Whats the best .40 S&W JHP load these days?

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megatronrules

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I was just wondering whats the best .40 caliber jhp load going these days,and what do you carry in your gun? I've heard that the 155 and 165 grains loads are the best but what about the 185 grain stuff? Also what about +P loadings? overall whats the best peforming .40 S&W jhp for self defense thanks?
 
I have no idea what the best is, but I use Win Ranger T 180gr
I think this is a chevy or ford type question. Just get something that doesn't jam your gun and let'er fly.
 
There are many different loadings for the 155, 165 and 180 grain 40 S&W. The velocities for each bullet weight can really vary with each brand. The 165-grain in particular can be loaded rather light or very heavy. You really have to research the different brands.

I am using Speer Gold Dot 155 grain. From my Glock 35 that has a 5 1/3 inch barrel I am clocking the velocity at 1240 fps. I am also impressed with the Wal-Mart bulk pack Remington 180 grain hollow point. This is the hottest 180-grain factory ammo I have tested. It averages 1013 fps and the hollow point appears to be of a modern advanced design.

The photo below is of Wal-Mart Remington Bulk Pack 180 grain hollow points that I recovered from a backstop made up of soft rich black dirt that was about 52 yards from where I was firing.


attachment.php
 
The best "street" results are pretty similar to the best gelatin results: the medium-weight 155gr. and 165gr. hollowpoints seem to be getting the job done very, very reliably. Personally, I carry the Remington Golden Saber "bonded" 165gr. JHP. This load has a stellar record in actual shootings, and I'm very comfortable with it. However, I'd be almost as comfortable with equivalent-weight (155gr. or 165gr.) Gold Dots, Federal, etc.
 
165grn Remington Golden Sabers for me...

They were recommended by an aquaintance who was a police instructor. He told me that the results from around the country were "where they're shot is where they're found."

I have been impresed by the accuracy of the GSs in every caliber I've tried, even their 102grn .380 load was superb. I put 7 rounds in a row into a 12oz. soda can at 30 yards with a Colt 380 Gov't. The 125grn +P 38Spec. is wonderful out of my 5" Bbl. Colt Official Police.

Back to the .40 S&Ws. I found a GREAT(less than wholesale!) deal on-line and bought 2 cases of the .40 GSs. I've put several hundered rounds through my Beretta 96 without a single ammo related issue.

The local Sheriff's Dept. WAS carrying 165grn Fed. Hyrda-Shok, but switched to Win. SXTs after and incident where a Deputy shot a suspect ELEVEN TIMES in the torso and it still took 3 people to hold the BG down to cuff him. At that time, the Sheriff's Dept. policy was that all Deputies had to carry the Dept issue Glock and Dept. issue ammo. That policy has changed as far as the handguns, but I'm not sure about the ammo allowed.
 
As one well known instructor says, there's not such thing as a bad 40 round.Premium ammo will do better. I carry 155 Hydra-shoks. I recently bought some Corbon DPX to try, the do well in all the tests.
 
The common loads in the .40S&W caliber are 155, 165 or 180 grain. I believe that Federal also makes a 135 grain in the Personal Defense line. There are no such thing as +P rounds in the .40.

When I participated in a law enforcement ammo test, I was really impressed with the Speer Gold Dot 165 grain and the Federal Tactical 165 grain. I have also heard great things about the 165 grain Remington Golden Saber which is what I currently have in my GLOCK 35.

The bonded rounds like the Golden Saber, Tactical and the Gold Dots would be my prefered choice.

I really don't think you can go wrong with any modern hollow point from companies such as Speer, Federal, Remington or Winchester. Unless something has been changed, I would suggest you stay away from the Federal Hydro-Shok 165 grain. It is/was loaded down for some reason.
 
165 gr gold dots. I get them at a good price and they're standard issue for the Fort Worth PD so I figure they're good enough for me. I have never shot anything other than paper with them though. (hopefully never will).
Defensive ammo can be so expensive so it's hard for me to justify practicing with something that costs $15 per box of 20. I get the gold dots for $20 per 50 which I can live with.
 
Any quality HP in the 155-165 gr weight range seems to be the "sweet spot". I like more penetration so my preference is for the 155 gr Hornady XTPs. Their small hollow point also lends them to good feed reliability, something at least as important as terminal performance IMHO. The round doesn't do much good if it jams in the gun :)
 
I carry 180 grain Gold Dots myself.

They feed just fine and that extra weight is kinda comforting. I was considering going to a 165 grain to bump up the velocity a touch. Either way, I feel that I would be well served.
I used to carry Golden Sabers, but I noticed a few little things that I didn't like. First off, the bullets had a nasty habit of seating back into the case. I'm usually VERY picky about my defensive ammo and when I pulled these from the magazine (during a cleaining) I nearly pooped my pants. Had I touched those off, I could have had a Glock-esqe KaBoom!!!
 
Clean97GTI said:

I used to carry Golden Sabers, but I noticed a few little things that I didn't like. First off, the bullets had a nasty habit of seating back into the case.
Click to expand...

I have the same issue with Hydra-Shoks.
 
megatronrules:

You may want to check http://doubletapammo.com/

They have 2 loads for the .40 S&W:

165 gr. Gold Dots clocking 1240 fps from a Glock 27

180 gr. Gold Dots clocking 1050 fps form a Glock 27

Sam
Click to expand...

that should read 1140fps

no such thing as +p in 40S&W when you see such a thing no that it is loaded closer to maximum specs and you dont want to continuiously insert that into the chamber hard.

most commercial ammo is loaded to be safe and wind up at 33,000 psi

who cares what best hp is most hp ammo in 40 tends to consistently open though like any jhp it hits heavy clothing it could just be a FMJ and I have not seen 40S&W FMJ penetration data in jelatin test. kinda dissapointing.

go for the load you can shoot the best.
 
mrapathy2000:

My bad. Thanks for correcting me on my slip up-pretty bad when I can't even read my own handwriting!!

Sam
 
they list different speeds for different barrels.

they dont list 1240 out of a 3.5" barrel which is glock 27 length
might be a load that can do that would be a max with a VV powder doubt anyone would want to shoot many of them

they do list 165gr doing 1240 but thats with a 4.5" barrel

might want to look into 200gr loads. I have not seen anyone make a commercial 200gr load, hornady might make some custom.
 
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