.40 S&W - good starting point?

DBotkin · January 14, 2008, 02:43 PM

I'm just starting to get into this particular cartridge. I have an M&P Compact (3.5" barrel) and will be plinking and probably playing with IDPA shooting. I'm most interested in manageable recoil (for my wife; I don't care much about it), reliable cycling & feeding and hopefully hitting the same POI as some of the popular PD ammo such as TAP or Golden Sabres, which will be the load when it's carried.

I have a box I loaded up with 155 grain XTP and a range of Unique loads from minimum to jut under the max listed in my Lyman manual, in .1 grain increments over CCI primers. Haven't had a chance to try them out yet, but in the mean time I'm interested in hearing about others' pet .40 S&W loads -- especially those used in compact semis. I'm not opposed to trying cast or plated bullets, and I'd entertain thoughts of different powders -- especially if it's a powder that works well for .44 and/or .357 Magnum as well. I prefer not to keep too many different powders around if I can make one do multiple duty. Also, these are the last of my CCI primers; I'm switching exclusively to Federal small pistol primers since that's all my S&W M-28 will shoot reliably in DA. I think it's got a lightened mainspring.

BigJimP · January 14, 2008, 04:35 PM

In a .40 S&W I load a 180gr Montana Gold CMJ bullet - CCI primers - and I use Hodgdon TiteGroup. The range on my load is 4.2 min / 4.7 max and my personal target load is 4.3 grains of powder. I use Hodgdon TiteGroup in 9mm, .40, .45acp, .38 spl, .357 mag and .44 mag - and I think its pretty clean in all calibers and its performed real well.

I don't have a compact .40 / I shoot that load in a Wilson Combat 1911, a stainless Sig 226 and a Sig X-Five which are all much heavier guns than you are using. I have not loaded any 155gr bullets in .40 S&W .

You probably already know about the softness of the Federal primers / but be careful as you seat them on the press (there have been reports of detonation upon seating them too firmly ......which scares me personally ).

ludwig1138 · January 14, 2008, 09:02 PM

FWIW In 40 S&W for a Glock 22 I load a Montana Gold 155 JHP with 4.6g of Clays (not Universal Clays), CCI primers, for IDPA. It slightly exceeds the minimum power factor for IDPA and is accurate, cycles fine. I've tried AA5 and Win231 and they're OK but the Clays "feels" better to me.

Redneck with a 40 · January 15, 2008, 12:41 AM

I load 6 grains of Unique behind a 165 grain Ranier, chrono's 980 fps out of my XD-40 and is very accurate, with mild recoil. Unique is an excellent "one powder" to load with, it does well in everything from 380 to 45 ACP and everything in between. Yeah, its slightly dirtier than other powders, but who cares, you clean your guns right?

WESHOOT2 · January 15, 2008, 09:56 AM

Suggest letting wife shoot gun and relaying her 'recoil' findings.......

Then we'll have some structure for our input?

(I mean, 'cause I can recommend a hundred different loads, but.....)

January 14, 2008, 02:43 PM	#1
DBotkin Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 302	.40 S&W - good starting point? I'm just starting to get into this particular cartridge. I have an M&P Compact (3.5" barrel) and will be plinking and probably playing with IDPA shooting. I'm most interested in manageable recoil (for my wife; I don't care much about it), reliable cycling & feeding and hopefully hitting the same POI as some of the popular PD ammo such as TAP or Golden Sabres, which will be the load when it's carried. I have a box I loaded up with 155 grain XTP and a range of Unique loads from minimum to jut under the max listed in my Lyman manual, in .1 grain increments over CCI primers. Haven't had a chance to try them out yet, but in the mean time I'm interested in hearing about others' pet .40 S&W loads -- especially those used in compact semis. I'm not opposed to trying cast or plated bullets, and I'd entertain thoughts of different powders -- especially if it's a powder that works well for .44 and/or .357 Magnum as well. I prefer not to keep too many different powders around if I can make one do multiple duty. Also, these are the last of my CCI primers; I'm switching exclusively to Federal small pistol primers since that's all my S&W M-28 will shoot reliably in DA. I think it's got a lightened mainspring.

January 15, 2008, 09:56 AM	#5
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	but first Suggest letting wife shoot gun and relaying her 'recoil' findings....... Then we'll have some structure for our input? (I mean, 'cause I can recommend a hundred different loads, but.....)

January 14, 2008, 04:35 PM	#2
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	In a .40 S&W I load a 180gr Montana Gold CMJ bullet - CCI primers - and I use Hodgdon TiteGroup. The range on my load is 4.2 min / 4.7 max and my personal target load is 4.3 grains of powder. I use Hodgdon TiteGroup in 9mm, .40, .45acp, .38 spl, .357 mag and .44 mag - and I think its pretty clean in all calibers and its performed real well. I don't have a compact .40 / I shoot that load in a Wilson Combat 1911, a stainless Sig 226 and a Sig X-Five which are all much heavier guns than you are using. I have not loaded any 155gr bullets in .40 S&W . You probably already know about the softness of the Federal primers / but be careful as you seat them on the press (there have been reports of detonation upon seating them too firmly ......which scares me personally ).

January 14, 2008, 09:02 PM	#3
ludwig1138 Member Join Date: July 31, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 74	FWIW In 40 S&W for a Glock 22 I load a Montana Gold 155 JHP with 4.6g of Clays (not Universal Clays), CCI primers, for IDPA. It slightly exceeds the minimum power factor for IDPA and is accurate, cycles fine. I've tried AA5 and Win231 and they're OK but the Clays "feels" better to me.

January 15, 2008, 12:41 AM	#4
Redneck with a 40 Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2006 Posts: 336	I load 6 grains of Unique behind a 165 grain Ranier, chrono's 980 fps out of my XD-40 and is very accurate, with mild recoil. Unique is an excellent "one powder" to load with, it does well in everything from 380 to 45 ACP and everything in between. Yeah, its slightly dirtier than other powders, but who cares, you clean your guns right?