bigarm Posted May 18, 2014 Share Posted May 18, 2014 (edited) I decided to buy a very slightly used Brazos High Performance Edge in 40 s&w. What powder(s) that are available are good for loading 40 major? I have never reloaded for 40 before. Anything special I need to know? In my area I am having trouble finding any handgun powders. Also, I have not reloaded in 8 years, so probably time for a new reloading manual. Which do you suggest? Edited May 18, 2014 by bigarm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ttolliver Posted May 18, 2014 Share Posted May 18, 2014 Welcome to the 40 crowd! The most important thing to know about loading 40S&W for our sport is that if you go for 40 major you'll be loading outside of SAMI specs and manufacturer published loads. There's tons of great info here on doing it and a lot of us do it with confidence, but it's something to give an extra measure of respect. As you read up on it here you'll run across, "...and that's how you get a kaboom too!" Another detail you'll run across is whether you end up loading long or short. 40S&W pistols that evolved from 9mm platforms have a more strict COAL than those that evolved from the 1911 platform. And some who shoot 1911 platforms say they actually have to load long (up to 1.200) for reliability. So that's something to keep in mind about your Brazos. As for powders, a number of us have found CFE Pistol available recently. It's a new powder so we're still learning our competition loads, but early tests are looking good for 40 major. In fact I just posted some of my chrono findings in another thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deerassassin22 Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=192238 Good link ^^^^ I like Ramshot Competition works like a champ with 180 and 200gr BBI Bullets and its cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whip Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 I researched this pretty heavily when I got my 40. I kept on reading that VihtaVuori N320 seemed to be what a majority of people were using. Now keep in mind; this was during the "big shortage" and I was moving from .38sc to .40 and was sitting on about 15 pounds of VV N350. Man was I hoping to run across a 350 load, but everyone shooting 40 didn't like it. I ended up finally getting some N320 and haven't looked back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deerassassin22 Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 N320 is just so darn expensive, me and about 5 guys at our club switched to Ramshot Comp shoots just like N320 and uses less powder and way cheaper/cleaner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigarm Posted May 19, 2014 Author Share Posted May 19, 2014 I tried googling Ramshot Competition and everyone seems to be out of stock. I did put myself on a notify list at a couple of places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deerassassin22 Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 When u located? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solvability Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 W231/Hp38 works very well for minor and major - my standard. Bullseye works but is dirty and recoil feels sharp. Be careful 40 is known for pressure spikes at the limit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigarm Posted May 19, 2014 Author Share Posted May 19, 2014 I live in Western Montana. I always used W231 or HP-38 when loading 45acp years ago when I reloaded, but I can't find it either. I always liked those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redial Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 bigarm, Selway Armory in Missoula had Ramshot Comp recently and they seem to have it often. Lots of Hodgdon and Alliant powders (except RL-15!) but not much 231 or WST. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justsomeguy Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 Making major with .40cal is no problem with any number of "medium speed" powders, and indeed most factory loads will make it, especially if using 180grn bullets. My favorite for 40 is Silhouette, but HS6, AutoComp, Power Pistol, WSF, True Blue, Unique, and several others will make major in 40 with no drama and still have room to spare in the pressure department. When using powders that are faster like TiteGroup and even faster powders then things get trickier and pressure limits are often surpassed. Personally, I like Silhouette because it is clean, has a nice pressure curve, an acceptable recoil signature (I consider it fairly soft shooting for the power factor), and meters perfectly as it is a ball powder. A lot of shooters think their guns shoot "softer" when using higher speed powders with heavy bullets, and that is their goal. Mine is to find a load that is not a stress on me or the gun or the cases, is accurate, and has a very stable SD over thousands of rounds so it will always do what it is supposed to do without breaking something. For that, medium speed powders are better in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srf Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 Hodgdon Titegroup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 4756 works well also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wgj3 Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 Solo 1000 and never look back! Around 4.5 grs to start with OAL around 1.175 or so and adjust from there. Shortening OAL with same powder charge will generally increase velocity and pressure. Increasing OAL will generally require bumping charge a tenth or 2 to maintain same velocity. It's like poor man'man's n320. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob01 Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 Hodgdon Titegroup! Same here. Works great for major and down to powder puff loads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhf Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Currently using Hodgdon Titegroup, but I really like Universal Clays when its available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKT1106 Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 (edited) I started with Titegroup, tried a pound of N320, and now use WST with plated bullets. I just got back from a chrono session and though my Brazos HP Edge, I ran 5.0gr of WST behind Extreme 180s at 1.180" and avg PF was 170. This was in 78-80 degree weather. Edited May 22, 2014 by PKT1106 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tac_driver Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 WSF for my Glock 23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gandog56 Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 My 40 cal I like HP-38. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gandog56 Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 I've used a variety and have yet to find one that really outshines the others noticably. I have used: HP38 Blue Dot Red Dot Unique Probably the HP38 is cleaner than the Alliant powders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exmr2sw Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 N320 is the go-to powder for me. If not available, AutoComp is 2nd best for my Brazo's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UFO Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 I'm really liking IMR SR7625 in my .40. Using 200gr Bayou Bullets. Getting 860fps out of 4.4 grns Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay1 Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 I´ve tried N320 and 340, Acc No. 2, WST, Lovex D032, D036, and ended up with Green Dot. Mr. Broemels programm brought me to Green Dot, haven´t thought about before, but it is constant, clean burning and the smoothest one of them all. Doing a PF of 176 with a 180gr CU bullet (we have 170 PF for Major over here). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waynebob126 Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 Unique works for me & my G35 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTpistolshooter Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Nowadays its finding whatever powder is somewhat available. I came across a bunch of WST and have really liked it with my G35. I'm in the powder purchasing mood again and am looking at Solo 1000, WSF, Win 231, Clays, and titegroup. I have a bunch of powder backordered, so hopefully I will get some by Fall. This damn powder thing just isn't any fun at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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