Reload newbie needs advice on .40S&W

[taoshooter]

I just bought my first reloader - Dillon 550B - and will be loading .40S&W (for a P16-40 Ltd)

I'd appreciate any and all advice on powder, bullets etc that anyone can offer.

THANKS!

 

[Jeeper]

Are you going to be shooting USPSA with this? A good powder for 40 is tightgroup. It is relatively cheap and shoots very well. 180gr bullets from whoever are a good choice for 40. I use about 4.8gr of titegroup with a 180gr Montana gold JHP at 1.2" This is a very common USPSA load. Here is a link to a great resource for 40 loads.

http://home.columbus.rr.com/jmaass/ipscload.htm

These are USPSA loads but they will give you and idea of bullets and powders.

 

[taoshooter]

Jeeper -

Yes, want to reload for USPSA - Limited 10 right now. Copied the information from the site - looks like it will be very helpful and I need all the help I can get right now. Tightgroup was recommended to me by my gunsmith too - Thanks!

 

[Jeeper]

tao,

I dont know if you found it already but the best USPSA site anywhere is www.brianenos.com There is so much info there it is scary. The most common loads for 40 are titegroup and VVN320. I like N320 a little better but it costs almost double. Montana Gold, Zero, Berrys, Precision are all common bullets with MG probably being the most common.

 

[caseydog]

Tao , a few off the cuff tips for reloading the 40 , certainly apply to some others as well. Make sure your expander is giving you a good snug bullet fit before any crimp. Make sure to adhere to Min OAL or go a touch longer. If your gun is a "less than full chamber support" type , discard your cases sooner than other calibers, 40 brass is cheap. Don't rechamber the same round multiple times, anything that causes a 40 to get deepseated can create a dangerous pressure (of course this applies to other rounds as well but the 40 seems less forgiving). Not trying to spook you , just some things to watch for, have fun , be safe . Case

 

[wingman]

AA5 is an excellent powder fpr 40 cal. Please also heed what caseydog posted,
while the 40 cal is fun it is also one of the most "sensitive" pistol loads due
to small case, I stay away from the larger bullet using mostly 155gr.
Check your latest reloading manual as many of the powder companies
are now issuing warnings on problems reloading the 40. Not trying to
scare you off just be safe.

 

[taoshooter]

Thanks all for all the recommendations, advice and warnings - will be careful and will do much reading before I do any loading - going to start first on a firend's single stage for some rounds before I use the 550.

Jeeper: - Check in at BE.com often - love the site - and his book.

 

[HSMITH]

tao, the best 40 ammo I have rolled up so far has been with Universal and Winchester Super Field. More accurate, cleaner and more consistent than a lot of others I have tried. Universal is also nearly zero flash.

Blue Dot is a gret powder to get started with, you can't seat a bullet on enough of it to hurt anything. It is a very safe powder for the 40.

 

[Black Snowman]

I haven't done any formal competition but I've had excellent results with 5.5 gr of Universal and 165 gr Star FP FMJ. I have a Glock 24P and I like the extra margin and lower pressures developed by the smaller bullet and I load as close to max OAL as I can to give me even more margin for error and a shorter jump to the lands. For me anything over MOAL gets hung up in my magazines.

On my cheapo Lee Loadmaster progressive these are only slightly less consistant than loaded single stage (about .5" differance in 10 shot groups at 25 yards).

Universal, as has been said, is very low flash and very clean. I origionally picked it because it has very light powder charges and so was one of the most economical powders but everything I've tried since has something I don't like about it (more flash, dirtier, less accurate, etc . . . )

Keep looking, lots of good recepies out there, one should get you close in your gun.

Edit: if you have room in the press invest in a Lee Factor Crimp die. Makes a noticable differance in consistancy. And avoid remington brass or use it exclusively because it has a differant wall thickness at the top and doesn't crip the same as any of the other brands.

Further edit, I use CCI small pistol primers and never use magnum primers in a .40 case. I've had good luck with Federal primers as well.

 

[JPM70535]

I second the suggestion to use Bluedot. It is as accurate a powder for the 40 S&W as I have found. It's only drawback is excessive muzzle flash which makes for some interesting displays at night.

 

[WESHOOT2]

SAFTEY FIRST

Alliant Power Pistol is an accurate clean safe 40 S&W powder.
IMI offers a marvelous 40 S&W case.
CCI500 primers are very consistent in this cartridge, and provide some resistance to (potential) primer smear.
Rainier 180g TCJ-FP bullets are extremely accurate (when loaded correctly).
An OAL is based on reliable feed-n-function through YOUR gun; testing required. Longer is (normally) better. 'Standard' guns like 1.100-1.135"; I recommend 1.130". Your gun may differ.
If re-using fires cases HIGHLY RECOMMEND investing in Lee 'U' die (also offered by EGW). Slightly undersized, providing more case neck tension.

