USPSA .40 S&W Loads - Limited w/long COAL

[Doublehelix]

I just picked up an 2011 wide-body Limited gun in .40 S&W, and am looking for some advice from the collective wisdom around here about some loads.

I will be shooting Limited Major, so I need to get the PF up over 165, so velocities over 950 fps.

I will be loading 180 gr RNFP plated bullets to start, although I am open to hearing some other suggestions here. RMR also has some in-house FMJ's that look interesting, and of course there are lots of options for coated lead (Blue Bullets,etc.). I will be using CCI 500 SPP and mixed brass.

Looks like 1.180" seems to be a pretty standard COAL for these 2011-style guns, so I will probably be starting there.

All of the published data at sites like Hodgdon list loads for the shorter COAL of 1.125" or so for the "standard" 9mm sized guns.

Right now, I am looking at Titegroup and WST since I have both of those "in stock" in the Helix vault, but I will probably pull in some N320 since it seems to be popular for these loads.

I have seen a few loads out there, and did a little digging over at Brian Enos' forum, and found these:

4.6 gr Titegroup
4.5 - 4.8 gr of N320 (4.7 seems to be really popular)

Nothing specific on WST, although I hear it is popular for this application.

Can anyone help with any info? If you don't want to publicly publish load info, PM if you don't mind!

Thanks in advance.

 

[kcofohio]

I always thought it is easier to higher pf with 165 gr. bullets.

 

[Doublehelix]

I always thought it is easier to higher pf with 165 gr. bullets.

Not necessarily, depends on the powder. The lower the bullet weight, the more powder required. Sometimes that is a good thing, other times, not so much.

I think the higher weight bullets with less powder tend to have less "felt recoil" (especially with fast powders that burn completely before the bullets leaves the barrel).

 

[Sauer Grapes]

I have found I achieve 165 PF using the 180gr . Same goes for making minor PF of 125. 9mm I use 147gr exclusively. I think most guys rather push a heavy bullet slower, than a lighter bullet faster, unless you are compensated.
My COAL length is 1.140. Anything longer causes issues in my M&P40. Your gun may like longer lengths, maybe not.
WST is a fast burning propellant. Along the same lines as Clays. I can reach PF with 180gr, but not 165gr.
TiteGroup is another good powder for either weight bullet.
I average 927fps with 4.0gr of Clays. Recoil is very manageable. My pet powder was IMR 7625, but they discontinued production. Recoil was very low. Wish I had bought 8lbs of it.

 

[kcofohio]

Not necessarily, depends on the powder. The lower the bullet weight, the more powder required. Sometimes that is a good thing, other times, not so much.

I think the higher weight bullets with less powder tend to have less "felt recoil" (especially with fast powders that burn completely before the bullets leaves the barrel).

I should have put my post as a question, as I'm still learning.

I had read an article several years ago that had a compelling argument as to why reloading with 165 gr., or even 155 gr., gives more energy over the standard 180 gr.

 

[GarrettJ]

did a little digging over at Brian Enos' forum...

I was going to suggest the Enos forum. Lots of USPSA-specific content.

Another good resource before that one was around was Jeff Mass' IPSC Load List: http://www.k8nd.com/ipscload.htm

Keep in mind also, long loading the .40 was more of a thing back when the power factor for Major was 175. So everyone was shooting 180+ PF loads. For a while there, I was running a 220 bullet loaded to 1.220" or so. Super soft shooting. To the point it felt sluggish.

A less heavy bullet may feel a little more snappy, but may get back on target quicker. So experiment and see what works best for you.

With the lower power factor, it's easy to safely make Major at standard cartridge lengths. Find what length feeds best in your gun, and work up a load around that.