AA#2 for .40 S&W 180 gr. FMJ ???

[TheSpaceWanderer]

Hey Folks,

I am thinking about adding a new caliber to my reloading setup. I've been having a great time shooting thew hell out of my revolvers but I think it's time to start loading for my autos. Specifically my Sig p229 in .40 S&W.

I have a bunch of Accurate #2 around. I have been loving it in my .38s. It burns clean, meters flawlessly, shoots accurately, and I can load almost 2000 rounds from a pound. I like it.

So I am looking for first hand experience with this powder for the .40 s&w. I am not asking what your favorite powder is. There are plenty of threads with that kind of info already. I just want to hear from the folks who use or have used AA#2 for .40.

What are you're feelings. Do you like it or hate it and why. If you didn't like it what did you prefer and why?

Thanks ahead.

 

[Walkalong]

Love the powder, tried it once in .40, didn't wow me but did OK. I ended up using more medium speed powders in .40.

Should make perfectly acceptable plinkers.

 

[TheSpaceWanderer]

I should have included that info in the original post. I do plan on using this just for plinking. At this time I do not carry this pistol, and if I ever decide to I'll buy factory ammunition.

 

[LiveLife]

plan on using this just for plinking.

Fast burning powders like AA #2 can certainly work for 40S&W but if you want lighter recoil/less snappy plinking load, you would need to load light.

W231/HP-38 and 180 gr bullets can produce 9mm like recoil loads.

I have tested faster powders like Bullseye/Clays/Red Dot/Promo/WST/Titegroup (Soon IMR Target/Red) for 40S&W and while they worked, produced snappier recoil loads unless loaded light.

 

[wally]

The Accurate Arms load guide 2016 which you can download as a pdf file recommends starting loads of from 4.0gr to 4.8 gr with AA#2 and various 180gr .40S&W bullets and estimated starting velocities ~825 fps.

If you don't have one of their exact bullets, probably best to start with 4.0gr or even a bit less and work up from there.

Since you've got the powder on hand, I'd try it and see if its useful to you, independent of if other people think its a good choice or not. The manufacturer says its a "suitable" powder for .40S&W, "optimum" depends on your usage scenario.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm not a fan if fast powders in short high pressure handgun cases. If you like AA#2 I suggest you try AA#7 for loading the 40 S&W. You could probably use A#5 but IMO AA#7 is best for that job.

 

[styles]

The above x 1,000.

AA#2 is my fav powder, but for a 40 s&w use #7. I also agree you have some wiggle room with #5, but #2 is not the best fit for your use. Im a little surprised AA lists loads for it or encourages it. #2 is a great powder, but why force a square peg in a round hole?

 

[joneb]

I agree with the above comments, I like Accurate #2 for 45 acp, 38 spl and 380 acp.
I do not load own or load 40 S&W but if I did I would use a medium burn pistol powder.
If I where looking for a light load for 40 S&W I would consider #2 with a lighter recoil spring.

 

[armoredman]

I use #2 with a 175gr load all the time, never heard any complaints.

 

[TheSpaceWanderer]

The above x 1,000. AA#2 is my fav powder, but for a 40 s&w use #7. I also agree you have some wiggle room with #5, but #2 is not the best fit for your use. Im a little surprised AA lists loads for it or encourages it. #2 is a great powder, but why force a square peg in a round hole?

I use #2 with a 175gr load all the time, never heard any complaints.

 

[LiveLife]

AA#2 is my fav powder, but for a 40 s&w use #7. I also agree you have some wiggle room with #5, but #2 is not the best fit for your use. Im a little surprised AA lists loads for it or encourages it. #2 is a great powder, but why force a square peg in a round hole?

Keep in mind OP is not looking to load full power loads rather plinking loads.

Should make perfectly acceptable plinkers.

I should have included that info in the original post. I do plan on using this just for plinking.

For 40S&W full power loads, I would also suggest slower burn rate powders but for lighter plinking loads, slower powders don't burn efficiently at lower charges to produce accuracy and faster burn rate powders are better suited for lower charge loads.

