favorite 40S&W loads

[ORXD40]

so i bought my wife a new kimber 9mm for christmas and she doesnt like it as much as she likes my XD(who'da thought) anyone have any great mild recoiling 40 S&W (comparable to 9mm)

 

[possum]

i do i do.

with 165gr Rainier's i load 6.5gr's of Unique with an OAL of 1.120", primers? take your pick i have used cci and wsp. That is pretty close to a factory loading.

180gr Lead flat nose, 3.5gr of Bullseye 1.120" OAL, wsp/ cci. I have used these alot and loaded up over 2000rds of it. I even used it in a training course. Accurate, reliable, and mild recoil very light recoil for a .40 for sure.

also you can go with the 4.0 gr of bullseye with the above and get a mild recoil load as well, they have been a little more accurate than the 3.5gr for me anyway.

155gr Lead Round nose 4.3gr od bullseye 1.130"OAL wsp/cci primers.
very light recoil, Just enough to work the action, they have been 100% reliable.

By the way i am using a SA Xd service model. It eats anything i feed it.

 

[ORXD40]

thanks a lot i will give them a whirl. she tried shooting my PD load of 180 gn hornady xtp over 8.2gns of blue dot and it was a litttle much for her

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

I love 3.5 titegroup under a 180gr rainer. Very soft but cycles my 40S&W for perfect reliability. You will have to experiment a bit because of the recoil spring in your specific weapon, just keep that in mind. Titegroup is very nice to use because it is the least case sensitive powder I know of. Here is a good link for loaded down 40S&W.
http://www.handgunsmag.com/ammunition/40lite_091806/index1.html


Please keep in mind that going low is also very dangerous as well. Especially if your wife will be shooting them and won't be able to tell the difference between a normal round or a squib load.

 

[redw7blue]

I use 6.5g of unique, wsp, and 165g zero bullets. Shot a couple of thousand with both my G27 and HK and love the load.

 

[possum]

I use 6.5g of unique, wsp, and 165g zero bullets. Shot a couple of thousand with both my G27 and HK and love the load.

me too.

OP,
if you want some hotter loads down the road, or some defense loads let me know. i will hook you up.

 

[Floppy_D]

I cast my own, and use 5.5g of Unique under a 175g LSWC, or 6.1g of Unique with 155g LRN. Both with CCI primers, mild taper crimp. Both mild recoiling and pleasant to shoot.

 

[D. Manley]

For range use, 3.5 grains TG or 4.0 VV N-320 under a 180 Rainier FP @ 1.130 is sweet. These will make minor PF and the gun runs very flat.

Accurate in mine and still very easy on the gun and brass:

165 Grain Zero JHP @ 1.130:
5.5 WSF
4.8 Universal
5.9 Silhouette
3.9 Titegroup
6.1 VV 3-N-37
5.3 VV N-340

180 Grain Rainier FP @ 1.130:
4.5 Universal
5.5 Silhouette
6.0 Power Pistol

180 Grain Zero JHP @ 1.130:
4.6 Universal
4.7 VV N-340
5.3 WSF
5.6 Silhouette
6.5 True Blue

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I load 6 grains of Unique behind a 165 gr Ranier, 1.125, this is a soft shooter and accurate in my XD.

I recently loaded some 165 gr Ranier with 7 grains of Longshot, 1.125, good load, approaches factory ballistics, gives a satisfying "boom" and they are accurate.