40 S & W loads with MBC hard cast

5.0 grains of W231 at 1.125" with 180 grain lead works for me.

I use 5.0gr of Universal Clays, 180 LSWC at 1.125 works good for me...also use 5.2gr Universal Clays with Berry 180gr at 1.125 for polygonal barrels works great also.

MM

I've been loading 40S&W with the Missouri Bullet 180 grain TC bullet and AA#5 for my father for awhile.

I've loaded 4.0 red dot under 140 and 180 mbc with good results.

Lj1941 said:

40 S&W loads with MBC hard cast .. M&P 40C ... want a nice shooting load that is economical ... 155/180 ... Red Dot,Win 231/HP38, Titegroup and others in quanitity

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My preferred powder for "light" 40S&W lead loads is W231/HP-38. With MBC 180 gr TCFP, 3.8-4.0 gr will produce 9mm like light recoil that is accurate. 4.0-4.3 gr will produce mild recoil accurate loads.

I also use 4.0 gr Red Dot/Promo with the same bullet but will produce more snappy recoil that is good practice for factory loads. I tested MBC 180 gr TCFP with 3.8-4.4 gr Promo here - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=6509911#post6509911

Guns & Ammo tested "lite" 170/180 gr lead 40S&W loads using Bullseye/W231/Titegroup/Power Pistol - http://www.handgunsmag.com/ammo/ammunition_40lite_091806/

You can find load data for 170/180 gr lead bullets in 1999 Winchester load data - http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=159609&stc=1&d=1329800605

You can find load data for 155/180 gr lead bullets in 2004 Alliant load data - http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=182147&d=1364769070

Have fun!

My favorite powder for lead bullets in the 40S&W is Accurate No.7.

Clean, meters like water, low flash (unlike No.5) and very accurate.

Not lead but a 180g plated with 3.8g if bullseye is extremely soft and accurate.

4.0gn of that HP-38 you got there under a 180gr Falcon Bullet Company cast bullet is what I use. Soft shooting load it is.

Lj1941 said:

Have any of you used the MBC HiTek coated bullets. My question is: Do you change your loads when using these projectiles? From what I have learned these bullets are very slippery and require no lube. I have some 155 grain SWCs ordered as well as 180 TCs- both HiTek. I do not have a chronograph so I will be winging it. Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. My plan is to switch over 100% when I use up my existing stock of regular cast MBC bullets.

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No, just load and shoot like any hard cast lead bullet. The coating is the lube.
So claim you may get a little more velocity out of them but I have not specifically tested nor changed and load data.

My go-to accuracy loads in .40S&W with both jacketed and cast boolits are:
Winchester SuperField, aka WSF;
6.3gr w/155gr 1,050fps
5.5gr w/180gr. 900fps

I've used a LOT of 4.0gr Bullseye and 180gr TC cast (800fps)in my Glocks (two dept issued guns, 1st turned in with transfer/promotion. Second kept when I retired- has badge# for ser.#). Shoots as good as a Glock will shoot with anything. Bullet MUST be HARD! No swaged lead bullets such as Federal and MasterCart/GeorgiaArms offered back in the '90's, hence the prohibition of "lead" bullets in the Glocks.

However, my S&W M&P "Shield" with 3" bbl will "shoot the pants off" of ANY Glock I've ever shot (numerous!)
It prefers the 6.3gr load of WSF and the Lee .401-145 SWC, which casts to 155gr. It will hold the X-ring on a B-27 target at 25yds if I do my part. I've seen 2"-6shot groups with it from bench. The RO and young DNR officer watching me shoot it were astonished, ME TOO! I've have/had PPC match revolvers that didn't shoot much better.... How did they (S&W) do it??? It aint really anything that special in fit/finish... Nothing like my Perf.Ctr guns... but it really is an over-achiever!

My practice load is the Lee 401-175-TC powder coated with 5.0g Unique or more recently 4.0g Red Dot seated to 1.135" COL (0.258" seat depth). They both give me 950-970 fps with my 4.25" M&P 40 FS. I use more Red Dot recently because I scored an 8# jug last fall and save the Unique for 9mm. These loads are mid power and great for practice.

