Loading the .40

[MDS]

I may be opening a can of worms here, but here goes. I'm a victim of the internet (and myself). I've read so many bad things about loading the .40S&W, that I have talked my self out of it. So do you load .40? Is it safe. I think this would be a good discussion for a lot of newbies.

[freakshow10mm]

Yes I load .40. I load it for a lot of LE agencies whom also shoot Glocks. The crap you hear is simply that: crap. Guys that don't shoot a .40, don't load the .40 and don't know what they are talking about.

Load it like any other cartridge. Pay attention. Be safe. Have fun.

[Shoney]

freakshow10mm's advice is on the mark!

To add to "Pay Attention" make sure your neck tension will hold the bullet in place during firing by not over crimping.

[Twinsig]

I started loading 40's 1.5 yrs ago w/single stage Lee, never had any probs at all, just follow the rules and pay attention like any other round you load.

[MDS]

Some good experiance speaking here. The guns I have in this caliber are 2-XD's and a Glock 23

[amathis]

I've never had a problem and I've loaded thousands of rounds. It comes down to careful calculations and common sense.

[Lost Sheep]

Originally Posted by MDS

I may be opening a can of worms here, but here goes. I'm a victim of the internet (and myself). I've read so many bad things about loading the .40S&W, that I have talked my self out of it. So do you load .40? Is it safe. I think this would be a good discussion for a lot of newbies.

The loading manual I keep next to my computer has these pressures listed for the most often compared cartridges:

40 S&W - 30000-35000 psi
9x19mm - 25000-33000 psi
45 ACP - 14000-21000 psi

By contrast, 44 magnum tops out at 40000 psi, 10mm at 36000 and 357 mag at 35000.

I am speculating here, but I suspect a lot of reloaders see the .40 as having less safety margin than the 9mm or 45 ACP. Right or wrong.

As others have already said, if you follow good procedure, there is no reason to shy away from the 40.

I have not read bad things about reloading the 40. What have you heard? (PM me if you like).

I have heard that many guns chambered for the .40 have "unsupported" chambers, which some gun manufacturers have said mandate against shooting reloads, and yet others (assuming reloaders will be loading cast lead bullets) suggest not using lead reloads in polygonal barrels. But that says nothing about reloads, just pressures and bullet types.

As my opening suggests, it is the pressures that give ME pause.

Caveat:

Remember, only believe half of what you see and one quarter of what you hear. That goes double for what you get from the internet. Even this post. Maybe especially this post.

Do your own independent, confirming research when ANYONE gives you new facts on the web.

Also remember, even the idiotic stuff might have a kernel of truth buried in there somewhere.

I do not know you, so if my advice seems over-obvious, please take into account my ignorance of your experience level. Also, others of all experience levels are reading.

Lost Sheep

[plainsman456]

I have been loading 38-357,44 mag,45acp and 41 mag as well as the 40 s&w.
There in no difference when you use your head.
I am now trying out bullseye for my 40 s&w and so far I am well pleased with it.

[Jim243]

I've load 40 for two years now, about 900 rounds for a PT140 and a FNP-40 no issues just follow the loads in the books and keep your OAL to 1.125.

Good luck and stay safe.
Jim

Lost Sheep, you are right and wrong. You have less room to play with OAL than most cartrages because of pressures. All three calibers you listed are small cases and hold small amounts of gun powder so yes you have to be carfull in that you load is on the money when you drop your powder. But wrong in thinking it is any more or less dangerous than loading for any other caliber. Just use good reloading pratices and start at min loads and build up your loads as you go checking for signs of excess pressure. Usually I find I get best results at .5 (1/2) grains under max for the bullet and powder I am loading. It also helps in that I do not worry if the load is .1 over or under what I have my powder measure set for (it is always under max), but I do check every 10 round to confirm that I am getting the charge from the powder measure I have it set for.

Stay safe
Jim

[Shoney]

The more prominent reason for classifying the 40SW as "dangerous to reload" is heresy ahhhhh meant hearsay! Since the 40 is classified as high pressure, it cannot afford to have the bullet set back during recoil to produce a higher pressure load that gets into the danger zone.

With the 44 mag, the bullet is not going to be set back, but move forward because of recoil. This will reduce pressure.

Disregarding the brainphart double charge or over charge, the 40SW carries a slight bit more "danger" than the 44 mag.

[freakshow10mm]

Correct SAAMI max pressure for the 10mm is 37,500 psi not 36,000.

