putting together a .40 S&W bulk load

[thomis]

Would like your bullet recommendation for an all-purpose .40 load.
I'd like to buy the bullets in bulk (1000).
I prefer a jacketed, hollow point bullet that will serve decently as SD and for somewhat accurate plinking. I've never loaded for the .40 and all my experience has been with relatively inexpensive plinking ammo, none of which were hollow points.
If it helps, I'm loading for the Ruger BSR40C.

Powder and charge could be helpful, too, if you care to share.

Thanks,

Thomis

 

[LiveLife]

There has been an ongoing discussion whether you should load your own defensive rounds and I use the factory Golden Saber ammunition for my SD/HD pistols but use the same bulk bullets to reload for range practice.

The two bulk premium HP bullets I would recommend for SD/HD purposes are Remington Golden Saber and Speer Gold Dot in 165 - 180 gr bullet weights. I buy the GS bullets from MidwayUSA when they go on sale and buy pulled GD bullets from RMR.

I use WSF for full-power loads at near-max using current Hodgdon load data.

165 gr Sierra JHP WSF .400" OAL 1.125" Start 6.3 gr (1055 fps) 28,100 PSI - Max 6.7 gr (1115 fps) 32,700 PSI

180 gr Hornady XTP WSF .400" OAL 1.125" Start 5.4 gr (946 fps) 28,000 PSI - Max 5.8 gr (1013 fps) 32,900 PSI

For me, I only use verified once-fired brass/nickel plated cases for near max load data 40S&W loads.

 

[popper]

Xtreme, Raineir,Penn, plated, jacketed, cast, HP, TC, RN, any you choose. HP-38/231 and other powders work fine. Whatever goes bang EVERY time and hits were you aim. There aren't any zombies and no elephants in my neighborhood. If you think a HP will reduce collateral damage, think again. Odds are 50-50 you will 1) fire more than once, 2) miss at least once, 3) HP will still go through, 4) you will put a minimum .40 size hole in whatever you hit, 5) shots > 25' are probably NOT SD/HD. IMHO, heavy for caliber and at the slow end of fps is sufficient.

 

[MtnCreek]

Another option would be Hornady HAP's for shooting and XTP's for carrying. HAP's are XTP's w/o the lazer cuts to aid expansion and are pretty cheap. IME, if you load them the same, they shoot the same.

 

[Sound Dude]

I use 165gn Montana Gold JHP. Bulk price is around $320 per 2700 delivered. 6.5gn of Winchester WSF under a MG works great in my XD and CZ.

 

[LiveLife]

Although I use Montana Gold JHP for match loads, I would not use them for defensive loads (IMO, the rounded nose with small opening is meant more for reliable feeding, not reliable expansion). I would only consider premium JHP bullets with proven expansion performance for defensive loads.

As to plated HP bullets, Speer Gold Dots are only plated HP bullets I would use for defensive loads (yes, they are thick plated, not jacketed) as they have proven expansion performance. All other plated HP bullets (Berry's, HSM, PowerBond, Rainier, X-Treme, etc.) would deform rather than expand on various expansion tests. Berry's MFG is releasing their version of premium plated HP similar to Gold Dots with tested expansion performance this summer/fall and I plan on testing them when they hit the retail market (they are currently supplying the OEM ammunition manufacturers).

For plinking loads, I would suggest the lowest cost plated/lead bullets you can buy in the same 165-180 gr and duplicate the felt recoil for practice.

 

[GLOOB]

My current "standard" 40 load is a Zero 165 gr JHP over 7.0 grains AutoComp.

 

[gamestalker]

I load SD and as well shooting ammo for the .40, but the ammo I load isn't everyones typical idea of shooting ammo, per say.

My everyday loads consist of a JHP bullet, Nosler, Speer, XTP's or what ever is on sale, if so. I go with either HS6 or Longshot and CCI primers. I absolutely love the performance of those 2 powders behind a JHP and the fact that they are such user friendly powders, in that, it is virtually impossible to accidentally drop a double charge, and when working up to a maximum velocity load, pressures have never suddenly spiked.

THE FOLLOWING DATA EXCEEDS RECOMENDED DATA
In fact I commonly run most of my loads with either of those powders at, or, significantly beyond the published data with absolutely no indications I am on the edge of pressure limitations. However, those powders do not perform well for me at the minimum published data, so I start in the middle charge range when using them. I found that none of my .40's will cycle reliably with minimum charges, because the slide isn't completely cycling back. But both of those powders burn very clean when the charge is high enough. I won't post the actual charges I've been using simply because it isn't reloader ethical to use someone elses data to work from, I would recomend going to Hogdon's reloading pages and look it up there.

FYI, if you like the way those 2 powders function with the .40, you'll also very likely like the way they work for the 9mm as well, I do.

GS

 

[Waywatcher]

I have settled on 6.4 grains of Power Pistol with a 180 grain fmj, which chronographs matching factory ammo, is clean burning, cheap, consistent, and a bulky powder that helps prevent double charging. A double charge is nearly overflowing. Depending on source, this load is mild to moderate, but I get velocity duplication of factory ammo and positive functioning.

