40S&W powder recomendation

John0011 · January 14, 2016, 02:47 PM

I have a 40s&w carbine with a 8.5 inch barrel.
I am looking for a powder to drive a 165gn bullet to the highest fps.
My press is a progressive so preferably something that meters well.
Anny ideas?

Sevens · January 14, 2016, 03:45 PM

I have never loaded for .40 S&W out of a carbine, but I have made plenty for handguns and my powder of choice is Alliant Power Pistol. As you state your "carbine" has an 8.5" barrel, I would load for that as if it were a pistol. With a long barrel.

If my goal was absolute velocity in .40 S&W, I suppose my best shot at that would be to use Hodgdon Long Shot powder.

You may also find that IMR-800X could battle for top velocity honors -BUT- that stuff may actually be the worst metering powder of all time, hands-down. You'd be weighing each and every charge.

Definitely try Hodgdon Long Shot and refer to the Hodgdon Reloading Data Center online for great published loads.

54 guns · January 14, 2016, 03:47 PM

Try AA#5 it should be just what you are looking for

ligonierbill · January 14, 2016, 03:52 PM

Power Pistol works great, and meters well. Did you mean an 18 1/2" barrel? Then may just a little slower, and AA#5 may well be your powder. Also meters well.

kerreckt · January 14, 2016, 05:01 PM

N350, IMR800,3N37, Unique, fast but at the slower end is what I would use. Especially, with the long barrel.

rg1 · January 14, 2016, 05:47 PM

Winchester Super Field WSF works well for me. Very good velocity and accuracy in pistol and carbine rifle. Power Pistol also for top velocity.

bfoosh006 · January 14, 2016, 06:12 PM

Another guy for Longshot. Safe, good velocity loads.

Vihtavuori also shows a load 165gr TC FMJ for 3N38 at 1211 FPS from a 5 1/2" test barrel.

Economist · January 14, 2016, 07:15 PM

Blue dot? It will push a 165 grainer out of a fullsize glock at 1200 fps so I wonder if it would gain anything from 4 extra inches of barrel.

erikk · January 14, 2016, 08:09 PM

Longshot

Clark · January 15, 2016, 01:50 AM

In a work up, the most Velocity will be with IMR 800X.
But that is such a pain to meter and compress..

So then next fastest is Power Pistol. It is convenient.
But it makes a flash.

So then next fastest without flash and is convenient is 3N37.

Real Gun · January 15, 2016, 11:39 AM

The load data for 165 gr is scarce. Alliant says BE-86, and since Power Pistol works so well with 40 S&W 180 gr, I expect BE-86 will be good too. I bought BE-86 for the 41 Magnum load Alliant supports, but I do load 40 S&W for my Glock bedside gun.

John0011 · January 16, 2016, 06:13 AM

Looks like it is between Power Pistol and Longshot
Do they both meter well?
Looks like longshot is available.

bedlamite · January 16, 2016, 08:21 AM

Longshot. I've been using it for years.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...63&postcount=1

John0011 · January 16, 2016, 09:39 AM

Thanks for the info bedlamite

Real Gun · January 16, 2016, 10:24 AM

Note that bedlamite was not offering data for 165 gr bullets. I would use a published load from a powder company. YMMV

Speer is one manual that references this bullet weight.

THRASH · February 14, 2016, 05:12 PM

After the posts I'll try Longshot in the near future, but my loads with AccuComp over the past 2 years (165gn bullets) have been stellar (@ 3/4 max load).

hartcreek · February 15, 2016, 12:41 AM

I have used greendot, HS6 and Unique what you use depends on what you have available.

Road_Clam · February 15, 2016, 07:17 AM

I've used Unique, Longshot and WST with great results. Seems the .40 S&W works well with a wide variety of powders. If my Glock G35 cycles without an FTF and I can hold a 3" group at 50' that's good for me , as i'm only an amateur pistol shooter at this time. I can't say I noticed any better or worse powders. I do know that I seemed to get the most consistency when my velocities were about 930 fps.

alexcue · February 15, 2016, 01:25 PM

3N37 and BE-86, are my favorites.

As usual... fastest may not be the most accurate.

savagetroll · February 15, 2016, 10:12 PM

Just loaded some #5 from 6.9 to 7.4 grains. Similar accuracy, using Berrys 165 FP.

noylj · February 15, 2016, 10:30 PM

Maximum velocity from .40S&W? Lots of luck. I have had one case failure in 40+ years and that was .40 S&W. The web simply isn't that strong to push anything with that cartridge. You will need to work up from a low start load and watch carefully for pressure signs.
For max velocity, you'll need LongShot or 3N38.
AA5 is the most accurate powder I have found, but only for light loads up to mid-range between start and max. For near max, Silhouette has been the most accurate.

January 14, 2016, 02:47 PM	#1
John0011 Member Join Date: March 28, 2015 Posts: 59	40S&W powder recomendation I have a 40s&w carbine with a 8.5 inch barrel. I am looking for a powder to drive a 165gn bullet to the highest fps. My press is a progressive so preferably something that meters well. Anny ideas?

