reloading .40 s&w

M&P_KENNY · July 30, 2009, 04:07 AM

I was wanting to know if any on would have a recommendation on a choice of powder, for my s&w .40 i have shot some of my friends hand loads and I had aaalot of left over residue (powder granules) and a lot of cleaning to do after shooting i am a beginning loader with a full lee press set up. Any advice will be helpful.

Randy 1911 · July 30, 2009, 05:10 AM

I like Winchester 231. It is a fairly clean powder that meters well and is fast enough to operate well in autos. My favorite load is a 180 gr. lead bullet and 4.9 grs. of W231. That puts you right in the middle of the recommended load data in Lyman #48 manual. The start load is 4.3 grs. and 5.8 grs MAX.

dwhite · July 30, 2009, 06:00 AM

Used to be Hodgdon Universal. Its currently Hodgdon Clays. A friend gave me a pound that the got mistaking it for Universal Clays.

Its very clean. Has proven to be very accurate. Works well.

There is however a danger of pressure spikes when using near max loads. The pressure starts to go up real fast at these levels. When I burn this all up I doubt I'll be getting more just because of this. I'll switch back to Universal.

Also, I shoot a lot of lead bullets. Both of these powders seem to work well with lead.

All the Best,
D. White

hickok45 · July 30, 2009, 07:40 AM

I used Accurate Arms #7 for many years back when I loaded for .40. It did fine. I still use it for 10mm and 9mm. Never noticed much residue.

About the only time I noticed lots of powder residue was when I first got into Glocks back in the '80s and I was lubing my Glock almost as much as I did my 1911. It picked up lots of residue.

Now I know that the crazy things hardly even require lubing.

Jbar4Ranch · July 30, 2009, 07:57 AM

AA#7 or Winchester WSF. A lot of folks say WSF is THE powder for .40 S&W.

SL1 · July 30, 2009, 07:59 AM

I use Clays, too, because I am looking for a VERY clean load, LIGHT load. But, it is so fast that there is little room for ANY errors. And, it is not a good choice for heavy bullets or powerful loads.

Because you are new to reloading, I suggest that you NOT use Clays at this time. When you are SURE that you won't have any bullet set-back or powder measurement variations more than 0.1 grain, then using it with bullets of 155 grain or lighter might be an option for you as long as you are looking for a practice load, not a defensive load.

SL1

freakshow10mm · July 30, 2009, 08:08 AM

WST, WSF, and if you want balls out Longshot or Power Pistol.

WSF is one of my favorite auto pistol powders in the whole wide world.

margiesex · July 30, 2009, 08:46 AM

Old faithful: 5.4 grains of Unique pushing a 180 grain JHP over a CCI small pistol primer.

You just know I'd have to jump in with the Alliant family.

God bless.

Margiesex

And remember: Hug your God and your guns - 'cause he's coming for them both, and soon.

ragsxd · July 30, 2009, 09:21 AM

unique or win 231

RidgwayCO · July 30, 2009, 09:48 AM

My shooting buddy bought a S&W M&P in .40 S&W, then decided he needed to start reloading in order to feed it...

As a newbie, I let him use my reloading equipment under my supervision. I had some Universal powder I wasn't using for anything, so I let him try it. The first load he tried, 5.7gr (Lee Pro Auto Disk .61cc cavity) of Universal behind a Montana Gold 165gr CMJ bullet, he pronounced "perfect" and he's never loaded anything else. This load gives him about 1000 fps, functions his pistol 100%, is very accurate, and very clean burning (this is the starting load in the Speer #14 manual, but he uses a 1.125" COL).

Needless to say, he now has his own Lee Classic Turret Press and reloads for 9mm and .223 as well as .40 S&W. He just got a .243 for antelope hunting and will be reloading for it too. Oh, and he's buying his Universal in 4 lb jugs now...

Ain't this a great hobby?

(All reloading data in this post have proven safe in the guns they were developed in. For your use, start 10% low and work up slowly, looking for pressure signs in your guns. Never assume any Lee cavity will throw the same amount of powder as indicated here. You must use your equipment to throw a powder charge, and then weigh the charge to be certain of what you are putting in each case.)

