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Old October 7, 2002, 01:43 AM   #6
john kilgore
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 27, 2002
Location: east georgia
Posts: 125
Try BlueDot. It gives about the highest velocities with the .40 S&W. Also try Unique- the new "clean burn" version. Some of my aquaintances in the early '90's used the Blue Dot with good success. My brother reports that he is having real good success with the "new" unique in a Beretta. I recently tried some Hodgdons "LongShot" but found that velocity was way-way below what they claimed in their data. I tried the listed minimum up to listed max with a 180hp, and max only gave about 920fps, from a barrel 5/8" longer than the 4" listed. The max load velocity was supposed to be over 1100fps. But on the other hand, pressures appeared to be "low" too.

With a 180gr. .40cal bullet, expansion has been "iffy" in my experience. Have heard many reports of Winchester Ranger "Talon" competely passing through 250lb. pigs, particlualy from the Shorty Glocks. (side pass-thru shots). Can't speak for bullet expansion as none have been recovered, but suspect that it isn't much. Most pigs also have expired instantly or shortly, so I haven't heard complaints either !! (These are "feral" pigs being shot on WMA's due to damage to wildlife food plots- hence "control work")

All my "work" loading for the .40 was for best accuracy while maintaining adequate recoil/power for reliable functioning. I found Winchester "Superfield" to be best.
I use most any jacketed/plated hollow point on top of 5.5gr of WSF, seated to 1.125"oal. Remngtons give about as good accuracy as anything, but I was shooting them through Glocks, which wasn't the best test for accruacy. They would shoot 3-3.5" at 25yds and velocity was about 875fps. A max load will give about 1050, but is quite a handfull, and accuracy falls off above 950 anyhow.
I've had best all around performance with 155's, and use 6.3gr of SuperField for about 1050fps and 2.5-3" accuracy with same Glock.
Be very cautious with warm .40's in Glocks or other similar barrel designs as I've had loads that were below published max blow cases out. This is as much as the case design as it is the unsupported barrel section. The .40 case has a very short web section ahead of the extracter groove. Be particularily cautious with "Starline" brass as all but one of my "blow outs" have been with that. The other was with Rem. brass. Starline is great brass but seems to be "softer" and "thicker" than most others. Remington seems to be "thinnest", but gives me best accuracy. Overall though I prefer Winchester and Federal cases as I've never had a bad experience with them in the .40.

I don't load much for the .40 anymore. I get all the Rem-UMC or Fed. American Eagle I want/need at work. (Whichever is on contract at the time). Also all Ranger "Talon" I need, usually end up trading it out at end of year when annual replacement is issued.
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