40 S&W Reloading Dies

[BSA1]

It is with great dismay that I learned earlier this week that I am going to be issued handgun by my Department.

The reason for my dismay is it is what I personally consider the worst choice...Glock 40 S&W.

This means I will probably want to shoot it occasionally which means reloading (and I just gave away a bunch of once fired brass). What brand of reloading dies work best for the Glock 40?

 

[kcofohio]

Don't know much about the Glock. But with their reputation of having the more forgiving chamber, I'd venture to say RCBS, Hornady, Lee, Dillon, etc. should work.

If you're in need of brass, I have some to spare.

 

[gamestalker]

I'm not certain that I understand your question. Is there some aspect of the .40 cal. that's particularly troubling to you? Or is it that you'll be shooting a Glock?

I load .40 cal. and for numerous different firearms, Glock included. I use a Lee 3 die set, no bulge buster, no FC die, just a standard 3 die set, I have never found a need for more than that. Glock bulge as it is referred to, is something I rarely encounter, and when I do, the standard resizing die almost always solves the problem.

GS

 

[ljnowell]

I use a lee 3 die set and gave no problems loading 40 S&W with them.

 

[Jimfern]

I use an RCBS carbide set and have no problems.

 

[vaalpens]

Is the worst choice the Glock or the 40S&W?

I cut my handloading teath with 40S&W and a Lee 4 die set. Picking a reloading die set should not be an issue, even for a Glock.

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

Carbide dies help to prevent the need for case lube. Lee dies work fine too.

 

[Hardtarget]

I use the RCBS dies. I don't own a .40 but my sons are glat to shoot my reloads.

Mark

 

[rg1]

I've not been reloading 40 S&W very long but I can highly recommend Redding's GR-X push through die in carbide. Run all cases through the GR-X die then size normally and load. Especially if you're loading mixed brass fired in numerous pistols or carbines. No issues with brass that I've fired in my Glock or Beretta carbine but if you buy once fired brass you will find a few with bulges near the case head that normal carbide sizing dies won't reach. I use both RCBS and Hornady carbide sizing dies. Make sure you have good bullet tension, just the same as all reloads.

 

[atblis]

Lee carbide dies do the best at resizing all the way down at the base. I've never found the need for a push through die. Skip the Lee factory die. It's a bandaid.

 

[Jlr2267]

I use the same Lee 4-die set for 40 and 10mm (too cheap to buy a 2nd set)...no issues with either caliber in my Glocks.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Lee dies for all my handgun stuff.

I love the powder through expanding dies.

 

[gamestalker]

I agree, the powder through expander die is really a nice feature, IMO.

GS

 

[LiveLife]

What brand of reloading dies work best for the Glock 40?

If you reload 40S&W, you are going to run into so called "Glocked" brass which is "catch all" phrase for brass shot in generous chambers with less case base support which will overly expand the case (especially near the case base) and/or show guppy like belly.

"Normally expanded" case base will resize to fully chamber in the barrel with most brand resizing die but "overly expanded/guppy bellied" case won't fully resize in certain dies with larger radius cut in the carbide sizer/die mouth meant for easier alignment with the shell plate for brass to enter the die mouth.

For me, Lee carbide sizing die will resize further down the case base with smaller OD than RCBS/Dillon 40S&W dies and I do not need to use push-through resizing with undersized "U" dies or FCD (Lee Bulge Buster kit) to fully chamber in even tighter Lone Wolf barrels. Many reloaders whose sizing die won't fully resize 40S&W brass use U dies/FCD (Bulge Buster) so the brass will fully chamber in their barrels. Some Dillon users have known to use Lee sizing die on their presses for this reason (use locking ring below the tool head due to shorter Lee die body).

Key point to remember is if any brass resized with Lee carbide resizing die won't fully chamber in the tightest barrel I have, I cull the brass instead of push-through resizing with undersized/FCD as I consider overly expanded/guppy bellied brass to have experienced stretching of brass which thins the case wall and thus weaken the brass (once you thin the case wall, resizing won't make the case wall thicker ). Repeated push-through resizing with undersized/FCD of overly expanded/guppy bellied brass could result in case wall failure/KaBoom if thinning of case wall continues.

I usually recommend to reloaders if their loads overly expands/guppy bellies the brass to lower the powder charge. I also recommend to reloaders if they use mixed range brass with unknown reload history/condition of brass to not use near max/max load data and instead consider using lower powder charge to give them some pressure buffer.

To better ensure against case wall failure/KB, I reserve verified once-fired brass for higher pressure 40S&W when using near max/max load data with slower burn rate than Unique/Universal/BE-86 powders. With mixed range brass with unknown reload history and condition of brass, I prefer to use lower pressure (mid-to-high range) loads using faster burn rate than Unique/Universal/BE-86. Powders like W231/HP-38 and BE-86 can produce accurate loads at mid-to-high range load data at lower pressures - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9645513#post9645513

 

[Gummi Bear]

Thrilled with my Glock 22, and Lee 4 die set.

