target load for 40 s&w

jhf · April 16, 2005, 06:27 PM

Looking to hear what you may have found as a successful reload combination for a 40 s&w. I prefer to shoot swc's. bullet weight, powder amount and type, and what pistol you shoot with.

thanks
jhf

WESHOOT2 · April 22, 2005, 04:01 PM

180g Rainier TCJ-FP, CCI500, sized case (prefer IMI, R-P, W-W), 6.0g Alliant Power Pistol, OAL 1.230"+/-.005". Crimp mildly.
Can substitute 4.0g Bullseye.

200g D&J LFN, R-P 5 1/2, 4.0g W231, same as above.

175g LSWC, CCI500, 5.5g Power Pistol, same as above.

HQBrass · April 24, 2005, 06:49 PM

I found 6.0 gr of Power Pistol to be a great target load. I also shoot a 135 gr RS over 5.0 gr of Bullseye that is really accurate.

WESHOOT2 · April 25, 2005, 05:12 AM

Consistently accurate through so many guns.

HSMITH · April 25, 2005, 07:11 AM

6.0 PP with just about any 180 FMJ and winchester primers in mixed cases works great for me, just like WESHOOT2 told me it would LOL.

Winchester Super Field has also shown very nice accuracy for me.

xXStarScreamXx · April 26, 2005, 01:08 PM

Rainier 180gr FMJ, 10.5 Gr AA#9 , any brass. Its a slow powerful round that has been very accurate for me. Feels more like 45 than 40

Zak Smith · April 26, 2005, 02:01 PM

180gr Montana Gold JHP
4.--gr Titegroup loaded long to 1.230" for my SV
WSR

Sturm · April 26, 2005, 03:20 PM

The bulk of my forties have previously been defense loads with 135, 155 and 165 gr. JHP's, but I have 170 gr. OT SWC's on the way. Will start with 7.0 grs. of HS-6 and go from there in the XD Tactical.

caz223 · April 26, 2005, 05:48 PM

WSF or HS-6, I have been using WSF now for a while, and have found it at least as good as HS-6, and cheaper to boot!
Thinking of using it in 9mm, too...
It does the job in full power loads, rainier 165HP, both in my SIG 2340, and my smithy 610.

Sturm · April 27, 2005, 12:50 AM

Caz, which 9mm bullet? Just got through loading 200 9mm rounds and 100 of them were XX grs. HS-6, CCI500, Win case and Rem 124 gr. JHP. The other 100 were the same except 6.0 grs. VV 3N37. This is a defense load development for my wife to shoot in the CZ P-01. With the 170 gr. OT SWC, I think I'm going to try the 7.0 gr. HS-6 load I mentioned along with a 3N37 load if I can find some data, it may get 6.0 grs. Just for kicks, I think I'll try 8.8 grs. of Blue Dot and 10.0 grs of AA#9. Cases are ready for the bullets and powder!

xXStarScreamXx · April 27, 2005, 01:32 AM

AA#9 makes a nice smooth shot.

caz223 · April 27, 2005, 06:45 AM

I haven't done the WSF thing in 9mm, not yet.
That is a carbon copy of my current load (WIN case, CCI primer and all.), but I use the rainier 124HP on top of 7.0 grains of HS-6.
Now, I suppose I should throw it out there that it's over book max, and to not ever, ever, try it at home, and I'm not responsible for the gun you blow up, or the fingers you're missing, but the load works fine for me.

Sturm · April 27, 2005, 12:50 PM

WSF should be a fine powder in 9mm. Definitely seems to be in .40 S&W. For the 9mm CZ Pistols with their shorter chambers I load to 1.122", but for the SIG P-226, it was 1.142" long, which are 28.5 and 29mm respectively for those of you that see OAL metrically from the European powder makers. I don't shoot much FMJ, I just pay a few pennies more per/M for the 124 gr. JHP and it along with Golden Sabers do everything I need done. With the SIG load I was shooting, pressure levels went to max in the CUP system or current +P with VV 3N37 and HS-6. Vectan SP-2 got some work until Grafs discontinued it. WAP was a fine powder and you can still get it, just with a different label and powder company. Ramshot Silhouette is WAP and data is completely interchangeable. They have another powder that looks ideal for high performance 9mm and .40 called TRUE BLUE. It's in the same burn rate group with VV 3N37, AA#7 and N-350. Very good bulk density, very low muzzle flash and of course it's a ball powder. Unbelievably low standard deviations in everything from the 9mm to the .454 Casull!

