40 S&W Powder

Markk9 · May 4, 2002, 05:44 PM

What is the choice powder for the 40 S&W with 155 to 165 gr bullets?

Thanks,
Mark

Chemistry · May 4, 2002, 09:29 PM

Suggest a medium or slower propellant powder.

An excellent starting speed is Hodgdon Universal Clays (Not to be confused with Clays or International Clays) or Alliant Unique.

Universal Clays is much cleaner burning, and with less flash, than the older Unique formula. The newer Unique formula is somewhat cleaner than the old formula, but still not as clean as Universal Clays.

From there, you may want to try slower powders. Alliant Power Pistol (my favorite), VV N340, VV N350, VV 3N37, AA#7 all work very well with the .40 cartridge.

Shoney · May 5, 2002, 01:35 AM

I agree with most of Chemistry suggestions. Univeral is good for accuracy, modest velocities, meters well, clean burning and low flash for night shooting.

Hodgdon Longshot yielded very high velocities with good accuracy, clean burning, meters well and low flash. It is my choice for a personal defense load in 180 gr, giving 1099 fps, which is medium 10MM load equivalent and less than 1" accuracy at 25 yards.

800X yielded the highest velocities with the least recoil, but leaves flecks fo unburned powder all over, and moderate flash.

Power pistol in 135 is like a flame thrower and abusive. Great accuracy and performance for medium bullet weights, while lower end loads with magnum primers with 180 lead TC's yeild superior target loads.

V.V. N105 gives oustanding velocity in 200 grain bullets.

Another good powders for your chosen bullet weights would be Blue Dot.

Regards, Shoney

stellarpod · May 5, 2002, 08:48 AM

Ditto on Clay's Universal.

My load is:

Berry's 155 gr. copper plated
5.8 gr. Clay's Universal
1.127 OAL

This receipe performed well in my G27. I loaded up about 700 rounds and thought I was set. THEN, I got an opportunity to pick up an AR15 I'd been looking at and traded the Glock!

Now I've got all those rounds of 40 S&W and nothing to launch them from...

Archie · May 5, 2002, 06:07 PM

I use W231. Good accuracy, positive action. (H&K USP40).

Then again, I use W231 for all my basic pistol loads.

bullet44 · May 5, 2002, 07:17 PM

I have excellent results with aa5 in lite to
medium loads.

swabjocky · May 5, 2002, 10:38 PM

Put me down for power pistol.I shoot 135 and 165 with good results.my para just loves them.

swab

jjmorgan64 · May 5, 2002, 10:49 PM

but i have good luck with Bullseye

jjmorgan64 · May 5, 2002, 10:51 PM

light loads of course (4.0 grains bullseye 175 gr lswc)

posted this to get to 200 posts

John DR · May 6, 2002, 10:41 PM

Don't know if your looking for lite loads, or heavy loads.
My favorite load for practice is 165 gr Rainer bullet with 3.5 gr's of Clays. Shoots very well, cases don't go far, and Clays is very clean.
Give it a try I think you'll like it.

WESHOOT2 · May 8, 2002, 07:37 AM

Alliant Power Pistol

Johnny Guest · May 8, 2002, 10:16 AM

I really like H. Univarsal. I use 5.5 gr. with just about any jacketed 180 gr. bullet. Middle ground practice load, strong but not HOT. Pay attention to Cartridge Overall Length, and put on a firm taper crimp, preferably in a separate step from seating.

Sorry I have but little experience with the lighter bullets, except in cast versions.

I've also used Unique, somewhat hotter, and probably beyond published maximums. It burns cleanly with the jacketed bullets.

With bulk purchased lead bullets, 165 to 180 gr., I still like 5.5 of Universal. The combination of Unique and cast lead does get a little sooty, but how many of us shoot three or four hundred without cleaning a pistol anyhow. Yeah, I have DONE it, but it was not a usual thing.

Mark9, you don't say which pistol(s) you shoot in .40. I know it is popular to decry the use of cast bullets in a Glock, citing near-instant explosive results. I know several shooters who regularly shoot cast loads in their factory barrel Glock .40s. They are simply careful to throughly clean the barrel every couple of hundred shots, and just enjoy inexpensive shooting. Yup, they're aware that they are probably voiding their warrantys. Nope, they don't care!

(Practically all my .40 shooting is with a Browning Hi-Power and my brother's big Taurus.)

Best of luck to you--
Johnny

May 4, 2002, 05:44 PM	#1
Markk9 Member Join Date: March 18, 2000 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 91	40 S&W Powder What is the choice powder for the 40 S&W with 155 to 165 gr bullets? Thanks, Mark

May 5, 2002, 06:07 PM	#5
Archie Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2000 Location: Hastings, Nebrasksa - the Hear Posts: 2,209	For 160 - 175 grain bullets I use W231. Good accuracy, positive action. (H&K USP40). Then again, I use W231 for all my basic pistol loads.

