Thoughts about the .40 for Bowling Pins

[prairieviper]

I currently use a .44 magnum revolver for bowling pin matches. I love shooting it and do pretty well but I've been considering using one of my semi-autos, just to change things up a bit and maybe be able to go a little faster to keep up with the semi-autos. I'm considering using my SIG P226 in 40 S&W. Anything .40 caliber and up has the pins set near the front of the table so it takes some power to knock the pins off. I have a 1911 but the SIG is accurate and flawless. I'm just not sure if the 40 will do the job. Comments from experienced bowling pin shooters, especially anyone having experience with the 40, would be appreciated.

 

[bigggbbruce]

200gr at 850fps should work.

add: found a recipe for 800x 200gr at 950fps

 

[gman51]

The bowling alley said I was not allowed to use my semi auto 40.

 

[Protocall_Design]

The bowling alley said I was not allowed to use my semi auto 40.

Narrow minded bunch, aren't they? They wouldn't let me use my 44 Mag either. I could get a strike every time with it.

For bowling pins, plates, or other reactive targets, bullet weight is king. You can shoot a .45 with 230 gr. bullets at 850 fps. and do fine on pins with low recoil. A .40 with 200 gr. hollow points around 900 fps. should be fine. Ball ammo on pins is a tough go because any that aren't center hits will glance off and only knock them over, requiring additional shots to clear the table.

 

[colt_saa]

While I have not shot pins in many, many years . . . It was always 45

It was a 230 JHP loaded in 45ACP brass at about 920 from my Sig P220. This was a +P level load

Later on I switched to the 230 JHP loaded in 45SUPER brass at about 1100 from my S&W 625 V-comp. This was a sweetheart to shoot and threw the pins off the table with AUTHORITY

I would shoot a 40 if that was all that I had, but you have not mentioned if you are limited to store bought ammunition or if you hand load. There is no store bought 40S&W ammunition that will be at the levels you want for pins

I would want to hand load a 200 JHP to about 1000+ FPS which would most likely end up being beyond SAAMI pressure limits for that cartridge. In the SIG P226/P229, that would not worry me

If I wanted to stay with 10MM diameter projectile I might hand load some 10MM Auto down to ~1000 FPS (obviously changing my springs to match the light load) and use an EAA Elite Match

No matter what cartridge I used in a pin match, I always hand loaded Hollow Points as opposed to Round Nosed projectiles. Hollow points make a difference when it comes to grabbing the tough hide that surrounds the Pin.

 

[RGVshooter]

I've been shooting bowling pins for fun & in competition for years. Yes a .40s&w can easily knock the pins off the table. At our club we load up 6 rounds only and shoot at 4 pin bodies and 1 pin top at 20 yards distance. Although I use a .357 magnum a couple guys use a Ruger RedHawk in 10mm however they use standard 180gr 40S&W. Standard 180gr 40s&w FMJ will knock the pins over no problem and you do not need hollow points to quote "grab onto the pins better". If you hit the pin square on then they'll clear right off the table.

 

[CA Escapee]

The bowling alley said I was not allowed to use my semi auto 40.

Scares the kids when you swing on those 7-10 splits, I bet.

Bill