Any experience with .40S&W 200 grain?

[igolfat8]

I read where 200 grain can offer a softer recoil than 165 and 180 grain loads. I also read where 200 grain is a bad weight for .40 S&W. Just trying to find out if anyone out there is using 200s and what your experience has been? I don't compete so I am just looking for softer loads for target shooting.

[Nick_C_S]

I would steer away from them in 40 Cal, unless you just want to use them for shooting practice. Not sure about the recoil part. All things being equal (and they rarely are), heavier bullets generally yield more recoil.

I don't own a 40 Cal, but if I did, I'd focus on using 165g bullets. 40 Cal's produce marginal velocities with 180g bullets - much less 200 grainers.

I have a couple 10mm's and I focus on 180g bullets with them - but the 10 delivers quite a bit more thump than the 40.

I have shot 200g rounds through my 10mm that were the same brand as some 180's (both HPR brand - they're a boutique company, and they use Hornady bullets), I didn't notice any difference in recoil.

[WESHOOT2]

IME the 200g bullet is for those guns specially throated to take them.

One must be very particular with process (and other component choices) when loading the 200g to standard 40 S&W-spec 1.130"+/-.005".



I still have a big box of the Hornady 200g FMJ-FP.

[Valornor]

Personally I would go towards the other end of the spectrum. I loaded some 145grn swc cast bullets that functioned great in my M&P. Very light recoil and a great plinking round.

200grn seems way to heavy for .40sw.

[WESHOOT2]

I shot my November USPSA match using the Rainier .400" 135g TCJ-FP over a modest charge --7.5g-- of WAP; making Minor PF, but stunningly accurate from my mostly-stock EAA Witness (the 40 S&W barrel is a 'Match' barrel from the mid/late 90's).
Modest recoil in line with the 115g--130g 9x19 stuff I shoot from the same gun (I swap tops, or guns; I have a couple of these steel 'small-framed' Witnesses).



I ran out of sight adjustment around 7.3g, so I bumped the charge from 7.3g to 7.5g; perfect!

[WESHOOT2]

can't make this stuff up

[pctechdude]

I'll second the rainier 135gr in 40 cal. A load I use is a rainier 135gr FP bullet, 5.6gr hp-38, CCI small pistol primer, 1.125 oal. In my m&p 40 compact does about 990fps. Brass falls right at your feet. Very light almost wimp load for target/steel plates and very accurate in quite a few guns I've shot or seen shot.

[Ruger45LC]

For 200gr light loads either 3.5gr WST or 3.5gr Titegroup loaded to around 1.140" are VERY good shooters. They feel even softer than the powder puff 180's.

Those that say it's a bad bullet weight must live under a rock somewhere, they shoot very well from a .40, and can be loaded up to over 1000 fps in 4".

[Clark]

I have a Glock 22 40S&W.
It came with a chamber that was cut with a feed ramp .235" deep, with case webs only .180" thick, but the chamber was cut large in diameter.
The rear of a 40sw chamber is registered with SAAMI at .4284" +.004" and .4274" + .004" when .200" deep into the chamber.
My chamber is .440" at ~ .2" into the chamber.
Most chambers are cut at the small end of the sloppy SAAMI spec, my Glock was cut to big to make spec.
Cases were bulging when I put 25% more powder than Alliant's Power Pistol 135 gr max load.
I welded up the feed ramp, and now I can shoot 154% more powder than the IMR 800X 200 gr max load.
But the orifice is still .440" wide.

CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond or not covered by currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

Before barrel mod:
1) 9.3 gr. Power Pistol max Alliant 135 gr. .495" 1.105", 1340 fps
a) 11.4 gr. Kel-Tek P40 stock, 1.135" feed ramp case bulge, 23% extra powder
b) 11.6 gr. Glock 22 stock, 1.135", feed ramp case bulge, 25% extra powder



After barrel mod:

I loaded up some powders to see how much the 40 S&W case would hold with a .655" Berry's 200 gr. FMJ FP bullet and a 1.120" OAL set seating die.
When the bullet start oozing back out of the case, there is to much powder to be practical. 1.175" is about the limit for G22 mags with this bullet.

1) 800X IMR load [current web site]: "Hi-Shor"800-X 6.3 gr. 925 fps, 31,000 psi, 4" barrel, 1.125" OAL, Speer 200 gr. FMJ
My test: 12.5 gr. and more requires double compression, 15.5 gr. the OAL springs out to 1.171", 15.5 gr. is ok, intense recoil +154% extra powder
2) Power Pistol Alliant load [current web site]: Power Pistol 6.3 gr., 960 fps, 33,700 psi, 1.130", 4"
My test: 13.5 gr. OAL springs out to 1.147",12.5 gr. and the prime fell out. Intense recoil, +98% extra powder
3) LONGSHOT "Hodgdon Basic Reloader's Manual 2002": LONGSHOT 6.0 gr., 1.125", 4", 200 gr. HDY XTP, 954 fps, 32,500 psi
My test: At 12 gr. the OAL springs out to 1.160", 12 gr. blew a small hole in case.
Looks like extractor pulled head loose from weld to case body, +100% extra powder
4) 3N37 Vihtavuori load [current web site]: 3N37 6 gr., 988 fps, Speer 200 gr. TMJ, 1.126", 5.5"
My test: 9 gr. the OAL springs out to 1.158", 9 gr. is ok, +42% extra powder
5) Blue Dot Alliant load [current web site]: Blue Dot 7.9 gr., 960 fps, 33,800 psi, 1.130", 4"
My test: 11.5 gr. OAL springs out to 1.162", 11.5 gr. is ok, 42% extra owder
6) N105 Vihtavuori load [current web site]: N105 8 gr., 1132 fps, Speer 200 gr. TMJ, 1.126", 5.5"
My test: At 10.5 gr. the OAL springs out to 1.169",10.5 gr. wimpy recoil, +31% extra powder.