beardking · April 27, 2005, 04:45 PM

Where are you guys getting your jacketed bullets for the .40? I've tried using Oregon Trail Lead Truncated Cone 180 gr w/ 4.2 gr Titegroup in my CZ-75b and it dirtied it up so much that I'm very close to throwing the rest of the box I have away. I want to find a good place to get jacketed or plated bullets so that I can really enjoy this reloading thing without it being as expensive as buying factory ammo. The only bulk bullets that my local shop has are cast lead and I'm just not willing to have to clean my barrel between each magazine just to get decent accuracy out of a target load.

Zak Smith · April 27, 2005, 04:47 PM

Besides Montana Gold, I've also used West Coast (now renamed Accura Bullets) in my 40. Clean.

Buy them from a local distributor or order direct from the factory.

Sturm · April 27, 2005, 06:26 PM

I order Remington JHP's in bulk 155 gr. 40 and 124 gr. 9mm, .357, .41 from Graf and Midway.

Mr. Editor you XX'd the charge of HS-6 from a previous post and that's fine, but the current max load is higher! Not hotrodding, loading factory level equivelant or less for the wife as you no doubt saw. Thanks

xXStarScreamXx · April 27, 2005, 07:35 PM

Rainier Bullets from Midway USA

April 16, 2005, 06:27 PM	#1
jhf Junior Member Join Date: March 23, 2005 Posts: 13	target load for 40 s&w Looking to hear what you may have found as a successful reload combination for a 40 s&w. I prefer to shoot swc's. bullet weight, powder amount and type, and what pistol you shoot with. thanks jhf

April 22, 2005, 04:01 PM	#2
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	a few 180g Rainier TCJ-FP, CCI500, sized case (prefer IMI, R-P, W-W), 6.0g Alliant Power Pistol, OAL 1.230"+/-.005". Crimp mildly. Can substitute 4.0g Bullseye. 200g D&J LFN, R-P 5 1/2, 4.0g W231, same as above. 175g LSWC, CCI500, 5.5g Power Pistol, same as above. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

April 25, 2005, 05:12 AM	#4
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	6.0g PP Consistently accurate through so many guns. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

April 26, 2005, 01:08 PM	#6
xXStarScreamXx Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2005 Location: Nor*Cal 707 Posts: 353	Rainier 180gr FMJ, 10.5 Gr AA#9 , any brass. Its a slow powerful round that has been very accurate for me. Feels more like 45 than 40 __________________ I still don't see why cannibalism is a crime.

April 27, 2005, 01:32 AM	#11
xXStarScreamXx Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2005 Location: Nor*Cal 707 Posts: 353	AA#9 makes a nice smooth shot. __________________ I still don't see why cannibalism is a crime.

April 24, 2005, 06:49 PM	#3
HQBrass Member Join Date: January 11, 2005 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 29	I found 6.0 gr of Power Pistol to be a great target load. I also shoot a 135 gr RS over 5.0 gr of Bullseye that is really accurate.

April 25, 2005, 07:11 AM	#5
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	6.0 PP with just about any 180 FMJ and winchester primers in mixed cases works great for me, just like WESHOOT2 told me it would LOL. Winchester Super Field has also shown very nice accuracy for me.

April 26, 2005, 02:01 PM	#7
Zak Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 1999 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Posts: 2,682	180gr Montana Gold JHP 4.--gr Titegroup loaded long to 1.230" for my SV WSR __________________ Zak Smith . DEMIGOD LLC . THUNDER BEAST ARMS CORP . COLORADO MULTI-GUN *My PM inbox full? Send e-mail instead.*

April 26, 2005, 03:20 PM	#8
Sturm Junior member Join Date: March 2, 2005 Location: Central Texas Posts: 584	The bulk of my forties have previously been defense loads with 135, 155 and 165 gr. JHP's, but I have 170 gr. OT SWC's on the way. Will start with 7.0 grs. of HS-6 and go from there in the XD Tactical.

April 26, 2005, 05:48 PM	#9
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,429	WSF or HS-6, I have been using WSF now for a while, and have found it at least as good as HS-6, and cheaper to boot! Thinking of using it in 9mm, too... It does the job in full power loads, rainier 165HP, both in my SIG 2340, and my smithy 610. __________________ I'm not just a gun. I'm YOUR gun. (Hold me.)

