[KBintheSLC]

I know that 200g loadings are more popular in 10mm, but I have been playing with some recipes for heavier .40 loads using 200g JHP at about 850 fps. What are your thoughts/experiences on using heavier bullets in the .40? So far, they seem to expand pretty nicely, they are reliable/accurate, and they hit the wet media with plenty of gusto. However, I rarely see big ammo makers offering .40 loads that heavy. I could imagine that these would do well against light barriers like auto safety glass.

[harmon rabb]

200g @ 850fps?

aren't you killing what's great about the .40, which is 9mm velocity with a heavier bullet?

[LawofThirds]

You're getting almost .45 numbers with much better overall sectional density. Might be a good workup for a hardcast flat nose for self defense in the woods. Not optimum but better than the other offerings in .40 for cougars/black bears/coyotes.

Still, you are kinda trying to make the .40 something it's not.

[schmeky]

I've done quite a bit of loading using a 220 gn hard cast TC style bullet. Works great as a plinker and "feels" a lot like a .45.

Feeds 100% in my CZ's and my 1911/.40.

[KBintheSLC]

Schmeky,

Are you casting your own 220's or do you buy them from a manufacturer?

aren't you killing what's great about the .40, which is 9mm velocity with a heavier bullet?

I think it really depends on the purpose. A heavier bullet will give you better penetration, which can be desirable for some applications.

Still, you are kinda trying to make the .40 something it's not.

I agree. If it was up to me, the .40 would have never replaced the 10mm. But I do shoot and reload a lot of .40 to practice with in my G20. So, I like to tinker with different loads for fun.

...

[71Commander]

Schmeky.

Would you PM some data on the 220's. I have a few hundred JP's that I would like to use up.

I do load up 200 gr.

Thanks.

[~Boomslang~]

It would be a great woods load. When I carry my 9mm in the thck stiff, I feed her 147gr SXT. I used this for sometime when I was trapping as well. Its magic on coyotes. If I could find some factory 200 gr .40 loads I'd snatch em up. The heavier the better where bear are concerned.

[schmeky]

KBintheSLC,

I bought 1,000 from a commercial bullet caster. Can't remember the name and can't get to my shop to read the box. I'm laid up for a while recovering from surgery. If you want, as soon as I can get around, I can pm you the company name.

71 Commander,

PM sent. I have worked up loads using 231 and N310, probably in the 700-750 fps range (don't have a chrono).

I never had any desire to own a .40. I wound up with so much .40 range brass after a few years I decided to at least look at a .40. CDNN had CZ-40B's on sale for $289.00 plus shipping. I soon found the .40 was a natural for handloading, IMHO more versatile than the 9mm. I now have 5 pistols in .40.

I have found the Missouri Bullet 170 LSWC with either 231 or N310 to be tack driving loads in my CZ-75. Never dreamed a service grade weapon in .40 could be so accurate at 25 yards (from a rest).

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/4387/witnesspictures021.jpg

[ugaarguy]

You're getting almost .45 numbers with much better overall sectional density.
That's a bit misleading. Those numbers are almost what a .45 ACP does with 230 gr. projectiles. The part about the sectional density is true. However, there is also 45 ACP 260 gr. @ 845 fps data in the Speer manual.

Essentially, it's a heavy for caliber .40 bullet getting numbers equivalent to a heavy for caliber .45 bullet. Of course the .40 bullet weighs about 2/3 the .45 bullet, and the .45 bullet has slightly better SD. The numbers are still impressive out of that small (relative to .45 ACP) .40 S&W case though.

Schmeky, those 220gr 40 S&W loads sound quite interesting. How do they compare to your 175 gr. loads accuracy wise?

[KBintheSLC]

I bought 1,000 from a commercial bullet caster. Can't remember the name and can't get to my shop to read the box. I'm laid up for a while recovering from surgery. If you want, as soon as I can get around, I can pm you the company name.

No worries. You just get better now. If you remember down the road, feel free to PM me. 220g hardcast .40 sounds pretty cool to me. I could even load those up in my 10mm cases for fun.

[schmeky]

Schmeky, those 220gr 40 S&W loads sound quite interesting. How do they compare to your 175 gr. loads accuracy wise?

The 220's never were as accurate as the 170 LSWC's. I eventually found some loads with the 220's that were very good, but the 170's were much easier and much faster to dial in. In my CZ's and 1911/40, I have never had a feeding malfunction in thousands of rounds. Missouri Bullet hit a homerun with this bullet.