For fun, you can emulate a 120g 9mm bullet at 1100 fps with a 180g 40 S&W by loading 3.0g Red Dot. Very low recoil, but it cycles fine and locks the slide at the end of each mag.

Lyman's third edition Pistol and Revolver Handbook has over 40 loads on pages, 169 and 170. Western Powder has many cast bullet 40 caliber loads for both Accurate and Ramshot powders and Lee has some too. Lee likely has most of all.

A good place to discuss cast bullet loads is here: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?8-Cast-Boolits&

I haven't been shooting .40S&W much lately but when I shot it regularly, I used 5.2gr Unique and a 180gr TC hard cast, OAL 1.12". Worked great in all my guns.

I don't shoot that exact bullet, but I cast a 175 grain TC bullet that is very similar.

I like 4.5 grains of W231/HP38.
I also like 4.5 grains of Bullseye.

I've shot some Unique but didn't care for it in that caliber. I can't remember why right now.

Lj1941, you are very welcome.

I ordered these from a guy on Gunbroker.
They are coated, well made 180 gr conical flat nose 40/10mm bullets.
The green ones are 5.4 gr Unique
and the red ones are 5.2 gr Unique.
I was a little nervous about the 5.4 being near or at max but they just seemed to be fine. No case or pressure problems. All sized at 1.119 with a light taper crimp. No feed problems in a sig 2340 or Ruger P94DC.
I won't be loading anymore 5.4 gr loads because the muzzle seems to jump up a bit more than I like. 5.2 was good for practice and I think I may just stick with 5.0 next time for practice. Just ordered another 300 bullets and they are $7.77 per 100 and 500 bullets shipped for $5.60 priority. They aren't Missouri bullets but I'd bet they are darn close to their product.
Cleaning the barrels was no big deal either after a hundred or more rounds.

sigsmoker said:

Gunbroker ... coated 180 gr conical flat nose ... $7.77 per 100 and 500 bullets shipped for $5.60

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I don't think that's a good price for coated bullets.

Missouri sells Hi-Tek2 coated 180 gr TCFP for $48/500 + shipping ($45.60 with 5% THR discount) - http://missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=217&category=5&secondary=11&keywords=

If you want to spend that much money, why not consider plated bullets? RMR sells thick plated 180 gr RNFP for $59/500 with free shipping ($56.50 with 5% THR discount) - http://www.shop.rmrbullets.com/40-1...RNFP-Plated-500-Ct-40-180-RMR-HC-RNFP-500.htm

bds:

I don't think that's a good price for coated bullets.

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My post was to give my experience with what I've loaded. I am not arguing which is a better deal since I have not compared or loaded Missouri .... yet.
I don't imagine that there is much difference in quality for a practice round from either source. Even with a Missouri THR discount 100 of their comparable coated bullets the price for 100 comes out to $9.12 before shipping and it appears you have to buy 500.

That is more than $7.77. and I don't need to buy 500 to get that price. I just take advantage of buying 500 bullets ( regardless of size and caliber ) at a time because that's how many will fit in a US Priority small flat rate box for $5.40 ( not $5.60 as I stated earlier )

I ordered 300 40's "They are sized .401,coated with Hi Tek supercoat" and "foundry alloy of 2% tin, 6% antimony and 92% lead"
100 44's for my 44 mag and specials
and 100 150 gr 30 gas checked for my 30-40 Krag and I am getting some gas checked 30's as free samples in 180 gr thrown in for $48.03 shipped for the polite asking.

sigsmoker, my apologies. I totally messed up my math. Apparently I was thinking $77.70 for 500 ... :banghead:

So it would be $38.85/500 + $5.40 for shipping which is a good deal.

FYI, Dardas bullets with THR 5% discount would be $34.96/500 + shipping but that would be for lubed lead bullets - http://www.dardascastbullets.com/mm...Product_Code=10180FPBB1000&Category_Code=10FP

I was reading some of your posts and you do know your stuff on these 40 S&W loads tho bds. You da man. Thanks for your contributions.