April 27, 2005, 12:50 AM	#10
Sturm Junior member Join Date: March 2, 2005 Location: Central Texas Posts: 584	Caz, which 9mm bullet? Just got through loading 200 9mm rounds and 100 of them were XX grs. HS-6, CCI500, Win case and Rem 124 gr. JHP. The other 100 were the same except 6.0 grs. VV 3N37. This is a defense load development for my wife to shoot in the CZ P-01. With the 170 gr. OT SWC, I think I'm going to try the 7.0 gr. HS-6 load I mentioned along with a 3N37 load if I can find some data, it may get 6.0 grs. Just for kicks, I think I'll try 8.8 grs. of Blue Dot and 10.0 grs of AA#9. Cases are ready for the bullets and powder!

April 27, 2005, 06:45 AM	#12
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,429	I haven't done the WSF thing in 9mm, not yet. That is a carbon copy of my current load (WIN case, CCI primer and all.), but I use the rainier 124HP on top of 7.0 grains of HS-6. Now, I suppose I should throw it out there that it's over book max, and to not ever, ever, try it at home, and I'm not responsible for the gun you blow up, or the fingers you're missing, but the load works fine for me. __________________ I'm not just a gun. I'm YOUR gun. (Hold me.)

April 27, 2005, 12:50 PM	#13
Sturm Junior member Join Date: March 2, 2005 Location: Central Texas Posts: 584	WSF should be a fine powder in 9mm. Definitely seems to be in .40 S&W. For the 9mm CZ Pistols with their shorter chambers I load to 1.122", but for the SIG P-226, it was 1.142" long, which are 28.5 and 29mm respectively for those of you that see OAL metrically from the European powder makers. I don't shoot much FMJ, I just pay a few pennies more per/M for the 124 gr. JHP and it along with Golden Sabers do everything I need done. With the SIG load I was shooting, pressure levels went to max in the CUP system or current +P with VV 3N37 and HS-6. Vectan SP-2 got some work until Grafs discontinued it. WAP was a fine powder and you can still get it, just with a different label and powder company. Ramshot Silhouette is WAP and data is completely interchangeable. They have another powder that looks ideal for high performance 9mm and .40 called TRUE BLUE. It's in the same burn rate group with VV 3N37, AA#7 and N-350. Very good bulk density, very low muzzle flash and of course it's a ball powder. Unbelievably low standard deviations in everything from the 9mm to the .454 Casull!

April 27, 2005, 04:45 PM	#14
beardking Senior Member Join Date: July 22, 2004 Location: Dallas, TX (area) Posts: 128	Where are you guys getting your jacketed bullets for the .40? I've tried using Oregon Trail Lead Truncated Cone 180 gr w/ 4.2 gr Titegroup in my CZ-75b and it dirtied it up so much that I'm very close to throwing the rest of the box I have away. I want to find a good place to get jacketed or plated bullets so that I can really enjoy this reloading thing without it being as expensive as buying factory ammo. The only bulk bullets that my local shop has are cast lead and I'm just not willing to have to clean my barrel between each magazine just to get decent accuracy out of a target load.

April 27, 2005, 04:47 PM	#15
Zak Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 1999 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Posts: 2,682	Besides Montana Gold, I've also used West Coast (now renamed Accura Bullets) in my 40. Clean. Buy them from a local distributor or order direct from the factory. __________________ Zak Smith . DEMIGOD LLC . THUNDER BEAST ARMS CORP . COLORADO MULTI-GUN *My PM inbox full? Send e-mail instead.*

April 27, 2005, 06:26 PM	#16
Sturm Junior member Join Date: March 2, 2005 Location: Central Texas Posts: 584	I order Remington JHP's in bulk 155 gr. 40 and 124 gr. 9mm, .357, .41 from Graf and Midway. Mr. Editor you XX'd the charge of HS-6 from a previous post and that's fine, but the current max load is higher! Not hotrodding, loading factory level equivelant or less for the wife as you no doubt saw. Thanks

April 27, 2005, 07:35 PM	#17
xXStarScreamXx Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2005 Location: Nor*Cal 707 Posts: 353	Rainier Bullets from Midway USA __________________ I still don't see why cannibalism is a crime.