January 14, 2016, 03:45 PM	#2
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	I have never loaded for .40 S&W out of a carbine, but I have made plenty for handguns and my powder of choice is Alliant Power Pistol. As you state your "carbine" has an 8.5" barrel, I would load for that as if it were a pistol. With a long barrel. If my goal was absolute velocity in .40 S&W, I suppose my best shot at that would be to use Hodgdon Long Shot powder. You may also find that IMR-800X could battle for top velocity honors -BUT- that stuff may actually be the worst metering powder of all time, hands-down. You'd be weighing each and every charge. Definitely try Hodgdon Long Shot and refer to the Hodgdon Reloading Data Center online for great published loads. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

January 14, 2016, 07:15 PM	#8
Economist Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2014 Posts: 163	Blue dot? It will push a 165 grainer out of a fullsize glock at 1200 fps so I wonder if it would gain anything from 4 extra inches of barrel. Last edited by Economist; January 15, 2016 at 10:51 AM.

January 15, 2016, 01:50 AM	#10
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	In a work up, the most Velocity will be with IMR 800X. But that is such a pain to meter and compress.. So then next fastest is Power Pistol. It is convenient. But it makes a flash. So then next fastest without flash and is convenient is 3N37. __________________ 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?

January 16, 2016, 06:13 AM	#12
John0011 Member Join Date: March 28, 2015 Posts: 59	Looks like it is between Power Pistol and Longshot Do they both meter well? Looks like longshot is available. Last edited by John0011; January 16, 2016 at 06:23 AM.

January 14, 2016, 03:47 PM	#3
54 guns Member Join Date: November 17, 2015 Posts: 37	Try AA#5 it should be just what you are looking for

January 14, 2016, 03:52 PM	#4
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,456	Power Pistol works great, and meters well. Did you mean an 18 1/2" barrel? Then may just a little slower, and AA#5 may well be your powder. Also meters well.

January 14, 2016, 05:01 PM	#5
kerreckt Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2011 Location: SE VA. Posts: 216	N350, IMR800,3N37, Unique, fast but at the slower end is what I would use. Especially, with the long barrel.

January 14, 2016, 05:47 PM	#6
rg1 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Posts: 1,125	Winchester Super Field WSF works well for me. Very good velocity and accuracy in pistol and carbine rifle. Power Pistol also for top velocity.

January 14, 2016, 06:12 PM	#7
bfoosh006 Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2009 Posts: 1,089	Another guy for Longshot. Safe, good velocity loads. Vihtavuori also shows a load 165gr TC FMJ for 3N38 at 1211 FPS from a 5 1/2" test barrel.

January 14, 2016, 08:09 PM	#9
erikk Member Join Date: October 2, 2012 Posts: 42	Longshot

January 15, 2016, 11:39 AM	#11
Real Gun Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2004 Location: SC Posts: 2,743	The load data for 165 gr is scarce. Alliant says BE-86, and since Power Pistol works so well with 40 S&W 180 gr, I expect BE-86 will be good too. I bought BE-86 for the 41 Magnum load Alliant supports, but I do load 40 S&W for my Glock bedside gun.

January 16, 2016, 08:21 AM	#13
bedlamite Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2000 Location: WI Posts: 1,395	Longshot. I've been using it for years. http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...63&postcount=1 __________________ A plan is just a list of things that doesn't happen.

January 16, 2016, 09:39 AM	#14
John0011 Member Join Date: March 28, 2015 Posts: 59	Thanks for the info bedlamite

January 16, 2016, 10:24 AM	#15
Real Gun Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2004 Location: SC Posts: 2,743	Note that bedlamite was not offering data for 165 gr bullets. I would use a published load from a powder company. YMMV Speer is one manual that references this bullet weight.

February 14, 2016, 05:12 PM	#16
THRASH Member Join Date: February 13, 2016 Posts: 20	After the posts I'll try Longshot in the near future, but my loads with AccuComp over the past 2 years (165gn bullets) have been stellar (@ 3/4 max load).

February 15, 2016, 12:41 AM	#17
hartcreek Junior member Join Date: April 22, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 1,549	I have used greendot, HS6 and Unique what you use depends on what you have available.

February 15, 2016, 07:17 AM	#18
Road_Clam Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2013 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 1,695	I've used Unique, Longshot and WST with great results. Seems the .40 S&W works well with a wide variety of powders. If my Glock G35 cycles without an FTF and I can hold a 3" group at 50' that's good for me , as i'm only an amateur pistol shooter at this time. I can't say I noticed any better or worse powders. I do know that I seemed to get the most consistency when my velocities were about 930 fps. __________________ "To be old an wise you must have been young and stupid"

February 15, 2016, 01:25 PM	#19
alexcue Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2015 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 134	3N37 and BE-86, are my favorites. As usual... fastest may not be the most accurate.

February 15, 2016, 10:12 PM	#20
savagetroll Member Join Date: January 16, 2016 Posts: 20	Just loaded some #5 from 6.9 to 7.4 grains. Similar accuracy, using Berrys 165 FP.

February 15, 2016, 10:30 PM	#21
noylj Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2007 Location: Between CA and NM Posts: 858	Maximum velocity from .40S&W? Lots of luck. I have had one case failure in 40+ years and that was .40 S&W. The web simply isn't that strong to push anything with that cartridge. You will need to work up from a low start load and watch carefully for pressure signs. For max velocity, you'll need LongShot or 3N38. AA5 is the most accurate powder I have found, but only for light loads up to mid-range between start and max. For near max, Silhouette has been the most accurate.