Some questions about starting to load .40 S&W?

[Macchina]

I load for all of my calibers but my auto handguns. I'm thinking about getting into loading for my .40s. I never planned on loading for, but I just realized that most of the components I already keep around (small pistol primers and powders and I've kept about 500 pieces of brass), so I may as well reload for it. My loading will be for practice loads only. I will mostly be loading for a Sig P239. A few questions:

1. I currently stock small pistol primers (standard and magnum) for my .357 Mag. If I were to make a big primer purchase, should I plan on using more standard or magnum primers for my .40s?

2. I currently keep Power Pistol and W231 around for the .357 Mag. Are these good powders to start with for practice and full-power loads?

3. I normally shoot the 180g factory loads. Would it be better to load for something lighter such as 155g/165g?

4. I plan on starting with Xtreme plated bullets. Should I get the standard plating or heavy duty plating? Should I look somewhere else entirely for my bullets?

5. I load on a single stage press (with Lee Auto Disk powder measure). Anything special I need to do that is different from .357/.44/rifle calibers?

 

[Blue Thunder]

1. Small pistol standard primers are fine.
2. PP will be better than W231 as it is faster. Start with the lowest charge.
3. 180 GR plated is good, 200 GR shoot even softer than 180. Lighter needs more powder.
4. Standard plating is fine.
5. After loading the boolits you will need to do a Chamber check of the reloads. Some Glock brass may not be full length sized even in a single stage press. If the brass was from your Sig it may be just fine, but still chamber check the reloads. I chamber check even factory loads as well as my reloads.

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

1. I currently stock small pistol primers (standard and magnum) for my .357 Mag. If I were to make a big primer purchase, should I plan on using more standard or magnum primers for my .40s?

Magnum primers are what I use for .357 magnum but not for the 40 caliber. Use the standard primers.

2. I currently keep Power Pistol and W231 around for the .357 Mag. Are these good powders to start with for practice and full-power loads?

The 231 is good for mid to full power loads in 40 caliber. As for the Power pistol it will use more GR than the 231 but can get some good velocity. IMO I would go with the 231 and save the Power Pistol for the .357 where I think it works better in. YMMV

3. I normally shoot the 180g factory loads. Would it be better to load for something lighter such as 155g/165g?

I use the 180 FP berry's and just got some Xtreme 180 GR RNFP because I like how well my load using Autocomp turned out. Personally I like the 180's and they are close to my carry load. Others like the 165gr and I do to and if I had no 180's it would be the 165gr. Almost a coin toss for me. YMMV

4. I plan on starting with Xtreme plated bullets. Should I get the standard plating or heavy duty plating? Should I look somewhere else entirely for my bullets?

As I already stated I just received some I am soon to load up but I had no idea they had two different plate thicknesses. I know Berry's does but only for the faster/magnum type rounds and not the 40 caliber.

5. I load on a single stage press (with Lee Auto Disk powder measure). Anything special I need to do that is different from .357/.44/rifle calibers?

Other than using a powder that meters well through the Lee auto disk and no roll or heavy crimp on the cartridge (slight taper to take out the bell from the flaring process is all that is needed) that I am aware of. I load mine with a single stage press. There is a tighter Min to Max load variance than 9mm for instance . Many powders have a .6gr variance from start load to max loading 40 S&W. So measure right and keep an eye on that powder measure if using the 231.

 

[Macchina]

Thanks guys, those answers are exactly what I was looking for!

What about shooting lead in a .40? Is it a no-go? I'd imagine it would be easier with an auto without all the fuss of throat sizing.

 

[CZ9shooter]

Shoot all cast you want. Just follow the same guidlines you would with any caliber and lead bullets... velocity, bullet diameter, etc.

 

[david bachelder]

1. I currently stock small pistol primers (standard and magnum) for my .357 Mag. If I were to make a big primer purchase, should I plan on using more standard or magnum primers for my .40s?
Small pistol, not small pistol magnum.

2. I currently keep Power Pistol and W231 around for the .357 Mag. Are these good powders to start with for practice and full-power loads?
Win231 (HP38, same thing) is great for the 40.

3. I normally shoot the 180g factory loads. Would it be better to load for something lighter such as 155g/165g?
I prefer the 180's.

4. I plan on starting with Xtreme plated bullets. Should I get the standard plating or heavy duty plating? Should I look somewhere else entirely for my bullets?
Can't help there, I cast my own.

5. I load on a single stage press (with Lee Auto Disk powder measure). Anything special I need to do that is different from .357/.44/rifle calibers?
Do not crimp the case, most pistols (Semi Autos) do not require a crimp. All you want to do is remove the flare.

 

[zaphar]

1: I would figure out what loading you want to use and try both. You will probably find that one will cause less spread in the velocity than the other. I have used SP, SM, and SR primers in my loadings and usually one will work better than the others, but you'll have to try and see.

2: Alliant has Power Pistol listed for use with 40S&W so it will work, W231/HP-38 will probably work better in your 3.6" barrel (faster burn rate).

3: Lighter bullets have a faster recoil impulse than the 180s, so go with what is most comfortable for you. I use 165gr in a similar size pistol and they aren't for everyone, but they do seem to cycle faster. Speer short barrel ammo uses 180gr, so it may be better to go heavier:
http://le.atk.com/ammunition/speer/handgun/details.aspx?id=23974

4: If you are ~1200fps or less, go with standard plating. The heavy plating is for 1200-1500fps range so you're just paying more if it's under that.

 

[LightningMan]

I've used magnum primers when loading .40 S&W with regular primers nowhere to be found, and had no problems shooting cast or plated bullets, but did drop my charge about 3 tenths of a grain below what I was normally using. BTW I also used mag primers for 9mm too, also dropping the charge by 3 tenths. You do what you have to when theres a shortage, but given a choice, I'd have used regular primers had they been available. LM

 

[kcofohio]

Missouri Bullet Co., IDP #5 180 gr. castings has worked well here, in an M&P 40.