If using Hodgdon Universal Clays in the 40 S&W do not -- do not -- try to achieve top velocities with it.
Find a different ('slower') powder for that........

 

[Kamicosmos]

I second many of the powder choices listed:

Blue dot is excellent, especially for the heavier bullets 165-180. Lots of Flash though. (I started with Blue Dot cause it works well with 2 other guns in my collection .44 Mag and .45 Colt.)

Universal Clays, very clean, very mild. Great for the lower weights 135-165.

And I have just discovered Power Pistol. I am focusing on it as a powder for 165...actually setting up my progressive now to start cranking out a large batch. Power Pistol is a bit snappier on recoil than UC though, and a bit more flash. It a few of teh guns I tested it in, it seemed a bit more accurate too, but that may be 'new load bias'.

 

[taoshooter]

Hope this isn't a 'stupid question' but: Is a Lee Factor Crimp Die and a Lee U Die the same thing? Do they fit a Dillon 550B?

Also: Any opinions on which is better and why - Universal or Blue Dot? I will try both but....would like some opinions - I hear good things on both. I did get Tightgroup and will try it soon .......but, there are so many choices I guess I'll have to try them all. Safety at this point is paramount to me -

To the rank beginner this is like a maze and I thank all for their advice

 

[Jeeper]

A lee U die is a resizing die the is "U"ndersized. It basically sizes farther than normal. In addition EGW takes that same die and shaves part of the base down so that it will get the bulge out of glock brass. I use the EGW die as do many people that shoot high end STi and SV's. This allows us to use once fired range brass that might have some glock stuff in it. Reloading can make you go crazy with all the possibilities that exist. My general reccomendation is to see what the bad-a$$es are doing and start from there. Since you are using this for USPSA you really have a few general bullet coices that have proven very effective. I would start with 180's since that is what the vast(and I mean vast) majority of all the big-dogs use. In addition most of them use either N320 or titegroup. Both allow for the least recoil while still making major. That really is the only goal in USPSA shooting. It is all about the feel and accuracy of the gun. Start with one of those and you will be fine. When I switched to shooting a 40 in USPSA I didnt even try any other load except N320 and 180gr Montana gold because that is basically what all the pros use. It is a very popular combination. I figured that if someone who shoots thousands of rounds per week uses it then there is a reason. Plus these guys are always trying every possible combination to get an advantage. I figured that they already did all the legwork for me. I have started messing around with other combinations to try and save money but N320 and 180gr MG's still are my handsdown favorite. Just remember that reloading for USPSA is different than loading for target practice. There are different things you want out of the load.

 

[taoshooter]

Thanks Jeeper - your post was very helpful to me -

I think I'll skip the Lee stuff for right now and concentrate on what I already bought - The straight Dillon dies - and see how it goes, then I have something to compare. I'll try the Montana Gold/N320.

Another stupid question but....why is USPSA load different than just straight practice shooting (target) load? I understand have to make Major etc, but why not use the same all the time? I'm just starting so bear with the question if you can..thanks.

 

[Jeeper]

I was more refering to reccomendations about 40 loads that arent used in USPSA. They are probably good loads but werent designed for USOSA. For USPSA it is all about feel. You also need to make major. That and you want it to feed right. Usually the longer loads feed better. For a plinking load you might go with light bullets and powder that wont make major. Also the ability to get onto target quickly isnt a big deal in plinking. Most people never shoot as rapidly as we do in USPSA. That is when the feel aspect gets into it. Try the titegroup you already bought and start there. You need to test it like you shoot. Quick shots and such. Watch your sites carefully to see whcih powder and bullets get you onto target again the best. It is hard to explain beyond the "feel" aspect. Some describe it as a crisp feel vs. sluggish. I would just pick somthing and try it for a while. Shoot some matches and practice with it. Once you are really familiar with it you can try different stuff. Trying a bunch at the beginning is a waste since you dont know what you want it to feel like yet and arent used to anything. After a while it will be obvious when you shoot other loads. Berrys and precision bullets are also really used in USPSA and are a little cheaper. If you area already shooting USPSA in your area see what people are getting for bulk prices and try that also. I used dillon dies for a long time. My chamber in my STI is just to tight for it.

 

[Longbow]

tao,
Make sure to use longer OAL. I have a P16 too, and mine won't feed reloads shorter than 1.180". If you are using plated bullets, do not put so much crimp or it will become very inaccurate (watch for keyhole pattern on targets).
For powders I like Titegroup, WSF and power pistol, in that order. Right now I'm using 4.7 grains of Titegroup under 180gr Hornady bullet. It gives me 168 PF.