.40S&W powder choice

[GrumpyOne]

I use Clays for practice and IDPA matches. It's very soft shooting out of my G35. (180gr. BBI molys)

What charge are you using? Are you making major?

He's probably not making major with Clays (too fast and spikey). I shoot Clays in 40S&W for Production minor, 3.0 grains 180gr TC lead bullet, very soft, but smokey.

[Reshoot]

I prefer Winchester WSF, followed by Hodgdon Universal :

1) mixed brass

180 gr. Precision Delta

5.4 gr. WSF

CCI 500

167 PF

2) mixed brass

180 gr. Precision Delta

4.6 gr. Universal

CCI500

167 PF

I have used, and do not care for :

Tight Group

Solo 1000

HS 6

Dave

[BillR1]

He's probably not making major with Clays (too fast and spikey). I shoot Clays in 40S&W for Production minor, 3.0 grains 180gr TC lead bullet, very soft, but smokey.

I haven't chrono'd the load, but it's a soft shooter. I'm sure it's a "minor" load.

I use 3.0gr of Clays at about 1.130". I don't notice excessive smoke in mine...?

[Twosons]

I prefer Winchester WSF, followed by Hodgdon Universal :

1) mixed brass

180 gr. Precision Delta

5.4 gr. WSF

CCI 500

167 PF

2) mixed brass

180 gr. Precision Delta

4.6 gr. Universal

CCI500

167 PF

I have used, and do not care for :

Tight Group

Solo 1000

HS 6

Dave

What length are you loading to?

[Reshoot]

I prefer Winchester WSF, followed by Hodgdon Universal :

1) mixed brass

180 gr. Precision Delta

5.4 gr. WSF

CCI 500

167 PF

2) mixed brass

180 gr. Precision Delta

4.6 gr. Universal

CCI500

167 PF

I have used, and do not care for :

Tight Group

Solo 1000

HS 6

Dave

What length are you loading to?

1.105 ~ 1.110

Edited November 1, 2010 by Reshoot

[225 Fireman]

I have 3 different powders that I have loaded for .40 all are with 180gr Bayou Bullets and have been shot from a Glock 35 with a Lone Wolf barrel

4.3gr VV N320

OAL 1.13

This load was used this past weekend at The Gator CLassic in La. and made 173PF average with 3 shots

4.6gr WST

1.15 OAL

177 PF

4.6gr HP/38

1.15 OAL

171 PF

[hueycrew]

6g Power Pistol

180 lead CN

1.130

Makes major from a P16-40

I always hope for a tail wind to keep the smoke out of the RO's face.

[Duke Nukem]

I just chronoed a 40 Major load yesterday in a XDM.

180 Lead with 4.1 of Clays @ 1.135 got 960 FPS.

So 172 PF with no pressure signs, I stll had round primers.

[lilbeauxdawg]

my dad and i have been using winchester super target WST for years. we use it for 45 major 40 major and 9 minor with no issues.

[RangerTrace]

I just chronoed a 40 Major load yesterday in a XDM.

180 Lead with 4.1 of Clays @ 1.135 got 960 FPS.

So 172 PF with no pressure signs, I stll had round primers.

Nice and soft wasn't it

[Deputy1199]

My preferred powder for .40 S&W range loads is WSF.

155gr Rainier Plated FP projectiles

6.0 gr. WSF

mixed brass

Win SP, Federal SP or CCI SP primers

C.O.L. 1.125

Glock 23, Glock 27, S&W 4013TSW

Extremely accurate, mild recoil and clean burning.

[skeeter]

i've been using the new and improved Green Dot. 4.0 grain under a 180 grain bullet makes for a real soft major load, that is pretty bulky too it fills the case nicely.

[SonnyCrockett]

I prefer Winchester WSF, followed by Hodgdon Universal :

2) mixed brass

180 gr. Precision Delta

4.6 gr. Universal

CCI500

167 PF

I started loading Universal in 40 last week,I was using Longshot but its a tad jumpy and well,its a cannon

Universal was nice,clean and cheap plus I can buy it locally without hazmat fees and it is calm compared to LS

I was loading

180 PDs

5.2 g Universal

CCI500

1.23 OAL

Works well for me,I shoot it in my SIG and Glocks

4.6 is a light load - surprised it cycles the slide on the last round

Edited November 22, 2010 by SonnyCrockett

[Sal1950]

I started loading Universal in 40 last week,I was using Longshot but its a tad jumpy and well,its a cannon

Universal was nice,clean and cheap plus I can buy it locally without hazmat fees and it is calm compared to LS

I was loading

180 PDs

5.2 g Universal

CCI500

1.23 OAL

Works well for me,I shoot it in my SIG and Glocks

4.6 is a light load - surprised it cycles the slide on the last round

My fav is very similar.

180 PDs

5.2 g Universal

Federal 200 Magnum primers

1.130 OAL

Shoots very well in both my Witness Match 40 and Beretta 96 Brig Inox

1.230 OAL, wow, that's pretty long?

Sal

[Jman]

180gr Black Moly Lead @ 1.135 OAL is Solo 1000

Glock 35 OEM (stock barrel)

[Reshoot]

I prefer Winchester WSF, followed by Hodgdon Universal :

2) mixed brass

180 gr. Precision Delta

4.6 gr. Universal

CCI500

167 PF

I started loading Universal in 40 last week,I was using Longshot but its a tad jumpy and well,its a cannon

Universal was nice,clean and cheap plus I can buy it locally without hazmat fees and it is calm compared to LS

I was loading

180 PDs

5.2 g Universal

CCI500

1.23 OAL

Works well for me,I shoot it in my SIG and Glocks

4.6 is a light load - surprised it cycles the slide on the last round

I notice you did not mention the velocity, or power factor, of your 5.2 grain load. I have to "assume" you do not know. And, you know what they say about "assume".

