Basics of Ammo

[GryffinG22]

I am getting a Glock 22 after this 10 day waiting period is over. I would like to know about ammo, if someone could go over the basics, what kind of effect different ammo has on shooting, or could point me to a website or some sort of book. I just really need info that can cover the .40 S&W round.

Thanks for any help.

[Waldog]

Each gun is going to shoot ammo differently. Only way to tell is to buy several different boxes and see which ammo your Glock likes best. For practice you can't beat Winchester "White Box". Comes in 50 and 100 round value packs. Blazer "Brass" is also good practice ammo. I recommend staying away from aluminum and steel cased cheap ammo. My experience has been that steel case ammo sticks in the chamber.

Premium "Defensive" ammo is expensive. Speer Gold Dot and Hornady Critical Defense ammo are some of the best protection/law enforcement ammo available. But, they are going to run $1.00 @ each shot or more!!!

Learn to reload. I can load 100 rounds of 40 S&W for slightly less than $10.00. I think 40 S&W Win. White Box is about $35 @ 100!!

Check out this website to see what you can save reloading. http://10xshooters.com/calculators/H...Calculator.htm

[XDRoX]

That calculator site is awesome. Thanks for the link.

[mif_slim]

Check out this website to see what you can save reloading. http://10xshooters.com/calculators/H...Calculator.htm

To OP, but you have to remember that when you get into reloading, it still will be expensive....just that you trade money for trigger time.

I get 0.07-0.09 per 40SW load depending on grain and bullet I use. I cast my own so the bullet itself is free.

[Waldog]

To OP, but you have to remember that when you get into reloading, it still will be expensive....just that you trade money for trigger time.

He's right! You don't really save money, you just shoot 3 to 4 times more for the same money!

And, don't forget, next January 2011, all handgun ammunition you buy in Kalifornia is registered and all mail-order handgun ammo will be BANNED!! You think ammo is expensive now, just wait until 2011!!!!!

Reload Dude! Reload!!!!

[Bulleh]

Each gun is going to shoot ammo differently. Only way to tell is to buy several different boxes and see which ammo your Glock likes best. For practice you can't beat Winchester "White Box". Comes in 50 and 100 round value packs. Blazer "Brass" is also good practice ammo. I recommend staying away from aluminum and steel cased cheap ammo. My experience has been that steel case ammo sticks in the chamber.

Premium "Defensive" ammo is expensive. Speer Gold Dot and Hornady Critical Defense ammo are some of the best protection/law enforcement ammo available. But, they are going to run $1.00 @ each shot or more!!!

Learn to reload. I can load 100 rounds of 40 S&W for slightly less than $10.00. I think 40 S&W Win. White Box is about $35 @ 100!!

Check out this website to see what you can save reloading. http://10xshooters.com/calculators/H...Calculator.htm

Dang. Thanks for the calculator. I cannot justify reloading 9mm. Sometimes I calculate the cost and I save a little bit of money but I just hoard up anytime Wal-mart as 9mm in stock anyway. Thanks for the tip

--EDIT--

So I did a little research. I was first baffled when using the calculator. I put 115gr of powder per bullet, assuming a 115gr FMJ meant 115 grains of powder. I was wondering why I could only get 60 rounds out of 1lb box ($20 powder per box!). Boy was I mistaken. I did a little google and CGN research and learned that 9mm bullets (115-124gr) take about 4.5-5.6 gr per bullet depending on the brand.

EVEN with Wally World's cheap WWB (About $12.60 with tax per pack for 50) I save about $4 per box. I am DEFINITELY going to start reloading asap. I'm going to buy that Lee's Hand Press I was on the fence about, since I don't have room for a work bench just yet.

Thanks again for the calculator. And to the OP, you should definitely look into reloading. The bigger the caliber, the more you save, and you can make more quality rounds than some factory.

[Waldog]

EVEN with Wally World's cheap WWB (About $12.60 with tax per pack for 50) I save about $4 per box. I am DEFINITELY going to start reloading asap. I'm going to buy that Lee's Hand Press I was on the fence about, since I don't have room for a work bench just yet.

You are going to find you will out grow the "Hand Press" very rapidly. I understand not having room for a workbench. Consider this, buy a SINGLE STAGE kit of some kind, i/e., RCBS, Lyman, Hornady or a LEE. Then go to WalMart or Target and buy Black & Decker WorkMate bench. (About $60) It's sturdy, will support your press and, you can fold it up and put it under your bed when your not using it. Perfect for apartment dwellers. Your other stuff; scale, powder measure, primers, bullets, brass can go in a box under the bed as well.

