Looking for a good 40S&W load.

[Prophet]

Hello all,

I am seeking advice/suggestions for loading 40S&W. At the present time, I use a lot of unique powder. I will be using 180gr FMJ and plated 180gr as well. Any suggestion? Would also be open to using other powders and different grain bullets.

[noylj]

I would not go heavier than 180gn.
Plated should be, at least initially, loaded the same as cast lead bullets of the same weight. Velocity limit is generally 1200fps.
What do you want the load to do?
Accuracy and target velocity?
A certain power factor?
Full power loads?
Factory duplication load?
I find 145-155gn bullets are the most accurate. I find that L-SWCs are the most accurate. I find that AA5 is the most accurate powder. I find Silhouette is the "best" for full power loads with very good accuracy.
I love Unique, but it really has not performed well for me in my .40s.
Here is my compilation. Start at the low starting loads and work your way up. Be very cautious if you try to load above the lowest max load. None of these exceed the 1200fps limit for plated bullets.
Bullet Weight Powder Weight Velocity Note P.F. COL
Lead 180 Unique 3.8 Mild 0
Lead 175-180 Unique 4.7 Start
Lead 180 Unique 4.8 0
BBI 180 Unique 5.0 956 172 1.135
Lead 180 Unique 5.2 919 Start 165 1.125
L-TC 180 Unique 5.2 895 Start 161 1.130
RNFP 180 Unique 5.2 891 Start 160 1.122
L-SWC 180 Unique 5.5 973 Max 175 1.125
RCBS40-180-CMRNFP 180 Unique 5.5 944 170
L-FP 180 Unique 5.5 941 169 1.190
L-RNFP 177 Unique 5.5 933 165
L-TC 180 Unique 5.6 949 Max 171 1.130
RNFP 180 Unique 5.6 941 Max 169 1.122
L-FP 180 Unique 5.9 1018 183 1.190

Sie JHP 180 Unique 4.9 839 Start 151
FMJ/TMC 180 Unique 5.2 0 1.130
FMJ 180 Unique 5.3 904 163 1.125
Sie JHP 180 Unique 5.6 916 Max 165
FMJ/TMC 180 Unique 5.6 0 1.130
FMJ 180 Unique 5.7 0 1.130
J-all 180 Unique 5.8 977 Start 176 1.125
JHP 180 Unique 5.8 916 Max 165
FMJ/TMC 180 Unique 5.8 0 1.130
TMJ,GD-HP 180 Unique 6.0 849 Start 153 1.120
JHP 180 Unique 6.0 1020 184 1.125
JHP 180 Unique 6.4 1065 Max 192 1.125
TMJ,GD-HP 180 Unique 6.7 1000 Max 180 1.120

[rsrocket1]

Since you already have Unique, start with 4 to 4.25 grains with the FMJ and 5-5.5g with the plated bullets. I liked 5 grains of Unique under a RNFP bullet but have since loaded up and shot about 4k cast lead truncated cone 180g bullets over 4.7g Bullseye (950fps). It took that much to finally start getting used to that lightweight plastic M&P40.

Red Dot or Clays for super low recoil loads. 2.8g Red Dot or 2.5g Clays is enough to cycle my gun and give ultra light recoil. Cases may land on your head so wear a hat and your usual eye protection.

[Bunsen]

I like 4 - 4.4 grns of clays for a nice soft load in my 40 S&W.

[biogenic]

First time for me loading 40 s&w as well. I loaded about 20 180fp berrys with 4.5gr of w231. Want to go a little higher but I'm kind of scared of all the Kabooms I've read about. I'll give them a go tomorrow.
I also have some bullseye, titegroup and unique on the bench.

[CEDaytonaRydr]

First time for me loading 40 s&w as well. I loaded about 20 180fp berrys with 4.5gr of w231.

That's the same load I just used. Works great in my G22C...

[rsrocket1]

You are safe with the 4.5g W231. The Hodgdon data site says 4.1-5.0 is good for jacketed bullets and your plated bullets behave more like lead which is much softer and will have less resistance in the barrel. On top of that, the M&P40 has a fully supported barrel and you won't blow out the belly ("Glock bulge") of the case like you would with an unsupported chamber.

Unique is a good bulky powder that will let you know if you accidentally double charge. Bullseye and Titegroup are more economical but denser and easier to miss catching a double charge. Be extra careful with Titegroup, probably more KB's are attributed to that powder than any other, but nothing is better than common sense and careful loading practices. Good luck.

PS if you gun shoots well with 4.5g W231, no need to go any higher. Just have fun with it.

[biogenic]

That's the same load I just used. Works great in my G22C...

I'll use my g23...Ever tried lead or bear creeks in your g22 ?

[CEDaytonaRydr]

I'll use my g23...Ever tried lead or bear creeks in your g22 ?

I don't think so; if I have, it's been a while. I mainly use Rainier copper plated for my auto loaders, but I have definitely used lead in my 1911.

I've heard that some of the lead bullets do just fine in Glocks and Sigs, despite the factory warnings.

[biogenic]

I use lead in pretty much all my guns except for the glocks due to that warning... I've read numerous threads where other have used it successfully.

[CEDaytonaRydr]

I use lead in pretty much all my guns except for the glocks due to that warning... I've read numerous threads where other have used it successfully.

People use laser cast and moly coated lead bullets in Glocks all the time. I wouldn't worry about it. If its a problem and you want to shoot lead, buy a Lone Wolf barrel and then its not an issue.

[CalTeacher]

My uspsa load is a 180gr. swc over 5.5gr. Unique. Extremely accurate and makes major easily out of my g22.

[oldcodger44]

I just want to add my 2 cents..Unique has worked for a thousand or 2 in my CZ75. I won't add a recipe, there are plenty above and I use mostly 165 gr. plated bullets.
Unique is a bigger stick like powder and will vary up to about .4 grains when using a powder measure. So find a mid power load and it should never go over max.
Also, I have loaded some hot loads with plated bullets and accuracy just goes to hell.
thanks for reading

[CalTeacher]

Unique is a flake powder. If your measure throws up to .4gr off then your powder measure is goofed or it's the nut behind the wheel. .1gr variation is about the most I've seen with Unique.

[s4alex]

I have been loading 5.0gr of W231 with either Berry's or X-treme 180gr HP or RNFP. Has been really reliable and accurate. I am using either Winchester or CCI SPP.

Been shooting this out of my G4 G23 with narry an issue to speak of.


I have a bottle of AA5 and PP I have to still try out, but I will wait up on those until I stock up a bit more on consumables.