[Yoosta B. Blue]

I began loading .38 Special and .45acp a couple of years ago. I added .40 S&W to the mix about a year ago. I've had no problems at all with loading the .40. In fact, .40 has become my favorite round to shoot. Running a bunch of them through my CZ 75B is a wonderful experience!

Yoosta B. Blue

[Lost Sheep]

Originally Posted by Jim243

Lost Sheep, you are right and wrong. (edited for brevity and focus) But wrong in thinking it is any more or less dangerous than loading for any other caliber. Just use good reloading pratices

I did not say it was more or less dangerous. I intended to pose a question.

I am speculating here, but I suspect a lot of reloaders see the .40 as having less safety margin than the 9mm or 45 ACP. Right or wrong.

and I posted some approximate pressures for illustration that the .40 S&W might be scary. The point being that fear is an emotion. Reality is not required.

Originally Posted by freakshow10mm

Correct SAAMI max pressure for the 10mm is 37,500 psi not 36,000.

Thanks for posting the industry standard. I did not investigate SAAMI, I just used the manual closest to my computer, scanned the various pressures and picked one that seemed to represent the population to show comparative pressures. No sophisticated math involved, nor intent to present industry standards, which probably was unwise, knowing that people will read meanings beyond my intent. Fate of the written word, hence my caveat.

Thanks for reviewing my post.

Lost Sheep

[MDS]

Lost Sheep, Correct, the things I've seen to attribute the "danger" tag to this load are, pressure, unsupported chamber, case damage because of bulges.

[freakshow10mm]

Pressure.

Hmmm, the 9mm has higher pressure than the .40 but no one whines about the 9mm pressure.

Unsupported chamber.

All guns have unsupported chambers. Closest thing to a 100% support is only found in revolvers.

Damage due to bulged cases.
Don't load stupid and you won't bulge cases. I've loaded tens of thousand of .40 from all headstamps running from weak gamer loads to beyond published max loads, all shot in Glocks with OEM barrel and never once have I ever had a customer come out with a bulged case. I've run loads to 40,000 psi in the OEM Glock .40 barrel without bulges.

[Mortech]

I've only been reloading for about 6 months now , so far I've only reloaded 10MM , 40S&W and 45ACP , all are relatively easy to reload . Just watch your powder charges . I have never ran across any info that says reloading 40 is dangerous or hard .Pretty fun and easy this n00b says .

[gearheadpyro]

I've loaded many .40's without any issues at all.

Have fun, be safe, shoot straight.

[abber]

The only extra step I use for 40 is an occasional test in a case gage. Dillon sells nice stainless units for about 12 bucks.

[Viper225]

I have been reloading the 40 S&W since before it was in reloading manuals. Some info that was printed way back when was probably way to hot, causing some seriously bulged cases.

At the moment I am loading for my XDm and the oldest boy's XDm. We shoot in our local pistol match once a month.

I have range brass gathered over many years. I picked out 100 rounds and mic'ed them in the unsupported area ahead of the rim a while back. Most were not expanded much. A few were expanded quite a bit. The reason for checking was once in a while a reloaded (loaded round) would be hard to clear from the pistol.

We picked up a Redding G-RX sizing die. This little beauty is a push through die much like a Lee bullet sizer. You just keep pushing them through into a collection bottle. The case is then completely sized all the way to the rim. After using this die, no more problem ejecting loaded rounds. The die is currently available in steel, however a carbide die is in the works. Got mine from Midway. I will probably get a carbide one down the road.

My current plinking load is a 170 grain Lead semi wad cutter over 5.5 Grains of Unique.

[WESHOOT2]

Ensure sufficient case neck tension and the 40 S&W cartridge poses no more danger or difficulty than any other handgun cartridge.

Bulged cases, in ANY chambering, may happen from ANY brand; it's determined by the barrel in THAT gun.

I most highly recommend 40 S&W loads other than the lightest plinkers be loaded using Alliant Power Pistol (until one gains more experience with the cartridge).

[DiscoRacing]

i load/shoot two 40s all the time...never have a problem at all

[MDS]

Thanks, to everyone for the info and opinions. I may start saving up for .40 componets and equipment and try.

[drjavelina]

I load a lot of 40's using a Lee single stage press. Never had problems.

[Inspector3711]

The only pistol cartridge I've reloaded to date is .40 S&W. I had the same concern as you before I dove in. My addiction to things that go "bang" finally won. No problems whatsover after 1,000 rounds.