what powder are you all using for 40S&W

champ198 · April 29, 2011, 02:20 PM

i havent ever loaded the 40 used to load for 9mm and 45LC and always used Win 231 on the 9mm and Trailboss for the 45LC for cowboy action but never loaded the 40S&W...was going to see what you all used for a good clean powder

Rangefinder · April 29, 2011, 02:27 PM

I shoot a LOT of cast ( I cast for almost everything I own) and therefore have lots of Red Dot on hand. 4gr. to 4.4gr. Red Dot runs very well in jacketed 180gr and cast 175gr respectively. Clean, snappy, reliable. There are plenty of other powders, but I like to keep variety down and quantity high.

Don P · April 29, 2011, 02:51 PM

155 grain hard cast lead round nose over Titegroup

BigJimP · April 29, 2011, 03:06 PM

Hodgdon TiteGroup - with a FMJ 180gr Montana Gold bullet ...

dwhite · April 29, 2011, 03:09 PM

Glock 22
170 grain cast LSWC from Missouri Bullet.
Unique
Winchester WSP primer.

Best combination I've ever shot in .40

Please spare me the Glock barrel / lead bullet myth. It's my gun.

All the Best,
D. White

floydster · April 29, 2011, 03:13 PM

Unique.

Don P · April 29, 2011, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Please spare me the Glock barrel / lead bullet myth. It's my gun.

Yep hard cast should not be an issue. My G 36 functions great on my 230 gr. lead hard cast loads as well as my G 26 on my 125 gr. lead hard cast loads.

noylj · April 29, 2011, 03:44 PM

155gn and 175gn L-SWC
Target loads: AA5
Near max loads: Power Pistol

champ198 · April 29, 2011, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Please spare me the Glock barrel / lead bullet myth. It's my gun.

Ok fellas can you all elaborate on this?
i used to do some cowboy action shooing back a few years ago and know about Missouri bullet Co...used to buy 45LC from them...then started casting my own .38 specials when i went to them...but i always thought shooting a lead cast out of a semi was a NO NO...so please fellas elaborate for me....at $34 per 500 vs the $60 for 500 jacketed bullets i was planning on shooting i can shoot way more...so please elaborate on this...is it ok as long as the barrel is cleaned?
just mainly target loads is all im wanting to shoot a lot of...Carry rounds are a little diffrent but for the cost of them im not punching paper with them

zxcvbob · April 29, 2011, 03:59 PM

Glocks don't have conventional rifling (lands and grooves) the whole bore is shaped like a stop-sign (sort of) with a twist to it. If it gets leaded badly, there's no place for the lead to go; the bore just gets restricted and that raises the pressure.

Some Glock barrels also have chambers that are cut deeply at the feed ramps (for better feeding reliability, I guess) and so the brass is not supported there. 9mm and .40S&W operate at high pressures already. Drive the pressure up with lead fouling and bad things can happen.

There's several solutions: Use jacketed bullets, replace the barrel with one that has a fully supported chamber or conventional rifling, clean the bore frequently to remove lead build-up, or use lead bullets that don't lead.

I don't know if Glock 9mm's still have the problem. It's been a long time since I picked up a piece of 9mm brass that looked like a pregnant guppy. Most of the stories you hear now about Glocks blowing up are .40S&W's.

I have a CZ pistol with the same polygonal rifling as a Glock and it's a joy to clean -- I shoot mostly cast lead bullets in it and it never leads at all.

ETA: I don't reload .40 yet, but from loading other cartridges I'd say Bullseye, Unique, and WSF are good candidates. Red Dot and Promo will give you the best accuracy for light target loads but will peak before you get to service-load levels. Power Pistol for max loads.

overkill0084 · April 29, 2011, 04:01 PM

AA#5 has given me good results. Clean burning & accurate. I use mostly 180 gr cast FWIW.

crowbeaner · April 29, 2011, 07:26 PM

I use Unique, AA #5, and some Titegroup. #5 with lead, Unique with MG hollowpoints, and Titegroup for lead reduced stuff.

engineermike · April 29, 2011, 07:55 PM

AA #5 with a Berry's 180 grain hollow point.

dunerjeff · April 29, 2011, 09:09 PM

WSF and AA #5 with 165fp Berry's,Power Pistol,SR4756 and even Auto Comp for heavier loads

thetoulman · April 29, 2011, 09:26 PM

Unique with 180 grain berrys plated flat nose

LOUD · April 29, 2011, 10:49 PM

Ive used Unique, HS 6 , and ramshot silhouette ....LOUD

Marco Califo · April 29, 2011, 11:00 PM

Bullseye for 180 gr cast bullet target loads ~1000 fps.