If you have a wife/girl friend that thinks gunpowder is a dangerous explosive, remind her that it is significantly safer than the pint of acetone finger-nail-polish-remover she has in the bathroom.

[GryffinG22]

Well, I talked to a guy at a gun shop, prior law enforcement, he recommended sticking with the 180 grain bullets, superior penetrating power apparently. I picked up these:

100 rounds - Blazer Brass .40 S&W 180 grain FMJ
20 rounds - Winchester Supreme Elite - Bonded PDX1 - 180 grain JHP

[Rwnielsen]

and you can make more quality rounds than any factory.

all day long

[XDRoX]

Dang. Thanks for the calculator. I cannot justify reloading 9mm. Sometimes I calculate the cost and I save a little bit of money but I just hoard up anytime Wal-mart as 9mm in stock anyway. Thanks for the tip

--EDIT--

So I did a little research. I was first baffled when using the calculator. I put 115gr of powder per bullet, assuming a 115gr FMJ meant 115 grains of powder. I was wondering why I could only get 60 rounds out of 1lb box ($20 powder per box!). Boy was I mistaken. I did a little google and CGN research and learned that 9mm bullets (115-124gr) take about 4.5-5.6 gr per bullet depending on the brand.

EVEN with Wally World's cheap WWB (About $12.60 with tax per pack for 50) I save about $4 per box. I am DEFINITELY going to start reloading asap. I'm going to buy that Lee's Hand Press I was on the fence about, since I don't have room for a work bench just yet.

Thanks again for the calculator. And to the OP, you should definitely look into reloading. The bigger the caliber, the more you save, and you can make more quality rounds than some factory.

I'm glad you decided to start reloading. But don't get that lee hand press. At the very least buy a single stage and clamp it to your dinning room table.

[Bulleh]

You are going to find you will out grow the "Hand Press" very rapidly. I understand not having room for a workbench. Consider this, buy a SINGLE STAGE kit of some kind, i/e., RCBS, Lyman, Hornady or a LEE. Then go to WalMart or Target and buy Black & Decker WorkMate bench. (About $60) It's sturdy, will support your press and, you can fold it up and put it under your bed when your not using it. Perfect for apartment dwellers. Your other stuff; scale, powder measure, primers, bullets, brass can go in a box under the bed as well.

If you have a wife/girl friend that thinks gunpowder is a dangerous explosive, remind her that it is significantly safer than the pint of acetone finger-nail-polish-remover she has in the bathroom.

...It's like you literally read my mind. I live in a town-house style house and don't really have room so I'll try to view the bench in person and see if I can fit one somewhere. As for the GF, shes paranoid the bullets will explode and shoot and hurt someone spontaneously, even if they are locked away safely haha. I'll see how it goes with both of my hurdles I need to overcome.

[J-cat]

I am getting a Glock 22 after this 10 day waiting period is over. I would like to know about ammo, if someone could go over the basics, what kind of effect different ammo has on shooting, or could point me to a website or some sort of book. I just really need info that can cover the .40 S&W round.

Thanks for any help.

A .40 S&W round consists of the following components:

a brass case

a bullet

a primer

a fixed quantity of powder

Ammunition component weight is measured in grains. There are 7000 grains in a pound.

.40 S&W bullets weigh anywhere from 135 to 180 grains. The heavier the bullet, the longer the length. The longer the length, the greater the sectional density. The greater the sectional density, the greater the potential for penetration.

.40 S&W maximum operating pressure is 35000 PSI. Within this pressure range, a 135gr bullet can reach 1480 FPS and 180gr bullets a little over 1100 FPS. Basically, heavier bullets fly slower than lighter ones.

Lighter bullets have a sharper recoil impulse than heavier bullets. Light bullets impact lower relative to point of aim than heavier bullets. This is because lighter bullets leave the barrel sooner, when muzzle flip is lower relative to the point of aim.

Reloading the .40 S&W is pretty straightforward:

clean the fired case

size it down to factory specs, decap the primer

clean the primer pocket

prime the case

bell the case mouth to accept the bullet

charge the case with an appropriate weight of suitable powder (use a reloading manual)

seat the bullet to an overall length that will allow the round to fit in the magazine (usually about 1.135")

remove the bell with a taper crimp die

fire your round

repeat