WESHOOT2 · July 30, 2009, 12:42 PM

IMO&E the 'correct' one-powder choice for the 40 S&W is Alliant Power Pistol.

It works well with all bullet weights; it offers the potential for fine accuracy; it has a wide safety margin; it meters superbly, burns cleanly, is inexpensively available (Powder Valley), is economical in charge weight(s), and it can be used from both ends of the performance spectrum.

It is not for 'gallery' loads, though.

D. Manley · July 30, 2009, 04:02 PM

Quote:

It is not for 'gallery' loads, though.

That's where the Titegroup & N-320 come in...

BigJimP · July 30, 2009, 06:56 PM

Hodgdon TiteGroup is my personal choice / with 180 gr bullet from Montana Gold.

TiteGroup is real clean / but its a fast powder - requiring precision on your powder drops.

mike6567 · July 31, 2009, 02:47 AM

H-6 is what I use normally. It is good powder and easily available in my area.

littledragon · August 1, 2009, 03:15 PM

I like AA#5 with 165 gr fmj bullets.

pns112500 · August 1, 2009, 09:55 PM

I rolled some 200gr Cast boolits with Win 231 (in .45) and it smokes alot. I dont know if its the powder, Or the boolit lube tho.

Has anyone tried VV in the 40.

floydster · August 3, 2009, 04:33 PM

My XD loves 5.2 gr. Unique pushing a 180gr. TC cast.
Floydster

July 30, 2009, 05:10 AM	#2
Randy 1911 Senior Member Join Date: May 7, 2009 Location: Western Arkansas Posts: 273	I like Winchester 231. It is a fairly clean powder that meters well and is fast enough to operate well in autos. My favorite load is a 180 gr. lead bullet and 4.9 grs. of W231. That puts you right in the middle of the recommended load data in Lyman #48 manual. The start load is 4.3 grs. and 5.8 grs MAX. __________________ Been Reloading 27 Years NRA Member Member Old Fort Gun Club www.ofgc.org

July 30, 2009, 06:00 AM	#3
dwhite Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2007 Location: Wake County, N. Carolina Posts: 379	Favorite powder in 40 Used to be Hodgdon Universal. Its currently Hodgdon Clays. A friend gave me a pound that the got mistaking it for Universal Clays. Its very clean. Has proven to be very accurate. Works well. There is however a danger of pressure spikes when using near max loads. The pressure starts to go up real fast at these levels. When I burn this all up I doubt I'll be getting more just because of this. I'll switch back to Universal. Also, I shoot a lot of lead bullets. Both of these powders seem to work well with lead. All the Best, D. White

July 30, 2009, 08:46 AM	#8
margiesex Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 2009 Location: Levittown, PA Posts: 210	One of us... Old faithful: 5.4 grains of Unique pushing a 180 grain JHP over a CCI small pistol primer. You just know I'd have to jump in with the Alliant family. God bless. Margiesex And remember: Hug your God and your guns - 'cause he's coming for them both, and soon.

July 30, 2009, 09:48 AM	#10
RidgwayCO Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2008 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 244	My shooting buddy bought a S&W M&P in .40 S&W, then decided he needed to start reloading in order to feed it... As a newbie, I let him use my reloading equipment under my supervision. I had some Universal powder I wasn't using for anything, so I let him try it. The first load he tried, 5.7gr (Lee Pro Auto Disk .61cc cavity) of Universal behind a Montana Gold 165gr CMJ bullet, he pronounced "perfect" and he's never loaded anything else. This load gives him about 1000 fps, functions his pistol 100%, is very accurate, and very clean burning (this is the starting load in the Speer #14 manual, but he uses a 1.125" COL). Needless to say, he now has his own Lee Classic Turret Press and reloads for 9mm and .223 as well as .40 S&W. He just got a .243 for antelope hunting and will be reloading for it too. Oh, and he's buying his Universal in 4 lb jugs now... Ain't this a great hobby? (All reloading data in this post have proven safe in the guns they were developed in. For your use, start 10% low and work up slowly, looking for pressure signs in your guns. Never assume any Lee cavity will throw the same amount of powder as indicated here. You must use your equipment to throw a powder charge, and then weigh the charge to be certain of what you are putting in each case.) __________________ "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Nope, not a single word about hunting...

