Trying to decide on powder for 40 S&W

[XD-40 Shooter]

I mainly want to load Ranier target loads, I'm looking at Titegroup, Ramshot Zip, Longshot, Accurate #5, Unique, and Power Pistol. Which would you pick in an 8lb keg?

 

[possum]

personally i prefer the loads that i worked up with the unique, they are good training/ range ammo. (exact load data i will have to dig for.)

the loads i loaded with the power pistol were the most accurate but they were very hot, and weren't very fun to shoot for long strings, but like i said they were accurate, the most accurate load i have ever shot in my .40 xd.

 

[Walkalong]

AA #5, of those choices. Universal Clays works real well too.

 

[fineredmist]

I have used Tite Group for several years and have found it to be fine for my use. I load for IDPA at 3.5 gr. (this is below the recommended start but works fine) and 4.3 gr for falling plate matches. Both loads use 180 gr Berry's plated with a oal of 1.125" and a crimp of .420". The IDPA load is light (almost the same as a 9mm) and makes the power factor required. It is a little too light for plates and then I use the 4.3 loads. 3.5 is also a great plinking and/or training load as the recoil is light.

 

[CatsEye]

Unique is a great all around powder that works well in .40s. I use Power Pistol and Titegroup mostly for loading 165gr plated and 170gr Precision bullets. Both work very well. Unique and Power Pistol are a little smokier but fill the case nicely so double charging is almost impossible to not notice. Titegroup uses a smaller volume and is a quicker powder so you have to watch it a little closer, esp. on the heavier bullets. It burns clean though and makes a very good reduced power load. My XD40 just eats em up.

 

[Otto]

Universal Clays is the most accurate in my Sig 229. Universal has a comparable burn rate to Unique but is much cleaner.

ETA: Note that Power Pistol and Ramshot Zip are not sold in 8 pounds kegs.

 

[BeJaRa]

I use Unique in my 40sw since it fills alot of the case so less chance of a double charge, plus Unique at 40sw pressures burns very clean in my gun. I load Hornady xtp with unique and can consitently hit soda cans at 30yrds with it. Then again I don't shoot alot of 40 so load economy is not that important to me.

 

[D. Manley]

Trying to decide on powder for 40 S&W
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I mainly want to load Ranier target loads, I'm looking at Titegroup, Ramshot Zip, Longshot, Accurate #5, Unique, and Power Pistol. Which would you pick in an 8lb keg?

I've never cared for TG until I tried it in .40 caliber. As said above, 3.5 grains under a 180 grain plated (Rainier, in my case) is sweet...soft shooting, mild report and accurate. Zip will shoot about the same as W-231...the book starting load should do well with the plated bullets. I like N-320 (4.1 Gr.), Universal (4.5 Gr.) and WST (3.9 Gr.) for Minor PF loads with 180's. Clays at around 3.3 grains is a great feeling soft load but for me, does not group as well as the others mentioned. Ramshot's True Blue is nice for full throttle loads.

 

[XD-40 Shooter]

I'm seriously looking at Titegroup, because with 165 gr Ranier's, at 4.8 grains, I can get close to 1500 rounds/pound x 8lbs, goes a long, long, way.

 

[wally]

Unique, can't miss a double charge, the new formulation is really clean in high pressure rounds like 9mm & .40S&W.

I use 5.2 gr Unique 180g hard cast bullet, any case, any primer and they shoot great.

You can simplify and load all your handguns with Unique and pretty much equal factory loads with just about everything but the magnums, even with them you aren't giving up much beyond some impressive muzzle blast.

--wally.

 

[CatsEye]

I'm seriously looking at Titegroup, because with 165 gr Ranier's, at 4.8 grains, I can get close to 1500 rounds/pound x 8lbs, goes a long, long, way.

Yeah, thats over 12000 rounds

If you decide on Titegroup that should make a good round and is right in spec. I load the 165 gr Ranier's with 4.3grs at 1.125". This load is great for target shooting and IDPA while flawlessly functioning in my XD40.

As with everything else, use at your own risk.

 

[XD-40 Shooter]

After doing some research on the powder websites, I'm gonna go with Unique. Sportsmans Warehouse has the 8 pounders for $96.99 + tax.

 

[Otto]

So you've researched it and have decided on Unique...that's interesting.

Jan. 9 2008

I'm one of those guys that likes to stick with what I know works, what I'm familiar with. I've been loading 357 mag and 40 S&W with Unique now for 2 years, with great results. I'm not one to go experimenting with new powders, what works for me.....Unique.

April 11, 2008

I've been using 6.3-6.5 grains of Unique with my 155 grain Ranier bullets (40 S&W), with great results, it burns pretty clean when the pressures are up to where they should be...
I really like Unique in the 40, its my go to powder, I get great accuracy, good velocity, and it fills the case so a double charge is virtually impossible.

May 27, 2008

I use 6 grains of Unique behind a 165 grain Ranier, chrono's 1000 fps, very nice load, soft recoil, accurate. This is pretty much my go-to target practice load.

 

[Steve Koski]

Unique

 

[XD-40 Shooter]

Hey Otto, just seeing what folks think about other powders out there. I do have 8 lbs of Unique for loading my 40 S&W rounds, it works great. However, I'm looking at trying something different, there are several powders that work very well. There's a gun show coming up out here next month and I'm torn as to what I should go for. I'm loading my latest batch of Ranier 165's with a pound of Longshot, its giving me very good performance. I'll probably buy 4lbs of that and split my loads between Unique and Longshot.

 

[possum]

I'm seriously looking at Titegroup, because with 165 gr Ranier's, at 4.8 grains, I can get close to 1500 rounds/pound x 8lbs, goes a long, long, way.

i have used an almost exact load, maybe off by a tent or so, but that load shot great in my xd.

OTTO,
what is the point in your comment? actually your posting quotes form months past? i don't get it. do you have anything to add to the thread?

 

[XD-40 Shooter]

I need lots of money, to buy 8 lbs of Titegroup and Longshot, lol.

 

[Floppy_D]

I like Unique for it's bulkiness, consistency in meter, and outright versatility. You can load 'em heavy or light. Lighter loads tend to be dirty for me, but that's relative, because a squirt of gun scrubber and a boresnake will take it all right out.

 

[janobles14]

of those listed id take unique. my personal choice is HS-6

 

[dpart77]

Not too sure what my ego had to do with my post but if it make you feel better to talk about it, go ahead.

 

[HeXeD775]

OK, I have a question...

Out of those listed, what is the cleanest burning?

Right now I shoot WWB 165gr for training & 165 gr hydrashok for carry. I am planning to move to 180gr for training & 180 gr Winchester SXP or Golden Sabre for carry.

I am loading to train...not carry (I'll use factory ammo for that). I shoot an FNP .40 in nickel.

Any input?

 

[rbernie]

I'm using Unique for my 40S&W loads, but am switching over to Zip. It's cleaner, works well, and is a lot cheaper.

 

[chunk]

aa#5 or aa#7

 

[12Bravo20]

I get good results using Hodgdon Universal with both Rainier and Berry's plated bullets. I use Universal for all of my pistol reloading: .380, 9mm, 9mm Largo, .40S&W, and .45ACP.

 

[RDA 226sig]

Accurate No.5 works well with 180 grain bullets. Burns clean at intermediate charges and is very accurate through my Sig 229.