40 S&W Reloading for Plinking

[Joe732]

Would love some input from you guys. Just picked up a Glock 23. Would like to
reload some 40's and need a little info on what is best for target and plinking:

 

[Minnesota Wild]

Lots of guys are shooting Tightgroup or Clays for light plinking loads. I love VV N320. 3.8 to 4.3 grains under a 180 grain bullet makes a nice, fairly light load that is accurate and great for plinking.

 

[GLOOB]

Here are all the loads I've used over the past 4 months, 95% shot with a G27:

180gr Berry's HP over 6.6gr Unique: Not recommended. Didn't do a lot of load development, other than looking for pressure signs. The sweet spot might be lower. I used up 250 of these, and the accuracy seemed very poor at longer distances.

180gr Nosler HP over 6.2gr AutoComp: appears accurate, but I haven't shot any at longer distances, yet. The recoil feels lightest of all these loads, even though it's the only one at the powder manufacturer's max charge weight. I wish I had a chrony.

155gr Berry's FP over 7.6gr AutoComp: accurate out to 100 feet, at least. I've shot nearly a thousand of these.

155gr Nosler HP over 7.6gr AutoComp: 200 or so rounds, similar to above.

With all of these bullets, OAL of 1.135"

I dunno what your idea of a plinking/target load is, but mine is the third one. Cheap projectile. Clean. Accurate. Full power and recoil. If you want less recoil, luger bullets are much cheaper!

 

[LiveLife]

Your Glock 23 will require mid-high range load data to properly cycle the stiff recoil spring - some start charges may not reliably cycle the slide.

For me, the heavier 180 gr bullet loads cycle the slide reliably even for stiffer recoil spring of Glock 27 at the low to mid range.

180 gr TCFP jacketed/plated - 4.3-4.5 gr W231/HP38 produces mild recoil yet accurate target/plinking loads.

155/165 gr jacketed/plated - I need to push these mid range + to reliably cycle the slide.

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Disclaimer: There is no current published Promo/Red Dot load data for 40S&W. Use Promo for 40S&W at your own risk.

I tested Promo on this thread with good accuracy - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=518185

Promo 40S&W average shot groups:
155 gr FMJ (Montana Gold) at 4.8 and 5.4 gr with 1.125" OAL
180 gr Plated (Rainier Ballistics) at 4.2/4.5/4.8 gr with 1.125" OAL
180 gr Lead (Missouri Bullets) at 4.0 gr with 1.125" OAL

All loads were accurate. Recoil was firm/snappy with spent cases landing behind me and to the right.

7-10 yard groups averaged 1"-2", 15 yard groups averaged 3"

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155 MG FMJ/4.8 gr - 10 yard 2" - 15 yard 3" - Firm recoil
155 MG FMJ/5.2 gr - 10 yard 2" - 15 yard 3" - Firm recoil

180 Rainier Plated/4.5 gr - 10 yard 2" - 15 yard 2" - Firm recoil
180 Rainier Plated/4.8 gr - 10 yard 2" - 15 yard 3" - Firm recoil

180 MBC Lead/3.5 gr - Accuracy all over the 8x11 copy paper - Light recoil
180 MBC Lead/3.8 gr - 7 yard 2" - 10 yard 3" - 15 yard 4" - Mild recoil
180 MBC Lead/4.1 gr - 7 yard 1.5" - 10 yard 1" - 15 yard 4" - Moderate recoil
180 MBC Lead/4.4 gr - 7 yard 1" - 10 yard 2" - 15 yard 2.5" - Firm recoil

 

[traveling1253]

I came up with a couple different low recoil plinking loads for my XDm. Both loads are accurate and inexpensive.
180gr Berry's RS with 4.5gr Hodgdon HP-38
180gr MBC IDP#5's with 5.5gr Ramshot True Blue
I plan to try the Berry's with True Blue but haven't got 'round to it yet. I really like the Ramshot powder as it is a bit cheaper than Hodgdon, both burn clean and meter spot-on through my Uniflow measure. The cast MBC bullets are cheaper than Berry's plated but require a bit more work during post range cleaning.

 

[68wj]

I just did some chrony work yesterday with 180 gr plated and Unique out of a G23.

5.5gr - 939 fps
5.8gr - 966
6.1 - 993

All functioned fine for 10 rds, but some cases were scuffed and dented indicated light ejection with the lighter loads.

 

[5thSFGroup]

I have been using 180 gr over Clays 3.2 and 3.4. The 3.4 was more accurate in a Sig P226 and a XD-M 3.8. I have switched to a 165 gr round which is the same weight that the Rem Personal Protecion round is and am very impressed with that round. It is very fast and the point of impact is outstanding close to the factory load of the Rem.

 

[JShirley]

Is lead still a no-no for Glock barrels? I haven't paid as much attention to Glocks in the last 8 years. Really regret selling my 2nd gen Model 23 when I enlisted in 2001.

 

[sellersm]

I've been happy with the loads mentioned above for Win231/HP38. I'm loading plated 180gr FP in the mid 4's (4.2-4.6) and it's a nice, soft plinker in my G23. Not sure about the spring on the G27 as was previously mentioned.

As to lead in the Glock barrels, many folks are doing it without problems, especially in the G20.

 

[LiveLife]

Is lead still a no-no for Glock barrels? I haven't paid as much attention to Glocks in the last 8 years. Really regret selling my 2nd gen Model 23

I shoot lead reloads out of my G22/G27 using factory and Lone Wolf barrels. When I use the factory barrels, I inspect for fouling/leading build up near the chamber end every 200-300 rounds or so and clean as necessary.

 

[beatledog7]

5.0 grains of Bullseye with CCI SPPs and 165gr plated flat nose bullets, I seat to OAL of 1.12" and shoot from a Glock 22. Could go a little lighter, maybe 4.6 or 4.7gr, for a real easy-shooting plinker.

 

[Waywatcher]

When I do it I am definitely going to use one of these:Redding G-RX Base Sizing Die

And a slower burning powder; definitely no titegroup or bullseye for me.

 

[HK SD9 Tactical]

+1 on the Redding GR-X dies.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I use 5.0 grains of HP-38 or Universal under a 165 grain Rainier flat point in range brass in my converted Glock 29.

 

[REL1203]

I use 5.0g of Universal under a Berry 180g FP, and its a GREAT round, extremely accurate in all my 40's i own, it is on the upper end (think 5.3 is max)