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40 S&W 180gr Montana Gold FMJ, CMJ, or JHP-Which is better?


Postal Bob

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I'm getting ready to load 40 S&W with 180gr Montana Gold bullets. This will be for a limited pistol in USPSA matches. I'm just looking to find out what bullet styles is best-FMJ, CMJ, or JHP if it even matters. If it makes any difference, I'll be using TITEGROUP powder or VVN320 if I can find some.

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What are you going to run them in and at what OAL?? My Tanfoglio Limited will only run the JHP reliably whereas my M&P and STI Edge will run any profile. I find the JHP to be most accurate for my loads but others may have different results. If your going to run Titegroup and you want less smoke / residue you may want to stay away from anything with lead exposed at the base.

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The CMJ and JHP both have the jacket covering the base so no lead is exposed. This can help eliminate some smoke depending on the powder that is used.

I used both FMJ and JHP with N320 in my limited gun and didn't notice a difference.

Use N320 if you can, it is so much cleaner than TG.

Edited by ncboiler
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I plan on using it in a Brazos limited gun which I will be ordering, so I know I will be loading the oal a little longer to 1.2". I want to use N320, but availability is an issue. I have plenty of TITEGROUP, so that's what I'll use initially.

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I have used all three in my Tanfoglio's(Match/Limited) as well as my STI Trojan. They are all loaded to about 1.18, with titegroup. I generally use the CMJ, but currently I am shooting JHP due to my error while ordering.

I dont think I noticed any more smoke between the cmj/fmj, nor can I comment on the accuracy of the JHP vs the others. But that is what "they" usually bring up as reasons to go one way or the other.

try to post that you want to try some I am sure you will get some people willing to ship you a few to test out.

Matt

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Why pay the same price for a plated bullet when you can get a true jacketed bullet for less money? Currently the Montana Gold bullets are more expensive than the Zero bullets. I have shot both and prefer the Zero 180gr FMJ's over anything that Montana Gold offers.

One thing to keep in mind is that each bullet type has their own unique profile and loading requirements. For example, the FMJ and CMJ are physically the same length and size but the CMJ requires a little more powder to achieve the same fps as the FMJ. Then the JHP is physically longer than both the FMJ and CMJ so you need to take the reduced internal case volume into account which usually means it takes less powder to achieve the same fps as the FMJ.

I don't really think that one bullet type (FMJ, CMJ, JHP) is better or worse than another as long as you tune your load to work well with whatever bullet type you end up using. But I do know that true jacketed bullets tend to be more accurate and consistent than plated bullets. If you can get Jacketed bullets for the same or less money as plated ones, get the jacketed bullets.

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Are Montana Gold not jacketed?

Why pay the same price for a plated bullet when you can get a true jacketed bullet for less money? Currently the Montana Gold bullets are more expensive than the Zero bullets. I have shot both and prefer the Zero 180gr FMJ's over anything that Montana Gold offers.

If you are using titegroup, FMJs can get a little smokey, but it's not too bad. I think any of the above would work fine. Zeros are nice too.

Edited by dagger10k
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+1 to watching the profile of the bullets. I just switched from round nose to truncated cone and had to test chambers and more importantly the magazines for fit.

Most of the shooters I know use the 180 CMJ Montana Gold in 40SW and use the 124 gr JHP in 9mm.

Mike

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Montana Gold bullets are jacketed not plated they have a brass jacket instead of copper but its still a jacketed bullet.

Where are the great prices on zeros or a better question is where do they have zeros in stock?

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Montana Gold bullets are jacketed not plated they have a brass jacket instead of copper but its still a jacketed bullet.

Where are the great prices on zeros or a better question is where do they have zeros in stock?

Shooters Connection has Zero in stock.

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I'm with Cha-Lee on this one, Zeros are the way to go. At the volume I can afford to purchase, they are about .01 to .02 a round cheaper than MG bullets. I buy 180 grain JHPs either way. It doesn't sound like much, but at the end of the year, cheaper is cheaper, right :cheers:

I have had extremely good success with the Zeros and will only buy them, if at all possible.

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