40 Cal Recommendations?

What bullet and weight are you planning on reloading.

I use 180gr. Rainiers on top of 5.5gr. N340 loaded to 1.130 and crimped "just enough" for a target load. Note the max is 6.1, only .6gr. over the min. They claim 1001-1109fps with a 5.5" test bbl. This is the minimum data for Viht and loaded a little long, but I still get about 900fps. out of a stock G27. No bulging. 155gr. XTP factory loads clock 1040-1100fps. Most of the Viht stuff is clean burning, some is low flash too. This stuff works well, and I bet the 3N37 would too (which is my favorite 9mm powder). These loads are pretty accurate, but I don't have much formal data on it yet (I don't shoot .40 all that much). I can hit coke cans at about 25m or so no problem and it cycles fine. If you find it is too weak, just work it up. Slowly.

With .40, it can't really be loaded all that hot, not safely anyway, and it can't be reduced much either. It also can't be set back much without increasing the pressure dramatically (which is why I load 'em long). It is a chopped down 10mm, which is the one that can be loaded hot. The .40 was a specialty cartridge, but it isn't treated as such anymore.

I get excellent performance with Longshot and HS6. I load for various Taurus's and an XDM using either one of those powder's and am getting some very impressive velocities. A 155 gr. JHP is chronographing at almost 1300 fps with the Longshot. HS6 is just barely less than that and seems to be producing a bit higher pressure than Longshot.
Make no mistake though in thinking that operating pressures are going to be mild or mid range, they are deffinitely in the upper end for the .40 cartridge, but not showing any signs of being excessively high.

I like HS-6 but I wouldn't describe it as clean. I don't load that hot and have heard the HS-6 gets cleaner the hotter you load.

Stormin.40 said:

I like HS-6 but I wouldn't describe it as clean. I don't load that hot and have heard the HS-6 gets cleaner the hotter you load.

Click to expand...

That’s been my experience. HS6 seems to perform it’s best when loaded toward the upper end of data.

If you're just looking for a target load, HP38 is a good powder.

165 raineirs with HP-38 or Unique. Don't understand why you want HOT and TARGET in a compact 40 round. Beats up you, the gun and makes followup tough.

I use 6.1 grains of Unique with my 165 Rainiers at 1.125 OAL
This is my target round for a subcompact G27 Glock - not a hot load.

.40 S&W in a G-20

I load, for target 180gr. Berry's TC, on top of 4.5gr. TiteGroup, 1.130" OAL., for about 925 fps.
This has been a good load in my Glock 20/Lone Wolf conversion barrel-10MM/.40 S&W. MAY be a little "Warm" in another smaller frame weapon?? Bill.

Universal or No.7.

I prefer 165 FMJ and Universal has long been my favorite powder for .40 S&W, but lately I'm using 170 LSWC from Missouri Bullet Co with (don't quote me on this) 8.1gr of No.7. This is a one-ragged-hole load in my XD-40 4"

I can't afford to shoot FMJ anymore and Hodgdon will not publish any load data for lead bullets in .40 S&W. They won't even retun my e-mails when I ask and tell them I don't and never will own a Glock.

I use 180gr Berry's with 5.8gr Silhouette powder. Very clean and accurate in glock 22 stock barrel and m&p .40 with storm lake barrel. That's not a max powder charge. I just load em hot enough to make major power factor in uspsa.

OP is kind of ambiguous. Easy cycling, clean, and accurate = fast powder and heavier bullet. Just don't go chasing after factory velocities.

Hot, clean, accurate = slower powders.

+1.

BBDartCA said:

Whats a good clean hot reliable load for 40 cal. Shooting IMI Jerihco compact. Just looking for general target shooting. Want clean and easy cycling.

Click to expand...

For clean, easy cycling and target shooting = 180 gr TCFP Berry's plated or Missouri lead bullets with W231/HP-38. Start at 3.8-4.1 gr for very light recoil, clean burning and very accurate target loads. 4.2-4.3 gr for mild recoil target loads.

For hot loads = slower powders

Universal, clean, and sends my 155 Gold dots out at 1150fps with 6.8grns. 5.5grns with 180grn bullet is a nice plinking load.

I tend to like my .40's a bit on the hot side. The reason is I like them to simulate duty rounds for work.

I load either Zero or Montana Gold 180 FMJ's over 6.2 or 6.3 grains of Unique. I gets me right around 1050 fps out of a Sig P226.