what powder are you all using for 40S&W

[Sevens]

Though I have Titegroup, I wouldn't use it in .40 S&W. Just doesn't fit my style.

I've been using Power Pistol and it's worked well. Meters great, shoots well.

[kalevatom]

I use WST with 180gr Montana Golds FMJ.

[abber]

Universal Clays with Rainier plated lead bullets, and Blue Dot for the jacketed stuff. I have not tried many others for the .40 because I hit on loads I liked using these 2 early on.

[Marco Califo]

Though I have Titegroup, I wouldn't use it in .40 S&W. Just doesn't fit my style.

Doesn't go good with plaid or stripes, eh?

[farmerboy]

I agree with #25 post, I'd also prefer Unique but if Bullseye is all I had. Just loaded up a batch the night before using Unique. I always try my best to have Unique and Bullseye on hand at all times

[NWPilgrim]

I use Universal, but Unique and AA5 are also great. W231 is also good ut I save it for lighter loads.

[Sevens]

Doesn't go good with plaid or stripes , eh?

No, by my "style" I meant, I'm not going to goof with a hinky powder with a reputation like Titegroup and mate it up with a cartridge that has it's own sordid history (.40 S&W) and run the whole thing through a Glock 23. (!)

So, my style is to do all that I can to guard against possible troubles with a group of "known" characters... like sticking with one single brand of brass, brass who's history I know for certain... with a powder that is practically designed specifically for it, and a bullet that takes up most of the space in the case, leaving very little room for accidental/unintended setback.

I treat the .40 S&W for what it is... not just another common round at the bench. It's a high pressure round that was stuffed in to pistols that were built around the 9mm. It's got inherent weaknesses in it that I don't have with other calibers, so the first thing I do when assessing it is to eliminate a powder like Titegroup as a candidate for .40 cal at my bench.

That's my style... give it the appropriate respect that it demands and not just grab the first bunch of stuff I see and screw it all together and see what sticks, ya know?

[Marco Califo]

That's my style... give it the appropriate respect that it demands and not just grab the first bunch of stuff I see and screw it all together and see what sticks, ya know?

OK, nice retort. I have a G23 myself. The only powder I have used so far for .40 S&W is Bullseye at less than max loads. Now, I follow your logic. Yes, I have some shotgun powders, actually a lot of them, but, what did I reach for? Bullseye.

4.8 gr of Bullseye behind 180 gr Ranier plated flat points. Nice solid and controllable. Made a good ringing report on steel plate; more so than the WW factory 9mm I was shooting the same day.

[sonick808]

I like Unique for .40S&W. Even my mixed manufacturer reloads shoot remarkably consistent, so Unique must be doing OK.

[RDub]

Yup.. Gotta agree with UNIQUE..



Been using the Lyman #401043 casted hard for some time. Great bullet

I didn't notice until later that the rear sight on my Sigma got moved. Thats why everthing was going right. Fixed now.

[Huskerguy]

I tried Red Dot, HS-6, and Titegroup

Got good results with all of them.

Great results with Titegroup, light recoil as well.

I used three different bullets as well, lead flat point, South African flat point, and Berry's HP all in 180 Grain. All equally accurate.

[pstrlipscomb]

In a G23 and Beretta 96 Brigadier:

4.3 gr. Win. 231
175 gr. Lee tumble lube SWC

Perfect function, superior accuracy.

Does not function perfectly in my brother's PT140, but nothing else does either.