Anyone load for 40 S&W?

LostSoul · Sep 7, 2010

I picked up a Beretta 96 in a recent trade, and I figured I may as well load for it along with 9mm and .357 Mag. I'm aware of the brass damage some guns (i.e. Glock) do due to unsupported chambers, I don't plan on using random range brass because of this. I'll be casting lead bullets for it for the most part. Does anyone have a pet load for the 40? I've got some Titegroup on hand, I figure that should be a decent powder for light cast loads, but I haven't found any good data for it yet. Any tips or advice would be appreciated! :thumbsup:

jimbobborg · Sep 7, 2010

I use 165gr plated bullets and 6.5gr of Unique. Burns clean and makes Major.

Jim

gibby · Sep 7, 2010

I used 180gr with Winchester Super Field for Limited class. 231 with 180 and 140 gr lead.

lx1x · Sep 7, 2010

jimbobborg said:
I use 165gr plated bullets and 6.5gr of Unique. Burns clean and makes Major.

Jim

wow.. loading mine light then.. lol 5.7gr here..

j8064 · Sep 7, 2010

My .40 S&W loads are intended for my guns that eat that caliber. For now they're both Hi-Points: a JCP-40 and a 4095 Carbine. They shoot my loads flawlessly. However, take my reload info FWIW to you.

I find an endless supply of random, and free, range cases every time I go. I closely inspect the cases and cull any garbage. Most of my .40 reloads are built from fully re-sized range brass. Personally I've never experienced the "problem Glock type cases" I've read about. Perhaps the folks that leave brass I pick up don't shoot Glocks?

I've used Berry's plated bullets of various weights, but (most often) home cast boolits using this Lee mold: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=224761

My "go-to" load with the home cast boolits is 5.2 of Unique. It's light, but snappy. It works well in my HPs. My loads for plated bullets vary depending on the bullet weight - still with Unique.

Unique powder can be "sooty" in pistol loads. But my hands get dirty at the range anyway so no biggie. Unique has successfully sent thousands of my hand loaded bullets downrange over the years. No reason to change now.

No matter what, you need to work up and prove loads for your firearm. I know what works in mine, and I don't know what works in yours...

Good luck and be safe.

Rockzilla · Sep 7, 2010

don't load for it yet, don't shoot that many rounds but you can check here

http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/d...&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=

http://www.precisionbullets.com/PDF/maashl40sw.pdf

http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/123738-reloading-40-s-w.html

-Rock

alucard0822 · Sep 7, 2010

40 is a hot little cartridge, and lead loads are a bit tough to get to shoot clean. I load 180gr plated bullets with 4.5gr of bullseye for light minor power loads at about 800fps, they recoil softer than most 9mm. For full power barnburners, I load 165gr XTPs to about 1,200fps with 8gr of longshot.

jimbobborg · Sep 8, 2010

lx1x said:
wow.. loading mine light then.. lol 5.7gr here..

I shoot a Glock 35 and a Taurus PT 840. I worked up to that load. It's close to max according to the Lee Loading Manual. YMMV.

Jim

fa18hooker · Sep 8, 2010

I guess if you're shooting competition (IDPA, IPSC, etc), then there's a good reason to shoot heavy bullets fast. If you're not competing, I'd say work up a load that reliably functions the slide in hot AND cold weather, and go with it. You save on bullets (lighter bullets usually cost less in bulk), and definitely save on powder. Some might scoff at the savings (when a pound of powder will load over a thousand rounds), but if you do volume shooting, it adds up.

kalister1 · Sep 8, 2010

I load 3.6 gr of Bullseye behind 180 gr rainier plated bullets. Power factor of 145, thats about 800 fps.

jimbobborg · Sep 8, 2010

I've seen some of the other shooters at one of the matches I attend have issues with steel plates and the 9mms they're using. Most are running 115gr FMJs. With the 165gr bullets, I have no problem knocking down the plates at 10 yards (when I hit them) and the recoil impulse is about the same as the lighter weight 9mm loads.

Jim

blackthorne · Sep 11, 2010

HP38 & 165 Berry plated bullets

gibby · Sep 11, 2010

I load my lead light for steel matches

Fustercluck · Sep 11, 2010

6.0g of WW231 pushing a 155g Oregon Trail LSWC
Power Factor 140

Maryland_Shooter · Oct 5, 2010

blackthorne said:
HP38 & 165 Berry plated bullets

Using 5.0 grains of the HP38. Could be hotter and next loads will go to 5.2 or 5.3

pop-gunner · Oct 5, 2010

Try one of these for your sizing die to eliminate the bulge.

http://egw-guns.com/store/index.php..._id=40&zenid=1c8b96f5e1c5c89a2b74e0f323f56224

Titegroup is a hot burning powder so expect a bunch of smoke using it with lead.
Also work your load up slowly as .40 is a high pressure cartridge combined with a fast hot powder and lead bullets.

Be safe.

Anyone load for 40 S&W?

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