40S&W 180gr and Unique

[dbarnhart]

I've been reloading .45acp for years and now I think it's time to introduce my son to the benefits of reloading for his Glock 40S&W.

We'll be using 180gr FMJ flat nose bullets from Precision Delta. Powder will be Unique because I've already got about 12 pounds of it.

We'll chrono some factory rounds through his gun and then try to work up to that.

All my pistol reloading experience has been for 1911. I've read about the Glocks and the case bulging issue but have no direct experience with reloading for Glocks. Any suggestions, comments, warnings?

 

[GLOOB]

According to Lee, Unique only meters with "casual consistency." Also, they cite it as the powder with the worst lot-to-lot variation in density. So if you use a meter or a scoop, be sure to account for both of these variations. When you get a new lot number, be sure to weigh a few throws.

I've used Unique in 40SW with 155 gr bullets. It's a good powder with a really wide usable range with this bullet weight. I can't vouch for the 180, but I doubt you'll have any issues if you stick to the books.

 

[bigfinger76]

Unique is fine for 180 gr. I'm currently using lead, but there's no problem with plated or FMJ. Just rest assured it's not the most consistent in your measure. That alone, however, isn't an issue if you're a stickler like me. I weigh every charge.

Edit to add...

What model Glock are we talking about here?

 

[popper]

I used 5-5 1/2 Unique with xtreme plated and it works fine. I use a 40 case with wax in the bottom to make a scoop, easier then my uniflow. Dip, scrape the pile flat with the edge of the funnel and dump. 6 gr is HOT - don't stand behind someone shooting it. Most of my range pickup is glock. If it's not guppied or FC headstamp I reload it. I use 5 g for plated or cast, go to 5 1/2 for jacketed.

 

[greenlion]

Just watch your overall length, and be sure you crimp tightly enough to prevent bullet setback while shooting. I've never had a problem with bulging cases until I push the velocities up near the top end loads, and there is no real reason to do that with target loads. The old FBI load, a 180gr at 950fps is still a great load to shoot, and should be easy to duplicate with Unique.

 

[RhinoDefense]

be sure you crimp tightly enough to prevent bullet setback while shooting

Crimp does not create the bullet tension, the sizing die sets this. Crimp in auto pistol cartridges is only to remove the bell you put on the case mouth prior to bullet seating. That's it.

 

[Waywatcher]

Unique would give me slight pause with 180 grain in 40. Unique doesn't meter all that consistently, like has been mentioned above, and if one tries to push it to factory pressure, and the next powder drop is .2 grains above...

Power Pistol has metered much better for me, or you could look into a 165 bullet with Unique, and keep the velocity down and give yourself a cushion that way.

I just started .40 reloading myself, and I am using a Redding G-RX carbide push-thru base resizer, but then again, I am a cautious individual.

 

[crracer_712]

I loaded a 100 rounds of Winchester JHP 180 grain in 40 using Unique. Works great. Unique does require some fiddling. I use the PPM and have a system of how many finger flicks on the handle to try to get it to dump the proper amount of weight, I'm usually within a .10 of a grain on each drop. I'll have to look to verify when I get home, but I am thinking I was loading 4.8 grains of unique under this load and it shot great out of my M&P 40c.

 

[codefour]

I started at 6.2 grains of Unique for 180g 40S&W. It made all my forties a tad to snappy. I cut it back to 6.0, and it gave the best accuracy in all my forties, Glock, Sig, S&W. 5.8 felt better, but 6.0 was more accurate.

 

[crracer_712]

Lee also makes a buldge buster that works for the 380 acp, 40 S&W and 45 acp. It goes in the FCD and you can use it either on empty cases or loaded rounds.

I haven't experienced any buldged cases from my M&P 40c or my Ruger P91DC. My 45 ACP is a Glock 30SF, and I haven't had any buldged cases from it yet either.

 

[Ledhore]

I use Unique with 180 gr cast in .40 and it performs very well. I use a progressive and found that after installing a ground strap on my press to dissipate any static charge, powder charges became significantly more uniform.

 

[showmebob]

I would not recommend using Speer data for Unique. Checking with the chrono showed the starting load of Unique to be the same fps as the max load spec. This did not happen with Titegroup.

 

[Jurist]

Unique/180

I just finished reloading 200 rounds 100 Hornady 180 grn FMJFN,100 Horn 180 grn HAP.M.O.L. for both is 1.125.They work the action of my Couger 8040 without a problem,very accurate too.

 

[Hogpauls]

It depends on which generation his Glock .40 is, the newer generations 3 and 4 have tighter chambers than the 2nd generation.

I have a 2nd generation G23 I load for using RCBS dies that don't go quite as far down the case head as maybe Lee or Hornady. So I use the Lee Bulge Buster as a piece of mind kinda thing. If your rounds drop into a case guage or into the chamber of the barrel with no problem you should be fine.

I've been using 6.2 grns of Unique under a 180 grn. bullet with a 1.125" OAL for quite some time now as a range load with no problem. It doesn't meter the best out of a Uniflow but I'm well below max so no worries there.

 

[kfox]

I load for 3 .40 Glocks (22 Gen3, 23 Gen3, 22 Gen4) in all these my go to load is 5.4gr Unique under a 180gr MBC or SNS hard cast bullet. Leading is virtually none existant and it is a very accurate load. As with all loading data from the internet this is my experience and you should approach with caution) I use a Hornady LNL AP and have no problem keeping Unique to +\-.1 grains. When I ran them across a Chronograph they were averaging 974 fps.

 

[kludge]

I think I would give up reloading for life before I considered using 12# of Unique. Yes I hate it that much.

I would also get an aftermarket barrel for the Glock with a fully supported chamber.

 

[cheeze]

I think I would give up reloading for life before I considered using 12# of Unique. Yes I hate it that much.

I would also get an aftermarket barrel for the Glock with a fully supported chamber.

I agree about the aftermarket barrel. I can't comment much about the unique because I haven't used it much other than shooting lead out of a rifle. The aftermarket barrel will also allow you to use lead bullets better than the polygonal rifled stock barrel.

 

[dbarnhart]

I think I would give up reloading for life before I considered using 12# of Unique. Yes I hate it that much.

Well, if you find any in your closet I'll dispose of it for you at no charge ;-)

I've been using it for .45acp for many years and am quite happy with it.

 

[Ledhore]

Within the last year or so I bought a Lone Wolf barrel for my .40 glock 35. The Lone Wolf barrel has less chamber support at the feed ramp than the stock glock barrel has. This was not the case for an older Lone wolf barrel I got for my glock 23 in .40.

Regarding Unique - it meters very well through my hornady powder measure if I keep the static down.

 

[JKP]

I've loaded over 5000 rounds of .40 with Unique & 180 grain cast over the years. Shoot great.