I posted this thread on the reloading forum. If you replied there don't bother here, but welcome to. 
There were good answers.
I want to shoot Limited major power level with my M&P 40. I have some 165 grain Rainiers and load them up with 5.3 g of Win 231 which gives 1001 fps and a power factor of 165 right at the required power level. Nice controllable recoil. And good enough for practice. This is a max load for this bullet and powder combination.
I want to develop a major power load for the 40 S&W. Power factor close to 170 for some margin of error. That works out to be 1030 fps for a 165 grain bullet and 945 fps for a 180 grain bullet. What bullet weight is most popular? Is there a lead bullet that can be used? The only lead for the 40 S&W I have seen is 175 grain. That would require 972 fps.
The only experience I have had is loading a 140 lead bullet with 5 grains of Win231 which gives 1000 fps and 140 power level, more than good enough for minor power level of 125. Used it for Production class. I have chronographed this load. I am looking through my loading manuals, but I would like to know what is being used.
Thank you.
There were good answers. I want to shoot Limited major power level with my M&P 40. I have some 165 grain Rainiers and load them up with 5.3 g of Win 231 which gives 1001 fps and a power factor of 165 right at the required power level. Nice controllable recoil. And good enough for practice. This is a max load for this bullet and powder combination.
I want to develop a major power load for the 40 S&W. Power factor close to 170 for some margin of error. That works out to be 1030 fps for a 165 grain bullet and 945 fps for a 180 grain bullet. What bullet weight is most popular? Is there a lead bullet that can be used? The only lead for the 40 S&W I have seen is 175 grain. That would require 972 fps.
The only experience I have had is loading a 140 lead bullet with 5 grains of Win231 which gives 1000 fps and 140 power level, more than good enough for minor power level of 125. Used it for Production class. I have chronographed this load. I am looking through my loading manuals, but I would like to know what is being used.
Thank you.