When using 5 gr of Bullseye you can load 28 50 round boxes with one pound of powder.

bedlamite · April 29, 2011, 11:11 PM

I use Universal and Longshot

farmerboy · April 29, 2011, 11:22 PM

Unique or Bullseye.

scsov509 · April 30, 2011, 12:20 AM

Power Pistol is my first choice, but Unique is also pretty good in the 40.

Jim243 · April 30, 2011, 01:29 AM

Keep it simple, I use W-231 for 40 S&W, best, I don't know but it works every time I pull the trigger and I do get 2 inch groups, but then I do use Nosler 135 grain HP bullets.

Jim

bearol63 · April 30, 2011, 06:35 AM

I've been using clays with a berry's bullet.
I've also used titegroup.

WESHOOT2 · May 1, 2011, 08:47 AM

I've tested AA2, AA2 Imp, AA5, AA9, HS6, HS7, 700X, 800X, Bullseye, Unique, Universal, Longshot, W231, 2400, 3N37, N350, WAP, Power Pistol, Blue Dot, WSL, Nitro 100.

Mild target-type ammo gets Bullseye; everything else gets 3N37, WAP, or Power Pistol.
Cop-ammo got WAP and Power Pistol; personal defense loads got 3N37.

Nowadays if I load 40 for myself I use Bullseye for Minor PF ammo for USPSA.

Clark · May 1, 2011, 11:31 AM

800X 200 gr for most power
Power Pistol 200 gr for easy metering
3N37 200 gr for less flash.

Miata Mike · May 2, 2011, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Unique or Bullseye.

I prefer Unique, but also worked up a load using Bullseye. I am also thinking of working up a load using Titegroup.

April 29, 2011, 02:20 PM	#1
champ198 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2008 Posts: 217	what powder are you all using for 40S&W i havent ever loaded the 40 used to load for 9mm and 45LC and always used Win 231 on the 9mm and Trailboss for the 45LC for cowboy action but never loaded the 40S&W...was going to see what you all used for a good clean powder

April 29, 2011, 02:27 PM	#2
Rangefinder Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 2005 Posts: 2,017	I shoot a LOT of cast ( I cast for almost everything I own) and therefore have lots of Red Dot on hand. 4gr. to 4.4gr. Red Dot runs very well in jacketed 180gr and cast 175gr respectively. Clean, snappy, reliable. There are plenty of other powders, but I like to keep variety down and quantity high. __________________ "Why is is called Common Sense when it seems so few actually possess it?" Guns only have two enemies: Rust and Politicians.

April 29, 2011, 02:51 PM	#3
Don P Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2005 Location: Swamp dweller Posts: 6,187	155 grain hard cast lead round nose over Titegroup __________________ *NRA Life Member, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor,, USPSA & Steel Challange NROI Range Officer, ICORE Range Officer, ,MAG 40 Graduate* *As you are, I once was, As I am, You will be.*

April 29, 2011, 03:59 PM	#10
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	Glocks don't have conventional rifling (lands and grooves) the whole bore is shaped like a stop-sign (sort of) with a twist to it. If it gets leaded badly, there's no place for the lead to go; the bore just gets restricted and that raises the pressure. Some Glock barrels also have chambers that are cut deeply at the feed ramps (for better feeding reliability, I guess) and so the brass is not supported there. 9mm and .40S&W operate at high pressures already. Drive the pressure up with lead fouling and bad things can happen. There's several solutions: Use jacketed bullets, replace the barrel with one that has a fully supported chamber or conventional rifling, clean the bore frequently to remove lead build-up, or use lead bullets that don't lead. I don't know if Glock 9mm's still have the problem. It's been a long time since I picked up a piece of 9mm brass that looked like a pregnant guppy. Most of the stories you hear now about Glocks blowing up are .40S&W's. I have a CZ pistol with the same polygonal rifling as a Glock and it's a joy to clean -- I shoot mostly cast lead bullets in it and it never leads at all. ETA: I don't reload .40 yet, but from loading other cartridges I'd say Bullseye, Unique, and WSF are good candidates. Red Dot and Promo will give you the best accuracy for light target loads but will peak before you get to service-load levels. Power Pistol for max loads. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth Last edited by zxcvbob; April 29, 2011 at 04:51 PM.

