I've been reloading rifle rounds for about a year now. I am about to start reloading for my S&W M&P40. I would like to find a load that I can't double charge without overflowing. I am also lost when it comes to what projectiles I would like to use. I am not looking to get into casting my own. I will be using a 550b. What advice can you give me (other than read a manual? I have, I like hearing from people using stuff similar to me.)Thanks!
Pistol Load Advice
- Thread starter kylec
- Start date
- Status
witchhunter
Member
Unique is a good powder that is hard to overcharge, but it meters poorly. Look up loads that take a lot of powder.
Boho
Member
I reloaded rifle for years. 2 yrs ago my girlfriend and i bought pistols. Now I load 380 & 9mm for us and 38 for my mom & dad. Pistol has so many different combinations that it makes experimenting fun. There are so many more powders that you can use to develop loads. Don't limit yourself on books, I have been able to do so much more confidently using books rather than just using online data. Max loads in one data source may not be max in another. I started loading lead BBWC for my folks 38s because I read it was a really good target shooting bullet in a Speer manual. I started loading plated Rainier bullets for our guns due to a friends reccomendation. I bought an xl650 a few months ago and really enjoy loading and shooting handgun. Have fun and be safe!
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Slower powders usually require more powder. Fortunately the 40 S&W performs better when loaded with slower powders. Take a look at AA#7 and see if a normal charge will fill the case past half and you will have found what you're looking for. Longshot is also a good option.
UziLand
Member
9mm cases would overflow on a double charge with many powders. I make a "light target load with 4.5gr of Universal Clays and the case is about 3/4 full. Easy to eyeball and compare with a penlight before seating. I have been using the xtreme 115gr plated bullets because they are cheap and perform good enough for my use. For 40 S&W 9gr of HS7 with a 155gr rn lead worked well.
Have fun,
UL
Have fun,
UL
Arkansas Paul
Member
Unique is a good choice for the .40 (as well as most other handgun calibers) and is nice and fluffy. You could probably double fill one but it would be easy to see.
Potatohead
Member
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2013
- Messages
- 5,375
Herco and 800x are quite voluminous. I'd imagine 700x also? I kind of like Herco myself, and it seems to be around too.
Plus uno on the xtreme plated.
Plus uno on the xtreme plated.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
FMJ bullet usually feed very well in a semi-auto and cost less than JHP bullets. Plated bullets reduce the chances of leading in the barrel and cost less than FMJ bullets. Cast bullets cost the least and IMO are a very good choice for making inexpensive ammo. When the cast bullet fits the barrel correctly there is little chance of leading. (to a point)
Blue68f100
Member
WSF will fill the case to the top on a double charge. It's burn rate is similar to Unique but since WSF is a ball powder it meters very accurately. It can also be used for the +P loads.
I have not seen any on the shelfs for some time now though.
I have not seen any on the shelfs for some time now though.
Arkansas Paul
Member
I love cast lead bullets in the .40 S&W. I've shot a few thousand through my Sig2022 and have had no leading issues at all.
The Lee 175 grain tumble lube bullet is great in mine. The mold is only $20 and will save you a ton of money...............if you don't get too addicted to casting. I did. Now, not only do I scrounge brass like I'm homeless and the brass is quarters, but I also scrounge scrap lead any chance I get. It's a disease.
The Lee 175 grain tumble lube bullet is great in mine. The mold is only $20 and will save you a ton of money...............if you don't get too addicted to casting. I did. Now, not only do I scrounge brass like I'm homeless and the brass is quarters, but I also scrounge scrap lead any chance I get. It's a disease.
judgedelta
Member
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2013
- Messages
- 687
Being a newbie pistol handloader, I can vividly recall the most recent mistakes. If you aren't going to cast your own bullets, use plated. They are almost as cheap and you won't spend endless periods cleaning your pistol. Even if you don't get too much leading, there's still that lube you've got to get out. Hang a light over your bench whereby you can look down into your cases. A doublecharge is easy to spot in a pistol case.
gamestalker
member
I'm very partial to Longshot myself, but I've also used a good deal of HS6 too. It is virtually impossible to double charge LS without it over flowing.
GS
GS
Most medium speed powders suitable to the .40 will overflow, or at least be very obvious, with a double charge.
Plated bullets work just fine in the .40, lead is the cheapest, and jacketed would be the choice for performance.
Plated bullets work just fine in the .40, lead is the cheapest, and jacketed would be the choice for performance.
SFreed
Member
I'm also a big fan of Longshot. 6.7 grains under a 180gr Xtreme plated bullet is the most accurate in my Ruger SR40c.
I have a 550 and use Unique like you. I don't load for .40 anymore but Unique and a 180-grain Xtreme plated bullet worked very well. Cast bullets can also work and are cheaper than anything else. You would definitely notice a double charge with Unique if it didn't overflow.
KansasSasquatch
Member
Loads that take a lot of powder (by weight) aren't exactly a good indication of what loads will fill a case. For example, Unique in .40 with 8.0gr of powder using a 155gr bullet will fill the case pretty dang good. But the same charge (by weight) of True Blue doesn't fill a case near as much with it being a high density ball powder. While 8.0gr of Longshot is somewhere in between (volume wise for the same charge weight) it will fill a .40 casing enough to overflow with a double charge, or at least be very evident.
Looking for loads that use a fairly heavy charge weight with a powder that isn't very dense would be good advice. Using a manual and the Lee dipper chart can be helpful when looking for loads that fill a case. Knowing how to read the Lee dipper info is necessary for that.
tightgroup tiger
Member
I would use longshot or power pistol. It is very obvious when a case get double charged with either one.
KansasSasquatch
Member
8.0gr of Longshot with a 155gr RMR plated flat points, CCI#500 primers, COL of 1.120". That load works great for me in a M&P40, Shield .40, Beretta PX4, and SA XD40. I worked up from 7.3gr. It fills the case a little over half full, a double charge should overflow. Longshot also meters nicely.
dickttx
Member
I only use HP38 and don't load 40, but a double charge in 9mm, 38 Super, or 45 ACP is very noticeable.
I only shoot Missouri Bullet Co lead in these calibers and never have anything in the barrel that doesn't come out with two or three passes of a boresnake.
I only shoot Missouri Bullet Co lead in these calibers and never have anything in the barrel that doesn't come out with two or three passes of a boresnake.
Dudedog
Contributing Member
Dudedog
Contributing Member
Larger VMD=bulky more space used in case
BLC(2) .0645 dense
Trailboss .217 fluffy
BLC(2) .0645 dense
Trailboss .217 fluffy
Last edited:
- Status
