Best 40S&W bullet weight

165 grn

180 gn

With modern bullet technologies, heavy bullets expand just as well as lighter ones...actually, the extra material often provides a bit more expansion.

They have the added benefit of greater penetration, less velocity loss in short barrels, and lower report (in cases, like the .40S&W where go subsonic.)

Try Federal HST's in 180 grains. The HST's are a proven expander.

Most of my guns seem to be marginally more accurate with 165gr. The exception seems to be my CZ-75B which really doesn't seem to care.

What about 155grb? Are 155grn JHPs pointless if you have the option of 165 or 180grn then?

All three of the common weights for .40 are great performers, I too like the HST best, the 180s actually out-expand the ligther weights and the 165s penetrate slightly more than the 180s, despite common ballistics knowledge dictating that the heavier bullet penetrate deeper.

180 grains

I like the 180. the 155 and 165 grain examples that i've fired had too much 'snap' for my taste.

The 180gr loads are going to have less recoil impulse than the 155gr and 165gr loads. All three pretty much have similiar performance in gel, but the 180gr bullet has better sectional density, which translates into better momentum in relation to bullet diameter giving you better penetration in other materials. First, I would get one box of each and determine if they both shoot accurately in your pistol......some pistols shoot one more accurately than another. Also, keep track of your felt recoil and see which one feels better to you.

Most of the time, hugging the middle ground in all things keeps you versitile. 165gr bullet will have better impact energy so that it will punch through hard and elastic materials better. However, it sacrifices some sectional density mass so it won't penetrate through soft barriers such as car seats, wood, or a sofa as well as the 180gr bullet will. Personally, I would go with the 180gr bullet as I shoot better overall with it. A heavier bullet also allows you to do things like skipping rounds off a brick wall or the pavement to hit someone as the heavier bullet retains more momentum to wound than a lighter and faster one.

I have 165gr gold dots in my CZ 40B. I bought the 200 round "sampler" pack from Doubletap. I picked up the 155, 165, 180gr gold dots plus the 200 gr XTP loadings. ALL of the weights were equally as accurate, but I seemed to shoot the 165 quicker, w/ more accurate followups.

180

...

Some 12,000 rounds of 180gr, nothing but COM, JHP's as well.

OMMV


Ls

I'm a fan of the 165's myself, I've got (3) boxes of 165 gr Gold Dot for my defensive ammo.

.40s&w my choice is corbon 135 grain @ 1,325 fps 526 ft-lbs of muzzel enegry.
now compair that to a .357mag which is most likly the best stopper around @ 125 grain JHP 1,450 fps 584 ft-lbs.

Its very close to the best looking so far as numbers go that I have found. and if you buy in to the one stop shot theory both rounds rank as 96%.

".40s&w my choice is corbon 135 grain @ 1,325 fps 526 ft-lbs of muzzel enegry.
now compair that to a .357mag which is most likly the best stopper around @ 125 grain JHP 1,450 fps 584 ft-lbs.

Its very close to the best looking so far as numbers go that I have found. and if you buy in to the one stop shot theory both rounds rank as 96%."


A good read in case you are not familiar:
http://www.firearmstactical.com/pdf/fbi-hwfe.pdf

There is no 135gr .40S&W defensive load that meets the FBI standard of 12" in ballistic gel. Standard lead core bullets such as Ranger Talons or Gold Dots in 135gr .40 have a VERY low sectional density which results in very low momentum relative to bullet diameter resulting in very poor penetration. The FBI and virtually all large Federal agencies specifically ban their use by officers due to the high risk of them not providing adequate penetration and incapacitation of the bad guy. ICE has recently changed their decades long standing use of high velocity bullets and gone with more heavy projectiles like the 165gr .40S&W after a series of shootings gone badly. Since bullet technology has improved drastically in the last 20 years and the increasing adoption by many agencies of heavier bullets with better sectional densities, shootings have gone much better in recent years. Even if you believe in the latest and greatest ballistic pressure wave theory, it still recommends a penetration of 12" in ballistic gel.

I prefer the heavier 180g.

I shoot the 180g JHP Remingtons from wally world they cycle much better in my .40 than the white box which I find to be dirty rounds IMO. They are only four more bucks which is a gallon of gas these days SIGH

The 180gr loads are going to have less recoil impulse than the 155gr and 165gr loads.

Click to expand...

Actually, the heavier bullet will recoil the most. But they often have less muzzle blast, giving the impression of lower recoil. Try the search feature. This has been discussed many times before.

165gr. Federal HST

starting block: 180 grain. start changing weights and you'll also be customizing your guns as well...

i ended up with a fast burning powder, a light 135 grn bullet, and working a heavier spring for a very fast snap.

Just use premium ammo recommended by most folks for SD and it doesn't matter which weight as long as you're accurate. Find out which one your gun shoots best and use it.

180 or 165 is fine.
Heavier bullets have less recoil in all handgun calibers.