moakes58

I load 9mm, .380 & .45 acp & .223 currently.

I am venturing into .40 S&W for my son in CA. These will be range rounds & I have decided on Rainier LeadSafe Total Copper Jacketed Bullets. They come in 135, 155, 165 & 180 grain weights.(Currently on sale at Cabela's for a good price per 500)

In my readings, it seems that this is 1 round where Titegroup is not a good/best choice. I have read several articles & it seems slower is better in .40 S&W, so I am going to use/try my emergency powder, Hodgdon's Universal & CFE Pistol, loading 10 of each in 2 different powder weights & send to him as a test to find which his Sig prefers.

His pistol is a Sig P226 in .40 S&W, as he is a good son & listened to his dads recommendations & loves his Sig.

So ladies & gents, I have my method of madness down as far as powder & test procedures, but what bullet weight for range/target work will be best, keeping in mind that I believe recoil is best consumed in small quantities, and I prefer range rounds to be enjoyable to shoot.

As always, all comments are appreciated & I am new to .40 S&W, so be gentle, it's my 1st time.

Dennis H

My dad likes 135 loads. He says the rest kick a bit more than he likes.

moakes58

Thanks Dennis, I was surprised to see that weight of bullet, I assumed they were 155, 165 & 180 as that's all I usually see on the ammo shelf.

Do you know what pistol he is using. If I find some one with a Sig 226 that would be even better.

Dennis H

I forget but I know its not a sig. He doesn't reload but he likes the factory federal 135 grain hollow points

Dennis H

I knew it was some brand I never heard of ....Now don't laugh....it's a dae woo! He just wanted a cheap 1 he could leave in the pickup!

Calamity Sue

Leave in a pickup?? Oh boy.

Dennis H

It's not oh boy! It's woooooo!

moakes58

One other ?

What would be a good velocity to aim for?
I have been doing my reloading lately by picking a FPS velocity to aim for & matching my powder of choice to that & it has worked out really well for me.

KS95B40

http://www.laser-cast.com/4010mm.html

I shoot the Oregon Trail hard cast 180 gr TC (Truncated Cone) in my XD40 Service Model. Good accuracy, no leading.

I only shoot jacketed in my G22.

moakes58

I have used Oregon Trail hard cast 200 gr in my 1911, but he has to stick with this type for the indoor range he belongs to & some silly CA law about lead, the bullet must be completely copper enclosed with no exposed lead.

He wonders why I balk at moving out there! None of my pistols are CA legal.

KS95B40

I've fired some Berry's plated bullets several years ago, I think that they were 165gr. They were ok. I don't remember being especially impressed with them. I've have very limited experience with plated bullets. The only other's that I have used are Ranier Bullets in .452 for my .45ACP. The were ok.

tx gun runner

A pic is worth 1000 words .

moakes58

[QUOTE=tx gun runner;190426]A pic is worth 1000 words .

TGR, if I went with the 180 gr. Rainier, I can substitute the Unique load you used with my Universal powder. I have done it several times & they are compatible. 5 to 5.8 is what my Hodgdon manual states for Universal for a 180 gr. Hornady XTP bullet & a little less for a same weight plated bullet (4.6 to 5.1 gr.) 5.1 gr. should be about 1000 fps.

It looks to me like the 5.3 grain load was more accurate, did it function/cycle the pistol as well as the heavier 5.8 grain load & did you notice a difference in recoil?

As I stated, I can not use cast bullets. Do you have any experience with any other weight/grain .40 S&W load?

tx gun runner

I will never shoot plated or jacket bullets in my cast bullet shooters because lead sticks to copper fouling fast . I use the Lone Wolf barrels for cast bullet only and stock barrels for jacketed . I only shoot 180 gr because it the heaviest bullet in a 40SW and that will reach 1000 fps and let it expand a hollow point for defense and matches the 45 acp 185 gr HP in stopping power and speed . I won't say 5.3 is more accurate then 5.8 a bullet and I never felt any recoil in any of my loads . . I shot both loads in in all my 40's and NEVER had one problems with any of my loads . Remember they are Glocks and in 10 yrs I have NEVER EVER had one malfunction in any Glock I have EVER shot in my life ,that is why I buy them . * Seating a bullet too deep or leading in a 40SW can double the chamber PSI so be careful 40 SW is a scare cartridge to load since it is near 35,000 psi to begin with . .

moakes58

[QUOTE=tx gun runner;190464]I will never shoot plated or jacket bullets in my cast bullet shooters because lead sticks to copper fouling fast . I use the Lone Wolf barrels for cast bullet only and stock barrels for jacketed . I only shoot 180 gr because it the heaviest bullet in a 40SW and that will reach 1000 fps and let it expand a hollow point for defense and matches the 45 acp 185 gr HP in stopping power and speed . I won't say 5.3 is more accurate then 5.8 a bullet and I never felt any recoil in any of my loads . . I shot both loads in in all my 40's and NEVER had one problems with any of my loads . Remember they are Glocks and in 10 yrs I have NEVER EVER had one malfunction in any Glock I have EVER shot in my life ,that is why I buy them . * Seating a bullet too deep or leading in a 40SW can double the chamber PSI so be careful 40 SW is a scare cartridge to load since it is near 35,000 psi to begin with . .

I had a Glock 17 for over 20 years & it was flawless also.
These are range loads & he can't shoot lead.
Thank you for the input. Those chamber pressures are startling, I suggested a .45 acp, but he was set on a Sig in .40 S&W, so I said get the CA compliant Sig P226. I would have gone with the CA Glock myself. You must have big arms because I have shot the Glock 27 with the 165 grain hollow points & I felt the recoil, it was much more than my 1911.

303Lithgow

Those are great pictures too. Have you taken any photography classes?

tx gun runner

No ............... In the 60's I had 35 mm leica like the one in paste with a 1.6 lens . Handheld light meter and no hot shoes . It was state of the art in its time and in black and white pics .

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303Lithgow

I have a single action .22LR revolver I leave in my tool box.

303Lithgow

You have a good eye for photography. I studied under a master photographer for three years.

tx gun runner

Yes I can tell your pics are 100% in my book. My ex-wife has my black and white pic which are super aI took 50 yrs ago .