40 S&W load data?

[freewayrandy]

Somewhat new to loading the 40 so here's my Q. I have a box of Nosler 135 gr. JHP and I'm using Unique. The Unique guide 2005 edition says 8.5 @ 1290 fps. My 49th Lyman says 6.8 max. @ 1198. The 8.5 really fills the case like almost a compressed charge. Any advise would be great help. Also, I have a box of Berry's 180 gr. I'm seeing 5.2 Unique, does this sound right? Thanks.

[NeilMo]

Nosler shows 7.2 max @ 1.135" with a 96% case fill. I'd use their data.

https://www.nosler.com/40-s-w

[TomReloaded]

Alliant lists 8.0gr as a max charge for 155gr hp's, so 8.0gr for a 135gr is ok.

You're gearing up for some hot ammo with tons of recoil and flip with unique in 40sw. I'd get a faster powder and load down lower. 40sw is extremely tolerant of light loading, and pretty sketchy at max loads.

[pacrat]

Congratulations, there is an old saying that;

If you have a clock, you know what time it is. If you have 2 clocks, you're never sure what time it is.

You have discovered that the same goes with reloading manuals. They reflect results with that particular gun/pressure barrel, bullets, powder lot, primer, and case. On a particular day.

They never reflect an across the board consensus.

START LOW - WORK UP SLOW. Don't try to second guess what is best in your gun, with your bullets, and your powder/primer combo, in your cases.

JM2c

[Sandspider500]

The Lyman data was kept low for pistols that give Glock smiles.

[NeilMo]

The Lyman data was kept low for pistols that give Glock smiles.

Or maybe it's because Lyman tested with the minimum cartridge OAL of 1.085"

[Sandspider500]

Lyman did use a shorter oal but the Lyman data is also loaded to a lower pressure. Most of the Lyman 40s&w is from the 47th edition (1992).

Most other load manuals contain a warning about 40s&w.

From Speer,
"Some pistols chambered for the 40 S&W cartridges may not provide complete support of the case head. If this condition exists, normal pressure loads such as those shown here can cause the case wall to bulge or rupture at the unsupported point. Contact your firearm manufacturer to determine if your pistol completely supports the case head, or ask a gunsmith to inspect your pistol before using it with ANY ammunition. It is the gun owners responsibility to know his firearm and its capabilities and limitations."

Hodgdon 27
"This data is intended for use in firearms which fully support the cartridge in the chamber. Use of this data in firearms which do not fully support the cartridge may result in bulged cases, ruptured cases, case head separation, or other conditions which may result in damage to the firearm and/or result in injury or death of the shooter or bystanders."

Another hodgdon manual,
This data is intended for use in firearms with barrels which fully support the cartridge in the chamber. Use of this data in firearms which do not fully support the cartridge, such as Glock, may result in bulged cases, ruptured cases, case head separation, or other conditions which may result in damage to the firearm and/or result in injury or death of the shooter and/or bystanders.

Oregon trail,
All Glock .40 S&W pistols as of this writing have large unsupported chambers, as do other makes. Examine your barrel and know what you're dealing with before you proceed! These loads are intended for use in pistols with fully supported chambers ONLY! Do not exceed maximum loads; never reduce stated overall lengths.

Vihtavuori,
This data is intended for use in firearms with barrels which fully support the cartridge in the chamber. Use of this data in firearms which do not fully support the cartridge may result in bulged cases, ruptured cases, case head separation, or other conditions which may result in damage to the firearm and/or result in injury or death of the shooter and/or bystanders. Loads less than minimum charges shown are not recommended; USE MAXIMUM LOADS WITH CAUTION!

And on and on and on.

[TomReloaded]

It's been a very long time since the unsupported barrel thing was an issue with Glocks. Gen2 specifically.

G22's and 23's are still common service pistols shooting full strength commercial (hot) defensive ammo.

Obviously don't load over spec, or too short, but you don't need to be loading belt and suspender extra light loads because you have a Glock, as long as it's a gen3.

[Sandspider500]

^^correct, but Lyman still uses old data

[smoothy8500]

Who goes straight to the max load?

[eaglemike]

Just a little cautionary note.

.40 pressures go up quickly with fast powders if one ends up using a shorter OAL. Something to watch. The case capacity isn't big for the weight of the common bullets, such as 180 grain.
My preferred weight would be 155 grain, maybe 165, although 180 is most common. I have loaded 200 and even heavier in the past for special purposes in competition, but I would not recommend that for someone starting out. The good thing is 155 or 165 are a little cheaper, due to less material cost.
.40 is a nice straight case, and resizes easily if one isn't using "bulged" brass. I find it easier to load than 9mm (tapered case), or even .38 special since it's so short.
All the data from the powder companies being online is super handy, compared to the bad old days when one had to buy several manuals to get a feel for variance among the companies' recommendations.
Fast powders are ok for light loads in .40, but something a little slower will give more flexibility.
Good luck!

[TomReloaded]

Max oal for .40sw is 1.135", but so far i haven't found a gun that fusses running them over that length. Total opposite of 9mm, you can generally load them wildly long. My m&p maxed out the magazine and still fit the barrel. I think my barrel plunked 1.200".

Plunk first, but if you can load them all at 1.135" it's definitely a good call.

Most data uses 1.125" or 1.120, so you buy yourself an easy safety gap doing this.

[newbie1234]

Somewhat new to loading the 40 so here's my Q. .... The Unique guide 2005 edition says 8.5 @ 1290 fps. My 49th Lyman says 6.8 max. @ 1198. .....

8.5 gr, 6.8 gr, hmm, did I do something wrong? Your powder weight almost double of mine, or each powder brand has difference powder load ?

- Bullet: 165gr Xtreme Plated RNFP.
Powder: Titegroup.
Book said: 4.5-5.1 gr. I loaded 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5.0, 5.1, ten round each. The best group on my G-35 is 4.7gr.
AOL=1.130".
I shoot 1K of it already, everything OK.

- Bullet: 180gr Xtreme Plated RNFP.
Powder: Titegroup.
Book said: 4.2-4.7 gr. I loaded 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.7, 4.7, ten round each. The best group on my G-35 is 4.2gr.
AOL=1.130".
I shoot 500 of it already, everything OK.

[pacrat]

Who goes straight to the max load?

DAMN FOOLS

[eaglemike]

DAMN FOOLS

Agree.
Lots of people don't know that changing any little thing can make a difference, and in a fairly high pressure pistol cartridge like .40 it can be educational and exciting. Change brass - oops, maybe more pressure. Bullet, even same weight, oops, again could cause issues. Powder lots can vary. Hopefully there is some buffer built into the load data.