A 5.0 grain charge of Universal gives me a power factor of 181. Now, to make major, I only need a power factor of 165. As I have already stated, 4.6 grains of Universal gives me a power factor of 167. It is a no brainer!

Dave

[ak47traxx]

I prefer Winchester WSF, followed by Hodgdon Universal :

2) mixed brass

180 gr. Precision Delta

4.6 gr. Universal

CCI500

167 PF

I started loading Universal in 40 last week,I was using Longshot but its a tad jumpy and well,its a cannon

Universal was nice,clean and cheap plus I can buy it locally without hazmat fees and it is calm compared to LS

I was loading

180 PDs

5.2 g Universal

CCI500

1.23 OAL

Works well for me,I shoot it in my SIG and Glocks

4.6 is a light load - surprised it cycles the slide on the last round

I notice you did not mention the velocity, or power factor, of your 5.2 grain load. I have to "assume" you do not know. And, you know what they say about "assume".

A 5.0 grain charge of Universal gives me a power factor of 181. Now, to make major, I only need a power factor of 165. As I have already stated, 4.6 grains of Universal gives me a power factor of 167. It is a no brainer!

Dave

Depends on barrel length....

[d_striker]

I just chronoed a 40 Major load yesterday in a XDM.

180 Lead with 4.1 of Clays @ 1.135 got 960 FPS.

So 172 PF with no pressure signs, I stll had round primers.

I just picked up some Clays to play around with for .40 minor loads in my XDm.

Hodgdon lists a max load of 3.5 gr w/ a 180 gr Hornady XTP @ 1.125". Your load sounds a little scary.

Edited November 28, 2010 by d_striker

[usmc1974]

Red Dot 4.3 with a 180 lfp bullet makes major in 40sw. I load 45,40,38 and 9mm with it. used to load 44-40 and 45lc. But went to trail boss for them.

[RangerTrace]

I just chronoed a 40 Major load yesterday in a XDM.

180 Lead with 4.1 of Clays @ 1.135 got 960 FPS.

So 172 PF with no pressure signs, I stll had round primers.

I just picked up some Clays to play around with for .40 minor loads in my XDm.

Hodgdon lists a max load of 3.5 gr w/ a 180 gr Hornady XTP @ 1.125". Your load sounds a little scary.

I keep hearing that, but I've shot about 3500 rounds of 4.6 grains of Clays, under a 180 grain MG JHP, loaded to 1.21. It shoots very soft and is extremely accurate out of my AET barrels.

[Ray_Z]

3.9gr Solo 1000/ 180gr MG HP/ @1.120

Winchester Brass = 171pf

Edited November 29, 2010 by Ray_Z

[Merlin Orr]

I just chronoed a 40 Major load yesterday in a XDM.

180 Lead with 4.1 of Clays @ 1.135 got 960 FPS.

So 172 PF with no pressure signs, I stll had round primers.

I just picked up some Clays to play around with for .40 minor loads in my XDm.

Hodgdon lists a max load of 3.5 gr w/ a 180 gr Hornady XTP @ 1.125". Your load sounds a little scary.

I keep hearing that, but I've shot about 3500 rounds of 4.6 grains of Clays, under a 180 grain MG JHP, loaded to 1.21. It shoots very soft and is extremely accurate out of my AET barrels.

IMO - Major with Clays @ 1.135 is considerably different than major with Clays @ 1.21.....

[d_striker]

I just chronoed a 40 Major load yesterday in a XDM.

180 Lead with 4.1 of Clays @ 1.135 got 960 FPS.

So 172 PF with no pressure signs, I stll had round primers.

I just picked up some Clays to play around with for .40 minor loads in my XDm.

Hodgdon lists a max load of 3.5 gr w/ a 180 gr Hornady XTP @ 1.125". Your load sounds a little scary.

I keep hearing that, but I've shot about 3500 rounds of 4.6 grains of Clays, under a 180 grain MG JHP, loaded to 1.21. It shoots very soft and is extremely accurate out of my AET barrels.

IMO - Major with Clays @ 1.135 is considerably different than major with Clays @ 1.21.....

Yup, completely different.

[RangerTrace]

Better...worse....safer or more dangerous? I still trying to learn

[Merlin Orr]

Clays is (arguably) right on or right past the edge of being to fast for .40 loads. With the ammo loaded long there is "perhaps" more room for error than shorty loads. Where an extra .1 or .2 in your powder drop loaded to 1.21 might not be that little bit to much the same amount in a shorter case will cause a much higher proportionate increase in pressure.

To much??? Probably won't blow your fingers off and if you have good shooting glasses your eyes will likely be OK. Your gun won't.

Lots of people shoot Clays in their .40s...but I don't recall seeing many experienced re loaders use Clays in a .40 that has to be loaded short......

Just my opinion. YMMV and yada yada.....