April 29, 2011, 04:01 PM	#11
overkill0084 Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2010 Location: Northern, UT Posts: 1,162	AA#5 has given me good results. Clean burning & accurate. I use mostly 180 gr cast FWIW. __________________ Cheers, Greg “At the core of liberalism is the spoiled child – miserable, as all spoiled children are, unsatisfied, demanding, ill-disciplined, despotic and useless. Liberalism is a philosophy of sniveling brats.” — P.J. O’Rourke

April 29, 2011, 03:06 PM	#4
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Hodgdon TiteGroup - with a FMJ 180gr Montana Gold bullet ...

April 29, 2011, 03:09 PM	#5
dwhite Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2007 Location: Wake County, N. Carolina Posts: 379	Glock 22 170 grain cast LSWC from Missouri Bullet. Unique Winchester WSP primer. Best combination I've ever shot in .40 Please spare me the Glock barrel / lead bullet myth. It's my gun. All the Best, D. White

April 29, 2011, 03:13 PM	#6
floydster Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2008 Posts: 472	Unique.

April 29, 2011, 03:44 PM	#8
noylj Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2007 Location: Between CA and NM Posts: 858	155gn and 175gn L-SWC Target loads: AA5 Near max loads: Power Pistol

April 29, 2011, 07:26 PM	#12
crowbeaner Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 1,943	I use Unique, AA #5, and some Titegroup. #5 with lead, Unique with MG hollowpoints, and Titegroup for lead reduced stuff. __________________ If you want your children to follow in your footsteps, be careful where you walk. Beware the man that only owns one gun; he probably knows how to use it. I just hope my ship comes in before my dock rots.

April 29, 2011, 07:55 PM	#13
engineermike Junior member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Oklahaoma City Posts: 538	AA #5 with a Berry's 180 grain hollow point.

April 29, 2011, 09:09 PM	#14
dunerjeff Senior Member Join Date: March 31, 2011 Location: central Wisconsin Posts: 440	WSF and AA #5 with 165fp Berry's,Power Pistol,SR4756 and even Auto Comp for heavier loads

April 29, 2011, 09:26 PM	#15
thetoulman Junior Member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Posts: 6	Unique with 180 grain berrys plated flat nose

April 29, 2011, 10:49 PM	#16
LOUD Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 236	Ive used Unique, HS 6 , and ramshot silhouette ....LOUD

April 29, 2011, 11:00 PM	#17
Marco Califo Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2011 Location: LA (Greater Los Angeles Area) Posts: 2,598	Bullseye Bullseye for 180 gr cast bullet target loads ~1000 fps. When using 5 gr of Bullseye you can load 28 50 round boxes with one pound of powder. __________________ ............

April 29, 2011, 11:11 PM	#18
bedlamite Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2000 Location: WI Posts: 1,395	I use Universal and Longshot __________________ A plan is just a list of things that doesn't happen.

April 29, 2011, 11:22 PM	#19
farmerboy Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,343	Unique or Bullseye.

April 30, 2011, 12:20 AM	#20
scsov509 Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 819	Power Pistol is my first choice, but Unique is also pretty good in the 40.

April 30, 2011, 01:29 AM	#21
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	Keep it simple, I use W-231 for 40 S&W, best, I don't know but it works every time I pull the trigger and I do get 2 inch groups, but then I do use Nosler 135 grain HP bullets. Jim __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum

April 30, 2011, 06:35 AM	#22
bearol63 Member Join Date: April 27, 2011 Location: Joplin MO Posts: 33	I've been using clays with a berry's bullet. I've also used titegroup.

May 1, 2011, 08:47 AM	#23
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	tested vs used I've tested AA2, AA2 Imp, AA5, AA9, HS6, HS7, 700X, 800X, Bullseye, Unique, Universal, Longshot, W231, 2400, 3N37, N350, WAP, Power Pistol, Blue Dot, WSL, Nitro 100. Mild target-type ammo gets Bullseye; everything else gets 3N37, WAP, or Power Pistol. Cop-ammo got WAP and Power Pistol; personal defense loads got 3N37. Nowadays if I load 40 for myself I use Bullseye for Minor PF ammo for USPSA. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

May 1, 2011, 11:31 AM	#24
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	800X 200 gr for most power Power Pistol 200 gr for easy metering 3N37 200 gr for less flash. __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?