.40 S&W power load

bc5301 · April 1, 2006, 12:31 AM

.40 reloaders what is your favorite powder and bullet for protection and serious power??

caz223 · April 1, 2006, 07:06 AM

I personally haven't tried it, but I hear nosler 135 grain bullets and longshot is in contention for the title.

WESHOOT2 · April 2, 2006, 08:30 AM

Powder is unavailable; e-mail direct for further discussion.

The 40 S&W is a high-pressure cartridge, and 'steam-rolling' it must be done with anally extreme care.
No room for error; none zip zero.

Can anyone spell "KB"?

HSMITH · April 2, 2006, 09:19 AM

I like QUALITY JHP 180's and Power Pistol. XTP, Gold Dot, and so on are really hard to beat.

I have a couple pounds of Longshot and a couple hundred of the Nosler 135's left too. That load flat hauls, but be carefull approaching the top end. Longshot gets sensitive as pressure increases.

As WESHOOT2 said, when pushing the 40 there is NO room for error. He is also one of the most knowledgeable 40 loaders out there that you can access.

Ammo Junky · April 2, 2006, 11:42 AM

The 155gr Rem jhp is the main bullet I load in 40. To me less wt is not enough and more is wasted in the 40. If I need more than 155 gr, I need more than a 40, IMHO.

here is my fav 40 loads

155 rem jhp, wspm primer, mix cases, 1.125 col,min bell and little to no crimp in Lee fcd. Loaded on a pro 2000 at an embaressingly slow rate

Target
8.0gr HS-6, 960fps, 4" bbl, works very well in my stock G20, yes I know it's a 10mm, but I can't find cheap x1f 10mm brass and it feeds 100%

7.5gr will work, but the brass praticaly hits my hand on the way down.

5.5W231, 950fps, less accurate than hs6, but functional.

Heavy load
10.0 Longshot 1325fps in a 4" S+W

If you like heavier bullets
8.0 Longshot under 165 or 180gr bullets give me 1150 4"bbl

Longshot gives the highest velocities in most of the semi-auto cal I have tried it in. I mostly use win and Hodgden powders. These are book loads, mostly from the 2004 hodgens anual. I never load above what I can find as a book load. I of course try different componenets, and always work from a reduced load in my gun.

Anyone out there get 300+/hr from their pro2000? I'd love some tips.

Frenchwrench · April 2, 2006, 11:59 AM

Montana Gold 165 JHP,6.6gr of WSF.Chrono's the same as 165 Golden Sabre with the same felt recoil.Watch your loads like a hawk, high pressure in 40 cal. is a KB waiting to happen.

Leftoverdj · April 2, 2006, 12:08 PM

There's something about the .40 S&W that brings out the worst in people.

Ammo Junky · April 2, 2006, 01:16 PM

"There's something about the .40 S&W that brings out the worst in people"

I say, there's something about the .40 S+W that keeps the worst in people.

I.E. An armed society is a polite society

WESHOOT2 · April 6, 2006, 05:33 AM

Just another cartridge.

Oddly, though I don't much care for the cartridge, I've been using it quite a bit for USPSA. L-10, Minor.
Maybe because I can leave the empties lay?

April 1, 2006, 12:31 AM	#1
bc5301 Member Join Date: February 19, 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 21	.40 S&W power load .40 reloaders what is your favorite powder and bullet for protection and serious power??

April 1, 2006, 07:06 AM	#2
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,429	I personally haven't tried it, but I hear nosler 135 grain bullets and longshot is in contention for the title. __________________ I'm not just a gun. I'm YOUR gun. (Hold me.)

April 2, 2006, 08:30 AM	#3
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	Nosler is 'the bullet' (if you ain't a cop) Powder is unavailable; e-mail direct for further discussion. The 40 S&W is a high-pressure cartridge, and 'steam-rolling' it must be done with anally extreme care. No room for error; none zip zero. Can anyone spell "KB"? __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

April 2, 2006, 11:42 AM	#5
Ammo Junky Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: IL Posts: 537	The 155gr Rem jhp is the main bullet I load in 40. To me less wt is not enough and more is wasted in the 40. If I need more than 155 gr, I need more than a 40, IMHO. here is my fav 40 loads 155 rem jhp, wspm primer, mix cases, 1.125 col,min bell and little to no crimp in Lee fcd. Loaded on a pro 2000 at an embaressingly slow rate Target 8.0gr HS-6, 960fps, 4" bbl, works very well in my stock G20, yes I know it's a 10mm, but I can't find cheap x1f 10mm brass and it feeds 100% 7.5gr will work, but the brass praticaly hits my hand on the way down. 5.5W231, 950fps, less accurate than hs6, but functional. Heavy load 10.0 Longshot 1325fps in a 4" S+W If you like heavier bullets 8.0 Longshot under 165 or 180gr bullets give me 1150 4"bbl Longshot gives the highest velocities in most of the semi-auto cal I have tried it in. I mostly use win and Hodgden powders. These are book loads, mostly from the 2004 hodgens anual. I never load above what I can find as a book load. I of course try different componenets, and always work from a reduced load in my gun. Anyone out there get 300+/hr from their pro2000? I'd love some tips. Last edited by Ammo Junky; April 2, 2006 at 01:07 PM.

April 2, 2006, 11:59 AM	#6
Frenchwrench Member Join Date: January 19, 2005 Location: Indiana but my land is in Colorado Posts: 80	Montana Gold 165 JHP,6.6gr of WSF.Chrono's the same as 165 Golden Sabre with the same felt recoil.Watch your loads like a hawk, high pressure in 40 cal. is a KB waiting to happen. __________________ When in trouble, when in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout.

April 2, 2006, 09:19 AM	#4
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	I like QUALITY JHP 180's and Power Pistol. XTP, Gold Dot, and so on are really hard to beat. I have a couple pounds of Longshot and a couple hundred of the Nosler 135's left too. That load flat hauls, but be carefull approaching the top end. Longshot gets sensitive as pressure increases. As WESHOOT2 said, when pushing the 40 there is NO room for error. He is also one of the most knowledgeable 40 loaders out there that you can access.

April 2, 2006, 12:08 PM	#7
Leftoverdj Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 2004 Posts: 934	There's something about the .40 S&W that brings out the worst in people.

April 2, 2006, 01:16 PM	#8
Ammo Junky Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: IL Posts: 537	"There's something about the .40 S&W that brings out the worst in people" I say, there's something about the .40 S+W that keeps the worst in people. I.E. An armed society is a polite society

April 6, 2006, 05:33 AM	#9
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	40 questions...... Just another cartridge. Oddly, though I don't much care for the cartridge, I've been using it quite a bit for USPSA. L-10, Minor. Maybe because I can leave the empties lay? __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

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