Good velocity for .40 S&W?

[Cult Hero]

Just shot my first reloads today and worked my way up from 4.2 grains to 5.0 grains. My FPS 846-872-895-920-942. Where should I settle? Bullet was an xtreme 180 grain. Max is 1500.

[rcschummers]

Propellant type?

[dbash]

What powder? by the info provided my wild guess is 231/HP-38? I am new too, Loading the same caliber. 180 Grain Berry's Plated, Winchester Casing, 5.6 gr SR 7625, Winchester small pistol primer. Its consistent, accurate, clean and the cases look great after firing so I am sticking with it.

Which load performed best for you? that is how I choose.

[rcschummers]

Good velocity for .40 S&W?

What powder? by the info provided my wild guess is 231/HP-38? I am new too, Loading the same caliber. 180 Grain Berry's Plated, Winchester Casing, 5.6 gr SR 7625, Winchester small pistol primer. Its consistent, accurate, clean and the cases look great after firing so I am sticking with it.

Which load performed best for you? that is how I choose.

Propellant? I have some experience with the .40sw i could lend a hand with the components.

[rcschummers]

Good velocity for .40 S&W?

Okay

[hermosabeach]

OP

I don't recall any .40 loads that push an 180 grain at 1,500 fps I don't recall any 10mm +P+ that even approach 1500


For reloads
1- do they have enough oomph to cycle the action and lock the slide open on an empty mag

2- what is the most accurate of the powder charges

3- if shooting lead- are they going too fast and leading up the barrel.

If you want your brass to last longer, load in the 925-950 fps range

1,000-1,100 are about at hot as I ever see for 180 grain .40 cal hand gun velocities.

[J-cat]

You should use the most accurate load.

[CGT80]

Velocity doesn't matter that much. I shoot my 40 cal for competition and we don't have a minimum for our local 3 gun matches. I shoot a 155 lead semi wad cutter over 4.6 grains of hp-38 and get right around 1,000 fps. Standard deviation and extreme spread will tell you more. Low standard deviation in velocity means your bullets are flying consistently as far as speed goes. My 9mm load with a 125 lead moly coated bullet at 1,000 fps has a SD of 8.0 fps. The load is very soft and just cycles the action on an XD Service model with 30-40k rounds through it. It is accurate enough for 3 gun or action pistol competitions. That 40 cal load is the same way. I run adjustable sights. I don't have to adjust the sighs to use 9mm or 40 cal, in the same pistol with a conversion barrel.

If you are shooting a bigger match, or hunting, or self defense, or bulls-eye shooting, then your needs may be different. Semi autos can vary quite a bit on reliability with certain loads. I test loads for each pistol before I make a big batch. My brother's 40, xd tactical (1" longer slide and barrel) needs a bit more powder to cycle the same. His gun has probably less than 5k rounds through it.

[Pauliedad]

I always chrono some factory rounds as a benchmark and I remember .40 being in the mid to upper 1000s. I've understood factory to be on the hot side.
I agree that accuracy should be the goal.
I don't feel a need to stress the gun or brass so finding a slightly less than factory pop load that is accurate is good enough for me.
You may have noticed that the load tolerances for .40 are pretty narrow so going close to max doesn't leave much margin for error.
When I want to wield big bang, I reach for the 10mm or the .44 mag
.40 is snappy enough as is.
Good luck

[Cult Hero]

Sorry, the powder was alliant American select. All were decently accurate. Nothing particularly different between any of them.

I did not have any ftf and slide locked back on every round.

Guess what I am looking for is with all things being equal (accuracy, feeding / cycling, kick etc) is there an "ideal" fps to be at? My factory Winchester whit box I chronod were running around 1k but they were 165gr.

I have 950 xtreme 185 gr to load up for plinking and just want to come up with a good bulk load.

None of the loads I made proved to be better than the other.

[Davisje011]

Am I the only one who loads for the Lowest FPS? My target is 750-775 w/180gr

[bigedp51]

Am I the only one who loads for the Lowest FPS? My target is 750-775 w/180gr

http://www.handgunsmag.com/2010/09/24/ammunition_40lite_091806/

Below 50 rounds of .40 Lite practice loads.



And the best part is it is easy on the firearm and your brass.

[Pauliedad]

I like the 7-800 range for plinking and when taking out new shooters.
One time after having shot a whole bunch of those over several trips I tried some factory and the group was embarrassing.
That keeps me practicing with the 950fps and up loads periodically as well.

[CalTeacher]

I load mine to about 950 to safely make major. Bullet is a Bear Creek 180.

[ptmn]

I get 790 fps 10 feet from the muzzle out of my full size HK USP using 4.2gr W231, Xtreme plated 180gr FP, Win SP Primer, mixed cases, seated to 1.125". Low recoil, accurate and it cycles my guns reliably.