I have put that pistol through absolute hell, and it has never failed. I carried it on my hip chasing pigs through rivers and all sorts of foul weather and mud. It is responsible for dispatching truckloads of pigs, and has always gone "bang" when I asked it to. Never on its own, and never a misfire that is a fault of its own (cheap ammo sometimes fails)

 

[JO JO]

I load for my Glocks never an issue I have Hornady dies that I use on my single stage and
a Lee 4pc set up on my Lee Turret no issues with any of them,
doesn't your Department give you an allotment of ammo to practice with ?

 

[ARJJ]

.40 is actually pretty easy to load for. It's a true straight walled case so it resizes very easily. I use Lee carbide dies. The FCD works fine, although I found a regular taper crimp die works better for the coated lead bullets I load, as it doesn't swage the bullets down when using thicker brass.

I only load for a Glock 35, using 99% Glock fired brass. Never had an issue with "Glocked" brass, but I also discard obviously bulged or "guppied" brass.

I love Bayou coated 180 grain round shoulder flat point bullets. I've also had good luck with their 175-grain SWC. Zero FMJ bullets also shot extremely accurately, and loaded smooth as silk.

Unique is my favorite powder for .40. I've also had good luck with autocomp, blue dot, and power pistol. The latter two shine with higher end load data. Titegroup can yield some light recoiling plinking loads.

 

[BSA1]

Is there some aspect of the .40 cal. that's particularly troubling to you? Or is it that you'll be shooting a Glock?

Both.

Although I am a very experience I don't have any experience reloading the 40 S&W. In fact I have deliberately avoided the cartridge as I feel it doesn't offer any advantage over 9mm and 45 acp.

But the powers that be have mandated Glock Model 22's. Since I am a reloader I need to buy dies, brass and bullets.

With the 9mm and 45 I mixed brands, reload 'em and shoot 'em without any problems. I don't even bother to trim them and they all go bang. Is the 40 that forgiving also?

The Glock bulge is my concern.

I am not brand loyal to a particular companies dies. I try to buy the dies best suited for the caliber I am reloading which is why I have LEE, RCBS and Hornady in the cabinet.

Thank you for the advice.

 

[LiveLife]

BSA1, if you already have well developed 9mm loads and have concerns loading 40S&W, then why not consider shooting 9mm in the Glock 22?

I use G22/G23/G27 with KKM/Lone Wolf 40S&W and 40-9 conversion barrels but for range practice drills, I will often use 9mm loads.

You may need to use G17 mags but I found latest generation magazines will work with 9mm rounds so try first. If 9mm rounds feed reliably to the last round in the magazine, you are good to go.

Just another option.

 

[Gummi Bear]

Glock bulge is a minor concern.

Of the last 3,000 cases I've sized to reload, I threw out maybe 3 or 4. Most of the brass I buy comes from a police department range, so it is primarily Glock fired.

The Bulge Buster from Lee does do a nice job of truing up the case, I run them through it nust as a precautionary measure. It is quick and easy.

I've put about 10,000 rounds through my G22, and never had an issue. I picked up a match barrel for it (Wilson) to satisfy my curiosity. It works nicely, an is a slightly more snug chamber than the factory Glock barrel.

 

[JO JO]

I believe the newer Glocks have a much better supported chamber and it was
the earlier models that had the unsupported chambers, I have G22 gen 3 and G23 gen 4 Never an issue I really feel the whole if you reload 40 sw you will
blow you hand off is really over blown.
Always follow the safety protocol and follow the manuals and its the same as loading 9mm I do avoid fast low charge weight powder and stick with a a powder that fills the case up a bit a medium burn rate powder but that's what I prefer to load with.
The G22 is a really good pistol keep and open mind you may find you like it

 

[lightman]

In my experience the 40 S&W is as forgiving as the 9mm and 45. As dies go, there are probably no losers. I've stayed with RCBS and Dillon, and they have given me good service. I have lots of 40 brass, if you need some. PM me, and I'll donate enough to get you started.

 

[Walkalong]

I started with RCBS equipment and it all worked great. Then I played around with all of the others a little and for pistol dies if I should need a set these days it will be RCBS.

I am with bds, if my sizer doesn't size a piece of .40 brass well enough to work, I scrap it. I have too much .40 range brass to worry about salvaging any that has been stressed enough the sizer won't handle it.

 

[ljnowell]

Both.



Although I am a very experience I don't have any experience reloading the 40 S&W. In fact I have deliberately avoided the cartridge as I feel it doesn't offer any advantage over 9mm and 45 acp.



But the powers that be have mandated Glock Model 22's. Since I am a reloader I need to buy dies, brass and bullets.



With the 9mm and 45 I mixed brands, reload 'em and shoot 'em without any problems. I don't even bother to trim them and they all go bang. Is the 40 that forgiving also?



The Glock bulge is my concern.



I am not brand loyal to a particular companies dies. I try to buy the dies best suited for the caliber I am reloading which is why I have LEE, RCBS and Hornady in the cabinet.



Thank you for the advice.

Glock bulge is mostly repeated by those that dislike Glock and is blown out of proportion by those that hate them.

 

[Wildbillz]

I try to stick with RCBS or Dillon die sets.

But that's just me.
WB