 

[Smj]

I don't have much standing here with practically no posts but...I've been using HS-6 in 9mm and .40 since almost the beginning. A seasoned reloader at the range suggested HS-6 due to the barrel length on my CZ 75 .40 allowing for a full burn of the HS-6. I also like it because of a wider range of powder weights, it fills the case more than the faster powders and the fact that it measures like a dream in the RCBS Uniflow.

There are loads for HS-6 listed for others....38sp, .45acp , but it didn't burn as clean, I believe because of the excess space in the cases.

 

[Walkalong]

.38 Spl and .45 ACP run at much lower pressure than 9MM or .40, and HS-6 likes pressure to burn clean.

 

[Patocazador]

For 40S&W full power loads, I would also suggest slower burn rate powders but for lighter plinking loads, slower powders don't burn efficiently at lower charges to produce accuracy and faster burn rate powders are better suited for lower charge loads.

The best I've found for full power loads for .40 S&W is LongShot.

 

[Walkalong]

I am not a Longshot fan, but it did do well in .40 with 180 Gr bullets. Very well.

 

[wally]

To re-iterate, I wouldn't buy AA#2 specifically for loading .40S&W, but since the AA load guide says its suitable, and the OP already has it on hand, IMHO it'd be silly to not try it first and see if it works for his purposes or not.

 

[TheSpaceWanderer]

Thanks for the info folks,

IMHO it'd be silly to not try it first and see if it works for his purposes or not.

I think that will be the plan of action. If my pistol doesn't like it I'll move on. HS-6 seems to be well liked. I may see if I can find that in my area. I sure was hoping to not have to add a new powder though. I'll have to see how it goes...

 

[LiveLife]

I wouldn't buy AA#2 specifically for loading .40S&W, but since the AA load guide says its suitable, and the OP already has it on hand, IMHO it'd be silly to not try it first and see if it works for his purposes or not.

During the last two component shortages, some in my group buy wanted to test then new Promo, a fast burn rate powder like AA#2. Since I liked Red Dot for 9mm/45ACP and Alliant claimed it was at same burn rate, I got an 8 lb jug to test.

Using Red Dot load data, Promo did very well for 45ACP, especially with 200 gr LSWC and good enough for 9mm 124 gr lead/plated bullets to use as cheap general purpose range/plinking load.

For 40S&W, Promo did work but produced snappier felt recoil than I preferred unless loaded at lower charges. If all I had were faster powders for 40S&W, I would use them but if I had powder choices, I would reach for W231/HP-38 and slower burn rate powders for lighter target loads.

 

[LiveLife]

If my pistol doesn't like it I'll move on. HS-6 seems to be well liked.

I really like BE-86 for 40S&W. I have tried powders from Bullseye to W231/HP-38 to AutoComp/CFE Pistol including HS-6 and WSF when shooting USPSA matches and BE-86 produced more accurate loads than my favored loads with other powders.

With RMR Hardcore Match 180 gr RNFP bullet and 6.1 gr BE-86 loaded to 1.155" OAL, produced sub 2" group at 25 yards with Glock 22 - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ick-plated-bullets.761471/page-4#post-9645513

Even had THR member Dudedog meet me at the range to verify accuracy of this load in person and got even smaller 5 round shot group - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ick-plated-bullets.761471/page-4#post-9646469

 

[[email protected]]

Like others said, it will work. You cant push the velocity limit with this powder, but there is no reason it wont work. With the faster powders in 40 s&w I prefer lighter weight bullets like 155 grains.

 

[TheSpaceWanderer]

Just in case anyone finds this thread again...

I finally amassed everything I would need to load up some .40's. I put them on top of 5.0 grains of A#2 and shot them from my SIG p229.

Everything functioned flawlessly. No failures what so ever.

Recoil was modest. It was the starting load.

 

[TheSpaceWanderer]

With RMR Hardcore Match 180 gr RNFP

Thanks for the tip. RMR was a good find.

 

[LiveLife]

You are very welcome.

I love happy endings.