reloading .40 s&w

[JO JO]

is it safe to reload 40 s&w I have a sig 229 .40 and saved my own brass
have read yes and no so im confused on this cailaber I do reload 9mm
.357 mag and 12ga no issues at all. just want to load some plinking
and paper pounchers, not sure about the hype on this cailaber
Thanks

 

[Bmac1949]

what do the loading manuals say? "Look up One Book One Calibar". I'm new to this too but as far as what to load and what you load it witth, It's in the books.

 

[tlen]

What's the issue ? Reloading .40 S&W or shooting reloads in a Sig 229 ?
I've been reloading .40 S&W since the mid 90s w/o any problems.

 

[winchester1886]

Reloading the 40S&W

The 40S&W is a easy round to reload.I have been reloading it since the 90's. I read that Glocks will form a bulge at the bottom of the brass.I use Lee and RCBS dies and I use a Lee FCD for the crimp. I use Unique,W-231,and Longshot powders.If you reload 9mm it should not be a problem.

 

[tlen]

***

 

[gamestalker]

I'm not sure what hype your hearing or it's source, but I've been loading
.40 for 5 different pistols without any problems. Decide which bullet you want to shoot, what velocity you desire, and then match that with a powder that will work with that criteria. I use One Book, One Caliber because it provides a lot of load options from both powder manufacturer's and bullet manufacturer's.

 

[JO JO]

let me explain Imnot asking for load data , have manuals just each manual says caution use only in suported barrels no other cailabers have this warning, also a range master
said its better to only reload my on brass fired in same .40 gun just wanted to ask what
is different about .40cal kinda new to this better to be safe and ask opinions to learn
then to be sorry

 

[2popfire]

Don't fret over internet hype, if you are reloading 9mm and .357 without problems, .40 S&W will not be any trouble if you exercise the same care and control you use on the other calibers. Stay within published load data (don't hotrod) and you will be fine. I started out reloading .40 S&W for my Glock 23 (Oh the horror!) and read all the stories of death and destruction associated with this risky endeavor about a year ago and yet I have all my appendages and gun intact! I will say I'm ONLY using jacketed or plated bullets and target velocity loads due to Glocks polygonal rifling and slightly unsupported barrel (3rd gen) but there is nothing inherently wrong with this caliber if you do your part in the reloading process. Just my opinion and you mileage may vary.

 

[[email protected]]

The safety of the reload depends on the reloader so if a person is not a safe reloader then all the rounds he reloads are not safe. One comment on reloading range brass is that some glocks will cause a bulge near the base. I have seen this more so in the gen 2 glocks vs gen 3 and is caused by the unsupported portion of the chamber. I dont know how tight the chamber on your sig is, but if you get some bulged brass and your resizing die does not remove it then you may have failure to feed problems. I also try to use slower powders like acc5 and unique as the pressure does not spike as sharp. Just inspect your cases before and after resizing start low (if you are just paper punching no need to go full power) and pay attention to the col and powder charge. remember that the 40 is more of a suped up 9mm vs the little brother of the 45 as far as presure.

 

[gamestalker]

The only time I've heard about unsupported chamber's warning was on the internet and it referred to all auto loading cartridge applications. And as someone else already stated, load properely using common sense by workig up and you'll be just fine. I have thousands of range brass for both the .40 and 9mm and load with it all the time, no prblems at all. Keep it real and simple. The bullet and powder manufacturer's wouldn't list the data if reloading for it was not safe.

 

[TonyT]

The process for reloading 40 S&W is no different than anyhtoher straight walled ppistol case. With my full power reloads I discard the brass after four reloads and I do not shoot 40 S&W in a Glock. I use both S&W646 and 610 revolvers, CZ-40B, Sig 229 Sport, PO1640, STI Trojan and Dan Wesson Pointman.

 

[Sediment]

Half of my .40 brass I load for my Glock is range brass some once-a-year shooter left after their session with WWB. If the case is not damaged (stepped on or showing head seperation) then I'll use it after tumbling and inspection. Glocks aren't as hard on brass as some would lead you to believe.

 

[gamestalker]

G17, Beretta FS, Taurus 24/7's (two of them), Taurus PT111, S&W 66-5, S&W 66-2, Taurus 608, XDM, Ruger Super Black Hawk, Makarov, Taurus Millenium, and I'm sure I'm missing a few. I load hot with slow burning powders and jacketed bullets and have never once had a problem. Read, learn how to read your brass when working up, and relax and enjoty the benefit of reloading.

 

[JO JO]

I am thinkikg hs-6 and 155 to 165 grn bullet range

 

[Steve Koski]

I recommend starting with Unique. Medium/slow. Fluffy. Can't double charge it.

Koski