Looking for a good .40 S&W recipe...

[Corner Pocket]

I've reloaded other calibers for a while, am happy with the results, and have just recently started loading .40 caliber. I have a bunch of 155 gr Berry's plated bullets and I've developed a load using them with HS-6. Though they fire and cycle the gun just fine, I'm not all that thrilled with the performance. If you have a good recipe for these bullets (preferably with Bullseye, but other powders are welcomed), please know that I'm all ears. Thanks!

CP

 

[Floppy_D]

That probably wouldn't be my first pick for powder, but you could use 5.8g of Bullseye. With similar bullets I used 7.7g of Unique with much better results. Those numbers are for reference, read a manual and don't trust my numbers as gospel.

You don't like the performance... is this accuracy or velocity problems? You can only push plated bullets so hard.

 

[Corner Pocket]

Many thanks, Floppy. The HS-6 loads I tried shot a couple inches low (at 7 yds) and a little to the right.

I have some Unique here and I'll try your suggestion in a few test rounds. Do you have the OAL for that Unique load? Thanks again!

CP

 

[kludge]

I'm all Universal in my .40 now. See www.hodgdon.com for recipes.

I gave up on Bullseye in .40; now it's relegated to .38 target loads. I couldn't shoot 100 rounds before it was so dirty it wouldn't run.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I'm using 6.8 grains Unique with my Ranier 155 gr 40 loads, they're good.

 

[tjj]

dittos Kludge

Bullseye is really dirty and smoky. You really notice it in an indoor range. I use Universal Clays in my 9mm and .40 now and it's much cleaner. Titegroup works too but is just a bit dirtier I find. Now I use Titegroup for just my .45ACP.

 

[Floppy_D]

Universal Clays has worked well for me too, forgot about that one.

 

[possum]

bullseye 4.3, 5.1, ansd 5.3 have all done great for me. they are all accurate enough for the range.

the 4.3 is my favorite. it has the lightest recoil, and is by far the easiest and most fun to shoot .40 load that i have ever shot/ reloaded.

try them all out and see whatworks best for you.

btw they were all shot form a sa xd service model, and all were 100% reliable.

 

[rick300]

unique + Berry's 155

I too have some otf these. I e-mailed alliant and the said to start at 5.2 with Unique. Do you guys think this is to low? I'm a new loader and want to start carfully. Thanks Rick

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I'd go with at least 6 grains, otherwise pressure will be too low and Unique will be really dirty. I like to keep mine right around 1000 fps, which I do on my chrono.

 

[JDGray]

6.9gr Power Pistol, under a 165gr tc fmj, shot really well out of my G23
Averaged 1010fps, with an es of 15fps

Woops, seen the 155gr in your post. I shot the super cheap Win 165gr tc's when they were plentifull, and cheaper then plated.

 

[fastattack]

5.4gr W231 pushing a 165gr Berrys plated FP. W231 flows nice.

 

[Corner Pocket]

From possum: bullseye 4.3, 5.1, ansd 5.3 have all done great for me. they are all accurate enough for the range.

the 4.3 is my favorite. it has the lightest recoil, and is by far the easiest and most fun to shoot .40 load that i have ever shot/ reloaded.

I appreciate the reply, possum. Are you speaking of these charges when being used under a 155 gr Berry's plated bullet? From looking at the reloading manuals that I have here, it appears to me that the 4.3 gr charge would be way-underpowered. Is this chargeweight correct in your experience, for that bullet? Thanks!

Corner Pocket

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

I am surprised no one has mentioned titegroup. I love this powder for 40S&W very clean and accurate for me. I have worked up a load of 5.5gr of titegroup for my glock 22 and a sig 226. It cycles both just fine.

You may want to read this article for developing lite loads for 40S&W.
40LiteLoads
I have managed to go as low as 4.4 to keep my same point of aim and still cycle both the glock and the sig226 100% of the time. Anything lower than that I get stove pipes. The good thing about the lite loads, no more searching for brass it dumps them 5 to 6 inches from my feet.

Below is a target representing 24 shots of 40S&W from the sig226 with 5.5gr of titegroup at 15yrds.

 

[Walkalong]

I like Universal in .40.

 

[Matt Dillon]

+1 for Universal in.40 S&W

 

[Corner Pocket]

Thanks to all who replied.

I went to the range yesterday and have returned with a happy report. Two loads of ten rounds each were tested and I found that they both run well in my CZ 75B (.40 S&W) pistola. These were with 155 gr Berry plated bullets. I used:

5.3 gr Bullseye at an OAL of 1.130". And
7.3 gr Unique at an OAL of 1.130".

Both of these were accurate and no failures of any kind occurred with either of them. I'll now load up a bunch of each and see if I end up preferring one over the other. (Of course, one immediate advantage of going with Unique is that I have a whole bunch of it, and in the case of these .40 casings, it could not be double-charged without badly spilling over.)

Corner Pocket