July 30, 2009, 12:42 PM	#11
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	firm believer IMO&E the 'correct' one-powder choice for the 40 S&W is Alliant Power Pistol. It works well with all bullet weights; it offers the potential for fine accuracy; it has a wide safety margin; it meters superbly, burns cleanly, is inexpensively available (Powder Valley), is economical in charge weight(s), and it can be used from both ends of the performance spectrum. It is not for 'gallery' loads, though. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

July 30, 2009, 04:07 AM	#1
M&P_KENNY Junior Member Join Date: July 29, 2009 Posts: 2	reloading .40 s&w I was wanting to know if any on would have a recommendation on a choice of powder, for my s&w .40 i have shot some of my friends hand loads and I had aaalot of left over residue (powder granules) and a lot of cleaning to do after shooting i am a beginning loader with a full lee press set up. Any advice will be helpful.

July 30, 2009, 07:40 AM	#4
hickok45 Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2000 Location: Nashville, Tn Posts: 212	I used Accurate Arms #7 for many years back when I loaded for .40. It did fine. I still use it for 10mm and 9mm. Never noticed much residue. About the only time I noticed lots of powder residue was when I first got into Glocks back in the '80s and I was lubing my Glock almost as much as I did my 1911. It picked up lots of residue. Now I know that the crazy things hardly even require lubing. __________________ www.youtube.com/user/hickok45

July 30, 2009, 07:57 AM	#5
Jbar4Ranch Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 1999 Location: Near Helena, Montana Posts: 1,719	AA#7 or Winchester WSF. A lot of folks say WSF is THE powder for .40 S&W. __________________ Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets replaced... SASS 47015

July 30, 2009, 07:59 AM	#6
SL1 Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2007 Posts: 2,001	I use Clays, too, because I am looking for a VERY clean load, LIGHT load. But, it is so fast that there is little room for ANY errors. And, it is not a good choice for heavy bullets or powerful loads. Because you are new to reloading, I suggest that you NOT use Clays at this time. When you are SURE that you won't have any bullet set-back or powder measurement variations more than 0.1 grain, then using it with bullets of 155 grain or lighter might be an option for you as long as you are looking for a practice load, not a defensive load. SL1

July 30, 2009, 08:08 AM	#7
freakshow10mm Junior member Join Date: January 23, 2008 Location: MI Posts: 1,398	WST, WSF, and if you want balls out Longshot or Power Pistol. WSF is one of my favorite auto pistol powders in the whole wide world.

July 30, 2009, 09:21 AM	#9
ragsxd Member Join Date: December 29, 2008 Posts: 46	unique or win 231

July 30, 2009, 06:56 PM	#13
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Hodgdon TiteGroup is my personal choice / with 180 gr bullet from Montana Gold. TiteGroup is real clean / but its a fast powder - requiring precision on your powder drops.

July 31, 2009, 02:47 AM	#14
mike6567 Junior Member Join Date: February 1, 2009 Posts: 14	H-6 is what I use normally. It is good powder and easily available in my area.

August 1, 2009, 03:15 PM	#15
littledragon Junior Member Join Date: August 1, 2009 Posts: 1	I like AA#5 with 165 gr fmj bullets.

August 1, 2009, 09:55 PM	#16
pns112500 Junior member Join Date: July 28, 2009 Location: Shreveport, La. Posts: 14	I rolled some 200gr Cast boolits with Win 231 (in .45) and it smokes alot. I dont know if its the powder, Or the boolit lube tho. Has anyone tried VV in the 40.

August 3, 2009, 04:33 PM	#17
floydster Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2008 Posts: 472	My XD loves 5.2 gr. Unique pushing a 180gr. TC cast. Floydster