May 5, 2002, 10:49 PM	#8
jjmorgan64 Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2001 Posts: 519	hate to break the trend but i have good luck with Bullseye

May 6, 2002, 10:41 PM	#10
John DR Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2002 Location: Michigan U.S.A. Posts: 114	40 S&W Don't know if your looking for lite loads, or heavy loads. My favorite load for practice is 165 gr Rainer bullet with 3.5 gr's of Clays. Shoots very well, cases don't go far, and Clays is very clean. Give it a try I think you'll like it.

May 8, 2002, 07:37 AM	#11
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	BEST (in most guns) Alliant Power Pistol

May 4, 2002, 09:29 PM	#2
Chemistry Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2001 Location: Central Alabama Posts: 158	Suggest a medium or slower propellant powder. An excellent starting speed is Hodgdon Universal Clays (Not to be confused with Clays or International Clays) or Alliant Unique. Universal Clays is much cleaner burning, and with less flash, than the older Unique formula. The newer Unique formula is somewhat cleaner than the old formula, but still not as clean as Universal Clays. From there, you may want to try slower powders. Alliant Power Pistol (my favorite), VV N340, VV N350, VV 3N37, AA#7 all work very well with the .40 cartridge.

May 5, 2002, 01:35 AM	#3
Shoney Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2002 Location: Transplanted from Montana Posts: 2,311	I agree with most of Chemistry suggestions. Univeral is good for accuracy, modest velocities, meters well, clean burning and low flash for night shooting. Hodgdon Longshot yielded very high velocities with good accuracy, clean burning, meters well and low flash. It is my choice for a personal defense load in 180 gr, giving 1099 fps, which is medium 10MM load equivalent and less than 1" accuracy at 25 yards. 800X yielded the highest velocities with the least recoil, but leaves flecks fo unburned powder all over, and moderate flash. Power pistol in 135 is like a flame thrower and abusive. Great accuracy and performance for medium bullet weights, while lower end loads with magnum primers with 180 lead TC's yeild superior target loads. V.V. N105 gives oustanding velocity in 200 grain bullets. Another good powders for your chosen bullet weights would be Blue Dot. Regards, Shoney

May 5, 2002, 08:48 AM	#4
stellarpod Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 2001 Location: OKC,OK Posts: 263	Ditto on Clay's Universal. My load is: Berry's 155 gr. copper plated 5.8 gr. Clay's Universal 1.127 OAL This receipe performed well in my G27. I loaded up about 700 rounds and thought I was set. THEN, I got an opportunity to pick up an AR15 I'd been looking at and traded the Glock! Now I've got all those rounds of 40 S&W and nothing to launch them from...

May 5, 2002, 07:17 PM	#6
bullet44 Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2000 Posts: 819	I have excellent results with aa5 in lite to medium loads.

May 5, 2002, 10:38 PM	#7
swabjocky Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2001 Location: upstate sc Posts: 384	40s&w Put me down for power pistol.I shoot 135 and 165 with good results.my para just loves them. swab

May 5, 2002, 10:51 PM	#9
jjmorgan64 Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2001 Posts: 519	light loads of course (4.0 grains bullseye 175 gr lswc) posted this to get to 200 posts

May 8, 2002, 10:16 AM	#12
Johnny Guest Moderator in Memoriam Join Date: August 28, 1999 Location: North Texas Posts: 4,123	Echoing earlier responses - - - I really like H. Univarsal. I use 5.5 gr. with just about any jacketed 180 gr. bullet. Middle ground practice load, strong but not HOT. Pay attention to Cartridge Overall Length, and put on a firm taper crimp, preferably in a separate step from seating. Sorry I have but little experience with the lighter bullets, except in cast versions. I've also used Unique, somewhat hotter, and probably beyond published maximums. It burns cleanly with the jacketed bullets. With bulk purchased lead bullets, 165 to 180 gr., I still like 5.5 of Universal. The combination of Unique and cast lead does get a little sooty, but how many of us shoot three or four hundred without cleaning a pistol anyhow. Yeah, I have DONE it, but it was not a usual thing. Mark9, you don't say which pistol(s) you shoot in .40. I know it is popular to decry the use of cast bullets in a Glock, citing near-instant explosive results. I know several shooters who regularly shoot cast loads in their factory barrel Glock .40s. They are simply careful to throughly clean the barrel every couple of hundred shots, and just enjoy inexpensive shooting. Yup, they're aware that they are probably voiding their warrantys. Nope, they don't care! (Practically all my .40 shooting is with a Browning Hi-Power and my brother's big Taurus.) Best of luck to you-- Johnny