I stopped looking for different combinations after I tried this one.

 

[popper]

jacketed, hollow point bullet that will serve decently as SD

Absolutely NO evidence that this is better than a cast TC (or any flat point for that matter) for SD!!!! Lots of evidence of NO expansion, petals breaking off, jacket/core separation, etc.

 

[Uncle Richard]

for IDPA matches I use..........

180gr Rainier RNFP
5.3gr WSF
Win SPP
~870fps

in my XD-40


Highly recommend buying self-defense ammo for liability reasons, instead of handloads.

 

[thomis]

popper, you have a good point. my standard black bear loads for the .44 mag are a hard cast 275 grain keith cast. the widest meplap i have seen on a bullet without it being completely barrel-shaped..

back to the .40 s&w...No one has listed the powders I currently have..except one, the HP38...
Hodgdon H110
Hodgdon HP38
Accurate Arms # 5
Ramshot True Blue
Alliant 2400

 

[popper]

The OP says he wants a 1k of SD bullets. I just get WWB @ wally world 180 TC for SD, shoot whatever I want, including HP otherwise. What is the diff between a .4 or .45" hole? You aren't going to track a B.T. The ability to put multiple holes without a jam or FTF in the perp is the goal.

 

[LiveLife]

RMR is selling pulled Speer Gold Dot 180 gr HP for $145/1000 - (http://www.shop.rmrbullets.com/product.sc?productId=101&categoryId=15

Not a bad price for premium tested HP bullet.

 

[thomis]

Help me understand. Why are they pulled? They are pulled b/c there were defect from factory? Confused here.

 

[jr_watkins]

155's

I have been using Remington 155gr hollow point. Not quite the bullet the golden sabre is for self defense, but a bit cheaper and they do shoot really well.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/16...-400-diameter-155-grain-jacketed-hollow-point

As for powder, I'd recommend Power Pistol as a first choice, but if you have HP38 already, you will do pretty well using somewhere between 5.5 - 5.7gr with the 155gr bullets above. You'll need to chronograph out of your gun, but that should put you in the 1050fps range, plenty fast. Using standard small pistol primers, it works out to a pretty economical load.

I personally don't like or recommend 180gr bullets in the 40S&W...a different thread to be sure.

All my shooting of 40S&W has been in Glock 22 and 27.

 

[LiveLife]

I shoot 40S&W out of G22, G27, M&P40.

Personally, I like 165 gr bullet for 40S&W JHP for SD/HD and match bullet weight.

180 gr JHP may give you more penetration depending on the application. IME/IMO, it's been more accurate bullet weight than 135-170 bullet weights.

As to why Speer decided to pull the Gold Dot HP bullets, longdayjake from Rocky Mountain Reloading may shed some light as he sell them.

 

[[email protected]]

I just got a box of the nosler 150 grain sporting handgun hollow point bullets a few weeks ago. They come packaged in 250 count boxes. I havent tried or loaded these bullets yet, but they really look good. Im almost through with a batch of 223 remingtons, so I plan to start on these when I can. Not to steal a thread, but does anyone have any expierence on how well these expand?

 

[J_McLeod]

I'd also go with RMR. Great proven SD bullets, and a good price. Or I'd get some JHP from Montana Gold. Since these are for plinking with the possibility of SD, I'd be ok with the MG JHP instead of something more expensive, and use HS-6, Longshot or another slow powder for more velocity.

 

[david bachelder]

180 grain Berry's plated bullet over 5 grains of Universal. Works for me and I shoot hundreds of them.

 

[GLOOB]

I just got a box of the nosler 150 grain sporting handgun hollow point bullets a few weeks ago. They come packaged in 250 count boxes. I havent tried or loaded these bullets yet, but they really look good. Im almost through with a batch of 223 remingtons, so I plan to start on these when I can. Not to steal a thread, but does anyone have any expierence on how well these expand?

My guess is they expand too well. The pictures right on the top of the box show the bullet fragmenting into pieces at higher velocities!

Heads up. Try to use your thinner brass, and don't crimp while seating. The edges on this bullet are very thin, and the mouth will close up if you don't have a good fit with the seater plug. I made myself a custom plug for these bullets, although I prefer the 180 grainers (exact same profile), these days.

 

[Striker Fired]

I run my own cast 175 and 180gr TP's. I control expantion and penetration by the alloy used . I am getting a 190gr hp mold made and will be testing them for expansion control. A SD bullet doesn't need copper on the outside.

 

[youngda9]

Don't go cheap on your SD rounds, you're worth it.

For plinking and such, Berry's or Rainier plated are good. I prefer Cast Boolits now in everything I shoot, they are cheaper and work great....especially now that I cast my own.

 

[918v]

180 JHP
3.5grs of Titegroup
WSP or FC primer
1.135" OAL

750FPS