What bullet weight for M&P .40 CORE, 5" barrel

[larryschwartz]

Hello All,

What FACTORY LOAD brand/bullet weight combination works well in your M&P40? I am not looking for handloading information. I have the CORE with the 5" barrel. I plan to use hollow points in the house for home defense to minimize pass throughs and the possibility of a round going through a wall, but fmj for practice on the range. I wanted to use the same grain weight for both to keep the performance consistent.

So, I am basically wondering if 165 gr works better than 180 gr or if some other brand/weight works best for you in terms of accuracy in an M&P40.

Thanks,

Larry

 

[larryschwartz]

To put it another way, what does your M&P40 prefer to be fed?

 

[Mike1161]

I use both 180 and 165 without any feeding problems in my 40L CORE. I like the 155 for reloads. The felt recoil and muzzle flip is less with lighter bullets so I use the lightest I can find.

They all work fine, the real difference is recoil.

 

[bob98366]

My 40 Pro eats everything 100% and at home/self protection range can't see any accuracy differences with any. Try a box of several and see if any stand out to you.

At the range I use the cheapest factory reloads I can find (usually 180). For carry I use Hornady Critical Defense or Hornady Critical Duty (very good rounds anyway but I've settled on them because they feed flawlessly in my Kahr CW40).

 

[DanTana]

I've had no feeding problems at all either. Doesn't matter what weight or brand ammo. So I can't recommend one over the other reliability wise. I did seem to notice my gun likes Winchester target 180gr ammo for accuracy a little better than others.

 

[thenderaaa]

For me 180 is better than 165

I have no idea why, it is probably something with my technique, but I find my accuracy is much better/consistent with 180 grain ammo with my M&P Pro 5".

I am actually trying to use all the 165 grain stuff and don't plan on buying it again in .40 cal.

Now this is all target quality ammo so I can't say if I would have the same issue with 165 gain defense rounds.

 

[DanTana]

Could have something to do with the rate of twist for that particular bullet weight? Maybe it favors 180gr more than 165gr?

 

[Riflemann]

I have shot both 165 & 180 factory ammo in my 40L CORE and they both hit where I aim. I handloaded 2000 rounds of 155gr. in 40, but have not shot any thru my CORE yet

 

[Mike1161]

We reload with the 155 and 4.4grs of Bullseye and they shoot really sweet. Almost as little muzzle flip as a 9mm. All of the ones I have fired, 180, 165 and 155 go where I point them. The real difference is the speed of getting back on target. Much faster and easier with the 155. IMHO

 

[Wee Hooker]

My 40 Pro likes either 170 or 180 gr lead (IDPA #2 and #5) from Missouri bullet over clays. Good accuracy, soft push, burns clean.