.40 S&W Reload Compatibality Issue?

If you are not already an experienced reloader, you should read a couple of reloading basics books before anything else.

If you are, then you won't have any issues with .40S&W provided you stick to established safe procedures and parameters. The unsupported chamber problems with pistols chambered in .40S&W are Internet infamous, but they have been all but eliminated in the barrels being made today. Thousands of us shoot reloads in .40s regularly without problems.

I reload for my M&P 40; as stated, you just have to mindful of the higher pressures of the 40. I have a Dillon set of dies.

I use Clay's and reload mostly very soft shooting target rounds; the M&P is a great platform.

Good luck

Don't try to load 40S&W to 10mm levels
Watch your case overall length
Double check for double charges before bullet seating
Don't shoot lead bullets in GLOCK barrels

Keep these things in mind and have fun.

* Modern GLOCKS do not have unsupported chambers. It is true that some very early models would create a bulge in the case when loaded HOT because of loose tolerances at the feed ramp. Modern GLOCKS have just as much case support as any of the other pistols out there. Its just an internet rumor that will not die at this point.

You will have no issues at all if you follow published loads.

There's nothing that makes the M&P (or Glock) any less suitable to reloads than any other gun. It's just that when you reload you have an opportunity to goof things up and their lawyers don't like that, so they put the warning on there.

Be careful, load properly, and don't goof things up. My M&P has had over 8000 rounds through it of which MAYBE 500 have been factory. Its still going just fine.

If you're worried about the fully supported chamber issue (which has been corrected in recent Glock barrels, but there's tons of other ones already out there) Lee sells a "Bulge Buster" die that gets rid of the bulge it creates.

+ on beatledog7
+ on mgmorden

My Glock 23 (.40S&W w/Lone Wolf Barrel) thrives on a steady diet of cast lead and reloaded ammo. It shoots and cycles just fine. Toss any brass that is questionable and reload the rest. I prefer mid range loads because of the .40 recoil, they are a bit snappy.

I bought the Lone Wolf Barrel before I realized they weren't absolutely necessary. Many, many owners shoot cast lead bullets using the Glock factory barrels with no problems at all.

40 m & p

I have done thousands of handloads for my sons 40 M & P using a Lee 4 die set. I have had zero problems with a variety of bullets and loads.Just follow the normal safe procedures and you should be good to go.

The reason there is a warning about reloading for Glocks is that early Glock 40's did not have a fully supported chamber and early 40 load data was really pushing the limits.

The M&P 40 has a fully supported chamber and will handle any load at or below SAAMI specs.

MY M&P 40 has seen 1 box of factory reloads and about 8000 rounds of my own reloads.

Yes, it's safe to use reloads in an M&P 40. You'll find out that reloading straight walled handgun rounds are a lot easier than loading for bottle neck rifle rounds. Just be sure to start with published data and be safe in your procedure.

Pretty much all manuals say to only use factory loads. It's a legal butt-cover.

While a .40 is not a round try and hot rod it is an easy round to reload. Stick with published data pick a powder that fills over half he case, I like HS-6, and pay close attention to detail.

I have shot many thousands of rounds I reloaded with lead bullets through both my Glocks. Never had a leading problem with the barrel nor a problem with the so called bump in the cases. However, I load for accuracy, not velocity. I buy my carry ammo. I reload my practice ammo. I shoot my reloads in my Styer also with no problems....Read the reloading manual first. Do not use loading data from the internet.....chris3

rsrocket1 said:

The reason there is a warning about reloading for Glocks is that early Glock 40's did not have a fully supported chamber and early 40 load data was really pushing the limits.

The M&P 40 has a fully supported chamber and will handle any load at or below SAAMI specs.

MY M&P 40 has seen 1 box of factory reloads and about 8000 rounds of my own reloads.

Yes, it's safe to use reloads in an M&P 40. You'll find out that reloading straight walled handgun rounds are a lot easier than loading for bottle neck rifle rounds. Just be sure to start with published data and be safe in your procedure.

Click to expand...

The Smith & Wesson SW99 .40 S&W also does not fully support the case. I had bulges on factory loads with it, I don't on my Ruger P944.

There is no advantage in hot-rodding a handgun round. Sometimes, you might want to shoot a bullet-weight that is not available from the factory, but accuracy should your ultimate goal. more power, safely, is not possible.
Less expense, because the case is half the price of ammo, is probable.
Most of the problem with Glocks was because of someone running pressures up in an unsupported barrel. Factory ammo, or equivalent, wouldn't usually bulge the case, and a sizer die would usually iron out the bulge that did happen.
Handloading is a good way to spend time, and can be quite relaxing.
I used to reload so I could shoot... Now I shoot so I can reload, lol
Have fun,
Gene