40 Cal Loads

Jimbuck · Dec 12, 2013

I am going to load some 40 Cal and this is what i am going to use.

Federal Brass
Winchester Small Pistol Primers
4.7 gr of Titegroup
165 gr Plated flatnose bullet.

Any comments or something better? I think the bullets are xtreme plated ones.

Thanks,

Topher · Dec 12, 2013

I like Rainier 165 gr. Bullets as a matter of personal preference.

zombiehunter · Dec 12, 2013

180 gr FMJ/HP then whatever the book said. They make nice single hole groups at 7 yards

HappyCamper · Dec 12, 2013

When I used to load 40, the best accuracy and competition load I ever had was a 200g Rainier bullet with Titegroup powder and Winchester primers. Amazingly low recoil and super accurate, but of course horrible for defensive engagements.

What purpose are you trying to reload for?

John from MD · Dec 12, 2013

For just punching paper, I load 3.5 gns Red Dot and a 170gn Lee bullet. Accurate and doesn't beat you up too bad. :thumbsup:

Biff_N · Dec 12, 2013

HappyCamper said:
When I used to load 40, the best accuracy and competition load I ever had was a 200g Rainier bullet with Titegroup powder and Winchester primers. Amazingly low recoil and super accurate, but of course horrible for defensive engagements.

What purpose are you trying to reload for?

I thought 180gr was the top end for .40 s&w loads and 200gr were for 10mm autos.

camobob · Dec 12, 2013

I'm shooting 155gr LSWC with W231

alucard0822 · Dec 12, 2013

You should work up a load if it is the first time you are loading it, and plan on stamping out a lot of it later on. Looks like 4.7 is near the bottom of the range for that setup, and most Rainier plated loads I find shoot best around 3/4 of the way to the max load, driven too light they don't seem to take the rifling or seal as well, driven too hard, and they get deformed, they can be a bit more picky than jacketed, but not as bad as cast.

HappyCamper · Dec 12, 2013

Biff_N said:
I thought 180gr was the top end for .40 s&w loads and 200gr were for 10mm autos.

20K+ rounds of 200g 40sw out of Glocks and Berettas says different

Rainier has (or had) a good 200g bullet. I think other manf. had some 200g as well. There are many loads in books and on the interwebs for various load work up for this as well.

John from MD · Dec 13, 2013

HappyCamper said:
20K+ rounds of 200g 40sw out of Glocks and Berettas says different

Rainier has (or had) a good 200g bullet. I think other manf. had some 200g as well. There are many loads in books and on the interwebs for various load work up for this as well.

I assume you are making power factor with less muzzle flip by shooting heavy bullets at a slower speed?

Jimbuck · Dec 13, 2013

The book I have shows that to be the middle of the road. These will be just target shooting. Hard to find data for the 165 plated (i used lead numbers usually).

Topher · Dec 13, 2013

Jimbuck said:
Hard to find data for the 165 plated (i used lead numbers usually).

I have been successful with 165 gr. Plated and 5.4 grains of Bullseye.
Max load listed is 5.8 grains.

Soft shooting round with good consistency.

splatt · Dec 13, 2013

165 gr Rainier and 4.6-4.7 gr of WST does well for me.
Less muzzle flip and WST is not too hard to find.

jimbobborg · Dec 13, 2013

Unique was pretty good with the 165gr bullets I had as well as the 180s.

HappyCamper · Dec 13, 2013

John from MD said:
I assume you are making power factor with less muzzle flip by shooting heavy bullets at a slower speed?

Yup, and sometimes they even penetrated the cardboard. :lol2:

I think a thick leather coat would have stopped them though :innocent0

howard762 · Dec 14, 2013

+1 for Titegroup. I've used it for bullets from 155-180 and always been pleased with accuracy and recoil.

HappyCamper · Dec 14, 2013

howard762 said:
+1 for Titegroup. I've used it for bullets from 155-180 and always been pleased with accuracy and recoil.

And it's a really low powder amount per round as well, Makes more rounds per pound

Magnumite · Dec 19, 2013

Using a heavier bullet to shoot the same power factor as a load with a lighter bullet will give you a softer shooting load.

Kimerazor · Dec 19, 2013

I use Berry's 180gr FP with 4.5 Titegroup in my HK USP C. Titegroup is a fast burning powder, which helps in the Compact.

NRA & SAF Life Member

Jimbuck · Dec 19, 2013

Yeah I will get heavier bullets next time. Will use these up. 4.7 seems to be in the middle of the range.

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