What's your favorite/best powder for 40 SW?

[Rule3]

Some prerequisites: This is for a fully supported chamber (no standard Glock or BHP barrels) and for 165 and 180 gr FMJ bullets although lead of the same weight is fine also.

Lyman lists fast powders (Bullseye, W 231, AA 5 )as the most accurate that they tested, but I would think slower powders (due to higher pressures would be better?

 

[cjw3]

WST. Burns clean, bulky enough, goes through the powder measure smoothly, readily available.

If you are wanting top velocity, it is not the powder to use but that is no particular hindrance to me since I rely on the factory for that level of performance in .40 S&W.

Midway recently had Rainier 165 grain HP's on sale and I scarfed a pile of them, so will be working up a load for them soon.

 

[Engineer1911]

I use Hodgdon Tite Group in 9 MM and 40 S&W for lead, plated, or jacketed bullets with good results -- no leading, clean burning, and accurate. Recoil wil depend on your bullet weight and powder charge.

 

[Dragon88]

Lyman lists fast powders (Bullseye, W 231, AA 5 )as the most accurate that they tested, but I would think slower powders (due to higher pressures would be better?

Why would you assume that?

 

[Skip Sackett]

This goes back to how hard the bullets are. Fast powders for hard bullets in low pressure rounds. That way they obdurate better, faster.

For the 40S&W, I have only two powders that I would ever use, well, maybe 3, but that is because all of my 40's are not fully supported.

The fastest that I would ever use in one like I have is Unique, not that I would use it, just nothing faster. My first choice, especially for lead, SR4756, hands down. The only thing that gives better performance, and that is with jacketed, is Longshot. Lowest pressure, highest velocity.


Pick something between the suggestions and go for it. Unique to Longshot. Lots of good powders in there!

 

[Titegroups]

Happy with Power Pistol. 9, 40, and 10. Muzzle blast be dammed.

 

[Rule3]

Why would you assume that?

I thought slower powders where better in high pressure rounds and faster powders in low pressure. Is that incorrect?

To me there is a large difference between Bullseye and AA #5 at least in the burn rate. #13 vs #41 so apparently it doesn't matter.

What do you recommend?

 

[mkk41]

Haven't done but a few hundred hard-cast TC loads for the .40 S&W , but it never entered my mind to try anything but HP-38/W-231. I've have great results for over 30yrs and countless rounds of .45 ACP.

 

[TSQUARED]

For light loads with leaqd, plated or jacketed bullets (725 to 775 fps) Iuse either WST or American Selct. bth meter very well in my Dillon 550 and burn cleanly.

 

[papajohn428]

Power Pistol for full-charge loads, WST for the softer stuff. AA5 and AA7 would also serve well. Haven't tried Longshot in the 40, but might be missing something there.

 

[bnewc75]

HS6

IDP #2 LSWC 170g
7g HS6
Fed. 100 primer

Have used SR4756 also

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Jacketed bullets only - Longshot
Both jacketed and lead bullets - HS-6...

 

[thndrchiken]

I use w231/HP38 or unique for all my non magnum pistol loads.

 

[SonnyCrockett]

I have used Unique,Universal,LongShot and PowerPistol for 40SW and have seemed to settled on PP for my reg range load

Unique is my least fav,Universal is clean and really light feeling
lowest recoil but smoky...Long Shot I can take or leave but is far from mild PP seems most factory type and super accurate

6.0G PP,180GFMJ,1.125OAL my fav this month

 

[427mach1]

Longshot and Rainier 180 grain plated bullets. They can be loaded down to about 4.8 grains at 850 fps for plinking and up to 7.3 grains at 1150 fps for more serious stuff. I found 6.9 - 7.1 works best in both my Ruger KP944 and my 4013TSW.

 

[Rule3]

Longshot and Rainier 180 grain plated bullets. They can be loaded down to about 4.8 grains at 850 fps for plinking and up to 7.3 grains at 1150 fps for more serious stuff. I found 6.9 - 7.1 works best in both my Ruger KP944 and my 4013TSW.

Heck with the load, I like your car!. Got a better picture?

 

[427mach1]

Heck with the load, I like your car!. Got a better picture?

Thanks! PM sent with a link to more photos.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

I have been loading 40 S&W since 1991. Although I tried other things early on, including AA#2, #5, Unique and a few others, once it was introduced I started using WSF for everything in the 150 to 180 gr range, lead or jacketed. Never found anything better, and I have loaded a lot of 40 over the years.

I have loaded Blue Dot in a specialty heavy lead bullet load when a friend of mine was going to Alaska and wouldn't take anything but her 40. Not recommended for general use though.

 

[hueycrew]

Power Pistol for me. Started out with 180 lead bullets. Its pretty smokey. Switched to 180 FMJ and 6.2g PP. Chrono'd about 955fps. Plenty enough for USPSA

 

[Harrison]

The only two I have ever used for 40 S&W at major power factor are Hodgen Universal and AA#5.