, plated is the way to go in most autos.

More than $50 per 1000 is a lot of money to me. 2 cans of powder, a bunch of lead for casting, primers (when they are available), magazines, saving money for another firearm or a host of other things, firearms related stuff I could buy, is nothing to sneeze at, in my world.

 

[Sunkist]

I'm partial to Power Pistol. Regardless of the bullet weight you'll get good results. It meters well and you can download for "40 Lite" practice rounds. Blue Dot does a good job on many loads, too. Start at the minimum load and go from there.

I've gotten some great groups with 6.0 gr Power Pistol under 180 gr plated bullets out of 3 different Sigs.

 

[Schofieldkid81]

AA #7 is great for lead bullets. Extremely Clean, and accurate to boot! Virtually no leading at all. I shoot lead for all my practice rounds, you cant beat the price, $75/1000 shipped. Also, I have found them to be generally more accurate than copper plated or jacketed bulk bullets.

BTW, I like SWC too, but I bought 500 175swc then found that they wouldn't function reliably in my glock 20(aftermarket barrel). I Buy RN or TC shaped bullets now. The SWC do work well in my 610 since there are no feed issues with a revolver

 

[dwhite53]

I use primarily Universal in my 180gr lead bullet loads in 40 S&W. It is clean and consistent. It meters very consistently also.

I had a friend give me a pound of Clay's as he got caught in the "Clays" naming problem (meaning to get Universal). I use 3.3 grains of it behind a 180gr cast lead bullet. It's clean. Smokes less than the Universal loads. I'm just leary of it because of potential pressure spikes. Clay's works well with 158 grain lead bullets in 38 special also.

All the Best,
D. White

 

[G-ManBart]

Originally posted by smith crazy:

Don't bother with Berrys or Rainier plated bullets.

$161/1000 for jacketed 180gr 40S&W versus $112/1000 and that includes shipping.

Am I missing something here? If you shoot a lot, plated is the way to go in most autos.

More than $50 per 1000 is a lot of money to me. 2 cans of powder, a bunch of lead for casting, primers (when they are available), magazines, saving money for another firearm or a host of other things, firearms related stuff I could buy, is nothing to sneeze at, in my world.

Right now Precision Delta 180gr FMJs are $106 per 1000 delivered, but you do have to buy 2K at a time....still, per K they're cheaper than Berrys or Rainier and they're a very good bullet.

Montana Gold 180gr FMJs are $114 per 1000 (also delivered) if you buy a case of 2,500. I'll pay the extra $2 per K for what is a much, much higher quality bullet....and they're in stock and ship fast (same day usually).

Plated used to be the bargain choice, but they're now as expensive or more expensive (no idea why that is) than good jacketed bullets. I think it was about a year ago that their prices jumped way up to be equal to jacketed...weird, but true. R,

 

[MrPhil]

Don't load 40 anymore, but I liked HS-6.

Another vote for Montana Gold FMJ or JHP. Very fast shipping in USPS flat rate boxes.

 

[Amici]

My current powder is WST for the 180 grain poly-coated bullets and N 350 under the jacketed 180's. My friends in USPSA are partial to TiteGroup, which I squirreled away 3 pounds of, for when the N 350 is gone.

 

[G-ManBart]

Originally posted by Amici:
My current powder is WST for the 180 grain poly-coated bullets and N 350 under the jacketed 180's. My friends in USPSA are partial to TiteGroup, which I squirreled away 3 pounds of, for when the N 350 is gone.

You'll find the TG is quite a bit softer shooting than N350 at the same velocity. N320 is even softer than TG, but more expensive.

Don't bother trying TG with the molys though as TG burns on the hot side and tends to creat quite a bit of smoke with moly bullets (where N320 doesn't).

Another alternative to TG and N320 is Alliant E3. A lot of folks are trying it with good results in USPSA....often a 180gr bullet at about 950fps and it's quite soft shooting. It's also much less expensive and easier to find than VV powders.