.40S&W..whats your go to loads?

[Jason]

I am new to reloading handgun cartridges. what are you guys using for bullet and powder combos? I plan on loading 180gr FMJ and XTP's.  Is there any powders that are good for both then 9mm and .40s&w that burn clean. 

[Jason]

And I know I can get the data I'm looking for online, but I would like to see whats working for you.

[hillbilli]

have to look in the book for the wt in grns, but by volume in the lee auto disk its .43 of w231, with lead 185gr cast...

[300rum]

VV N320 is the best of the best.  There is nothing that comes even close to it as far as being clean, soft shooting, easy to meter, consistent and safe (not spikey).  It works well with both jacketed and lead but shines with jacketed bullets.  It is expensive though and can be hard to get in even in the best of times but if you are just loading a few hundred rounds, don't look any further, get/find N320. 

Titegroup is a hot, violent and somewhat dirty powder but is well suited for jacketed bullets in .40.  It can be used it 9mm also but I thought it was pretty snappy in 9mm.  It is cheap though.

WST is very good for .40 but is reverse temperature sensitive which isn't a real big problem unless you leave your ammo laying out in the sun on a hot day.  You won't find published loads in 9mm in current books (old books will show it), lots of guys use it in 9mm.  I stay away from it in 9mm.  It is best used with lead/moly coated bullets.

Clays is a decent powder but do not use it in 9mm other than for low velocity plinkers, it is a very "spikey" powder in 9mm when you get close to max loads.

W231 is nice in that you can use it in just about anything, 9, .40, and .45.  It does everything o.k. but not great.  I shoot and have shot a ton of it and buy it when it is available beacuse it works in everything but it is very, very dirty.   

[Jason]

Thanks for the info fellas  

[actionshooter]

VV N320 is the best of the best.  There is nothing that comes even close to it as far as being clean, soft shooting, easy to meter, consistent and safe (not spikey).  It works well with both jacketed and lead but shines with jacketed bullets.  It is expensive though and can be hard to get in even in the best of times but if you are just loading a few hundred rounds, don't look any further, get/find N320. 
   

Yep I agree 100%

[Jason]

Anyone shooting 155gr bullets out of a .40sw? if so whats your thoughts on the 155gr compared to 180gr? I have a Rebate coming from RCBS and .155gr Gold Dots are on their list for .40cal.

[300rum]

I haven't shot 155's but I have shot 165's and thousands and thousands of 180's.  Every once in awhile I try a 165 but go back to the 180's.  The 165's are intriguing as they are cheaper and the recoil impulse is quicker so the sights return quicker.  The 180's shoot much softer so I stick with them and I don't see any difference in splits (time between shots).  These are all shot at the same Power Factor.  Power factor is calculated by multiplying bullet weight by muzzle velocity then dividing by 1000.  I load at 170 Power Factor for competition.  Factory loads (that I have tested) can be around 175-180 or so. 

[actionshooter]

Yep, what 300 said.
 I would expect the 155s to be real snappy. I only shoot 180s......

Hey 300, your obviously a USPSA shooter...... I don't have enough 180s to get me through this summer, I need about 6k more. Care to sell some? 

[hillbilli]

I tend to load 180gr.. but the .40 is the same velocities as the 9mm, light bullet at 1200fps(115/155), heavy bullet at 950fps(147/180). the 155gr .40 is the same velocity as most 158gr .357bullets, but folks tend to think of them as completely different animals.. I would think a 155gd@1200 would be a great general purpose varmint load (2 or 4 legged varmints)..

[300rum]

Hopefully things will loosen up.  I have enough for the season but not too much more.  I think Precision Delta is taking backorders though.   

Yep, what 300 said.
 I would expect the 155s to be real snappy. I only shoot 180s......

Hey 300, your obviously a USPSA shooter...... I don't have enough 180s to get me through this summer, I need about 6k more. Care to sell some? 

[Jekemi]

I load .40 S&W for my Beretta 92 D and my Tarus .40 S&W Millennium pro. I have loaded thousands of 155 GR bullets. I got a Lee .40 caliber bullet mold a few months ago and have been casting .40 caliber 175 Grain bullets. I have been using Bullseye powder but recently I've switched to Hodgdon Universal. I did this so I could use it for both clays and pistols. I'm trying to use only two types of powder, one for shotguns & pistols and one for all my rifles. I used 4.5 GR of Bullseye but now I'm using 4.8 GR of Universal for the 175 GR cast bullets. Seems to work great.