225 Fireman Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 I'm thinking about trying .40 in production and have heard that it is softer than 9mm anyone do this already ?? Also can anyone help me with a starting load I'll be shooting a Glock 35 with 180gr Bayou Bullets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Vigilante Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 I am using Clays 2.7g-nice and soft. YMMV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Smith Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 Some say that .40 minor is almost like cheating... There are a number of prior posts on this forum regarding .40 minor. There are also a couple good articles on the internet. Try doing a search in this section on the word "minor". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gng4life Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 I really doubt you can get much softer than a 9mm minor load. You can get heavier bullets and run them slower but I haven't seen where any of my .40s are softer than my 9mm with comparable loads. As far as your loads, seems like TG at 3.2 is a good load, here is a chart: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blaster113 Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 (edited) lots of people run .40 minor in Production, though I prefer 9mm for a production gun. A 135pf .40 load is pretty damn soft. Just prefer the recoil impulse of a comparable pf 9mm load. Advantage of .40 in Production is that it makes slightly bigger holes, may be the difference in a A vs C, C vs D, etc etc Edited April 22, 2011 by SIG shooter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueOvalBruin Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 I didn't like the way the gun handled with .40 minor using 180s, too sluggish for me. It functioned fine but the 13lb ismi was too much spring to balance the gun properly at 130PF, but I don't like superlight springs so I opted for a hotter load. Now I switched to 140gr RN bear creek bullets and love it (131PF). Plenty soft but nicely balanced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulm540 Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 I'm using 180 bear creeks with Ramshot competition at 3.5 grains. Could probably bump it down some. Need to chrono it first. Gun is a glock 22. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulm540 Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 I didn't like the way the gun handled with .40 minor using 180s, too sluggish for me. It functioned fine but the 13lb ismi was too much spring to balance the gun properly at 130PF, but I don't like superlight springs so I opted for a hotter load. Now I switched to 140gr RN bear creek bullets and love it (131PF). Plenty soft but nicely balanced. What powder are you using? I am almost out of 180s and may try lighter bullets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
427Cobra Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 I have been shooting 180 Berries with 3.2 of Clays, range brass and CCI primers, soft n easy, I have a Jagger rod and 14lb Wolf spring coming and plan on reducing my charge even more, its not cheating its playing by the rules! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam P. Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 I use 180gr Bayou's with 4.3gr of Red Dot. 1.13 OAL out of my M&P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avezorak Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 I shot production with my XDM 40 last year. Other than the fact that it costs a little more, I think .40 minor is great. I ran 3.0 grains of Clays under a Precision 180 at 1.135. Made about 148 pf but is SOFT. Ill try 165 gr bullets next time I do .40 minor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KyroWebs Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 (edited) I shoot 40 minor, but at 130ish pf it seemed sluggish. Now I load 180gr bullets to around 145 pf and like the little extra snap. I might try a lighter bullet later this year and see if I can get closer to 130 pf and still get the snappy feel to it. Edited April 26, 2011 by KyroWebs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
want2race Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 180gr Zero's over 3.8-4.0gr Universal Clays. Very soft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.roberts Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 180gr Zero's over 3.8-4.0gr Universal Clays. Very soft. How consistent is that load because it's under the starting load? Also, what's your OAL? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe4d Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 I love the .40, its a very versatile game gun because it rides the minor/major fence and can play lots of games, My recipe, buy a bunch of 180's, cast,jacketed, Moly, doesnt matter just pick one you can get cheap and is always available. Develop a 170 pf load with a fast burning good enough powder, TG, 320, WST, again doesnt really matter just pick one you can live with. Now buy the same companies 155's that usually are the exact same profile just shorter, dont change any settings, powder measures, OAL, crimps, nothing, just switch to the 155, you'll come up with a load that is right about 145 pf that will be good enough and run most guns without re springing or changing anything and the slide wont feel like it is lobbing 203 rounds down range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncboiler Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 Good little article on softer 40 loads .... http://www.handgunsmag.com/ammunition/40lite_091806/index1.html?bcsi-ac-33F88203AE5731F3=1B69BB9A00000004xcym8Dp9kHgvjNVlE3yNMRy73ta3BAAABAAAAGQBIAFAOAAAAAAAAK6BDAA= I like the way my 180g MG w/ N320 loads felt in my M&P 40 Pro. Very nice production load Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHA-LEE Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 (edited) .40 Minor loads are really soft. My lady shoots .40 Minor with 200gr CMJ Montana Gold Bullets, 3.1gr Clays, CCI Primer, and 1.14 OAL out of her M&P 40 and it shoots super soft. When I shoot her gun every once in a while to function fire it, it makes me laugh every time because its so soft shooting. I guess that's why she likes shooting it so much If I shot Production there is no way I would shoot anything other than .40 Minor rounds. Edited April 27, 2011 by CHA-LEE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kellymc Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 (edited) I spent all winter trying to get a xd 9 just right for a 9 year old. Used light recoil springs so she could load, that caused some problems. went heavier and had stove pipes. A couple of days ago she picked up my Glock 35 which already had a 13 pound spring. added some 180gr mg with 3.8TG 140 pf very soft and all problems seem solved. Except getting her to use the glock trigger correctly. Something her dad was not able to learn. Edited April 28, 2011 by kellymc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfie Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Good little article on softer 40 loads .... http://www.handgunsmag.com/ammunition/40lite_091806/index1.html?bcsi-ac-33F88203AE5731F3=1B69BB9A00000004xcym8Dp9kHgvjNVlE3yNMRy73ta3BAAABAAAAGQBIAFAOAAAAAAAAK6BDAA= I like the way my 180g MG w/ N320 loads felt in my M&P 40 Pro. Very nice production load How much powder are you using? I just started using the same bullets and powder and I'm curious what you ended up with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sargenv Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 I use a cast 185 LRN with 3.5 of Solo 1000 though this one chrono's at 143 ish pf. If the bullet wasn't so long, I could probably get away with 3.2 of Solo 1000 for an even softer load. This specific LRN is so long that it won't stabilize under about 750 fps.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncboiler Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Good little article on softer 40 loads .... http://www.handgunsmag.com/ammunition/40lite_091806/index1.html?bcsi-ac-33F88203AE5731F3=1B69BB9A00000004xcym8Dp9kHgvjNVlE3yNMRy73ta3BAAABAAAAGQBIAFAOAAAAAAAAK6BDAA= I like the way my 180g MG w/ N320 loads felt in my M&P 40 Pro. Very nice production load How much powder are you using? I just started using the same bullets and powder and I'm curious what you ended up with? I'll get back to you tonight, I don't remember off the top of my head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueOvalBruin Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 I didn't like the way the gun handled with .40 minor using 180s, too sluggish for me. It functioned fine but the 13lb ismi was too much spring to balance the gun properly at 130PF, but I don't like superlight springs so I opted for a hotter load. Now I switched to 140gr RN bear creek bullets and love it (131PF). Plenty soft but nicely balanced. What powder are you using? I am almost out of 180s and may try lighter bullets. I'm using Solo 1000. I can't remember exactly how much, I think about 4.3-4.4gr. It's a very nice load and doesn't lead at all and seems a bit cleaner than my 180 moly minor load with Solo. I am loading out to 1.140 OAL, I think loading long helps reduce leading with moly (less pressure and less time for gas to cut around bullet). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GForceLizard Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 (edited) Glock 22 1.135 OAL 155gr moly coated Precision Bullet. All roughly 140PF 3.6gr Clays 4.0gr WST 4.1gr Solo 1000 N320 should work well also. Plated 180gr with 3.7gr of Titegroup defines soft shooting. The 155gr bullets are cheaper. Edited April 28, 2011 by GForceLizard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncboiler Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 Good little article on softer 40 loads .... http://www.handgunsmag.com/ammunition/40lite_091806/index1.html?bcsi-ac-33F88203AE5731F3=1B69BB9A00000004xcym8Dp9kHgvjNVlE3yNMRy73ta3BAAABAAAAGQBIAFAOAAAAAAAAK6BDAA= I like the way my 180g MG w/ N320 loads felt in my M&P 40 Pro. Very nice production load How much powder are you using? I just started using the same bullets and powder and I'm curious what you ended up with? 4.0g of N320 at 1.130" I will probably run 10 over the chrono this weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfie Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 Good little article on softer 40 loads .... http://www.handgunsmag.com/ammunition/40lite_091806/index1.html?bcsi-ac-33F88203AE5731F3=1B69BB9A00000004xcym8Dp9kHgvjNVlE3yNMRy73ta3BAAABAAAAGQBIAFAOAAAAAAAAK6BDAA= I like the way my 180g MG w/ N320 loads felt in my M&P 40 Pro. Very nice production load How much powder are you using? I just started using the same bullets and powder and I'm curious what you ended up with? 4.0g of N320 at 1.130" I will probably run 10 over the chrono this weekend. Could you post or PM your chrono data? I'm running 4.2 grains with an average of 130 pf out of my 5". This loads makes nearly 140 pf out of my standard length. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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