.40 favorite loads

['ol shooter]

.40 loaders, what do you like to load for your guns? I am buying my first .40, a used XD 4", and am curious what weight bullets you favor. Thanks.

[Yreka]

I have always liked 165's for .40 and 180 or 200 for 40mag..errr 10mm

[BajaJames83]

if i remember right 165gr xtreme with 5gr of wst. id have to check my logs

[prc77]

180gr Bear Creek over 4.4gr N320

[webcruzzer]

I have always liked 165's for .40 and 180 or 200 for 40mag..errr 10mm

I do the same.

[Mike402]

I ran an OCW test on my .40 w/ different charge weights (normally a practiced reserved for precision rifles). Your results might vary, but I found that the best accuracy came with the min published loads at 25 yards in each bullet weight. I settled on Hornady XTP 155s for match loads, and 165FMJ for plinking/practice loads.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=973256&highlight=pistol+ocw

[rsrocket1]

Lee 401-175-TC powder coated 5.0g Unique COL 1.135". An excellent mid-range load in the mid 900 fps range. 4.0g Red Dot gives equal performance with a bit higher pressure. Before casting, I used Xtreme 180g RF and Bear Creek 180g TC with equal performance. The Unique load leaves a lot of margin in the upper end to where you can go up as high a 6g and still be safe, but the flip starts to get to you after a couple hundred shots during a range session.

For fun, you can load some 180g bullets with 3.0g Red Dot and you'll now know what a 9mm feels like in the same gun. Much lower than 2.8g RD and you will start to cause failures to lock back of the slide.

[ducky_0811]

165/180 gr xtreme, 5 gr unique seated to 1.130. I've also used 7.9 gr of hs6 but it's a bit snappy, however very accurate.

[rg1]

I like 165 gr. loads. I've tried jacketed 165 fmj-fp's, Hornady 155 XTP's, RP 165 Golden Sabers, Speer 165 Gold Dots, and plated Rainier 165's. All in a Glock 23 and my favorite powder is Win Super Field followed by Unique and Power Pistol. My favorite bullet would be RP 165 GS's but at present they seem impossible to find as a component.

['ol shooter]

Thanks for the replies. Anyone else, please chime in.

[JTROKS]

4.0 to 4.4 grains of Titegroup loaded to normal COAL with 180 grn hard cast coated with moly will give me about 900-925 FPS depending on the crimp and weather. It is a fairly light load and usually requires a 12-f14 lb reduced recoil spring for a full size 1911. When utilizing heavy bullets in 40S&W combined with fast burning rate powders such as Titegroup I make sure my bullets will not seat deeper into the case. I've seen a fellow USPSA shooter using the same recipe have a case head separation. It was pushing 200 grain hardcast at 850 FPS. The only difference in our loads was I like to use a firm taper crimp and he did not. Luckily he wasn't hurt. His custom 1911 after inspection just needed clearing the brass and replacing a broken plastic magazine follower.

[ptmn]

I'm old school, I use Win 231. Win SP primers, 4.2gr 231, Berrys 180gr plated flat point, seated to 1.125" chronos at 790 fps in my HK USP 40. Cycles my P229 just fine too and is accurate in both. Haven't chrono'd the load in the Sig, but I would think it is slower, since it has a slightly shorter barrel.

[TexasJackKin]

I like 165 grain Extreme heavy plate hollow points, over 3.6 grains of Hodgdon Clays, CCI SPP, COAL: 1.135 -- Very soft shooting (like a light 9MM load) I shoot it though a Glock 23, and a S&W Shield Very pleasant to shoot out of both guns, and VERY Clean!

[rdfact]

I have only been reloading for about 1 year but have had the best results in my Glock 23 with:
4.7gr Titegroup
165 gr Xtreme plated
1.125 OAL

It has been the most accurate load I have used. No failures or cycling issues.

[CalTeacher]

4.2gr of WST under an Xtreme 200gr bullet at 1.210oal.