Lifeislarge Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 I'm interested in loading some .40 minor and did a search but didn't come up with many specific examples. These will be for my stock Edge. At my disposal I have TiteGroup, Clays, WST, and Unique powders. I use only Federal SPP's and load to 1.180 with 180gr plated bullets. My plan is to keep my press set up for business as usual and just swap out powder measures once I have a good recipe. I have only loaded for major over the past few years so don't have any experience in making sure the gun runs at minor. I already run a light recoil spring with a shok buff so I don't think I'll have to worry about cycling. If anyone has some experience within the above parameters I'd love to hear about it, especially using TG or Clays as those are the powders I have the best supply of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Smith Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 (edited) If you load .40 major, then the first thing you might want to try is just backing down on your current powder load. Don't change anything else. Might work, might not, but it can't hurt to try. Edited November 5, 2014 by Graham Smith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark R Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Try 2.8 gr Clays, 180 lead bullet, at 1.130 OAL. Real soft shooting in my G35...pf 140 2.8 Clays with 185 Moly bullet at 1.155 OAL runs good in my Para SX-16...pf 137 Both guns have 12 lb recoil springs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifeislarge Posted November 5, 2014 Author Share Posted November 5, 2014 Currently loading 4.7 of TG and was hoping to get close without having to load 50 rounds of trial and error. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.Hayden Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 2.8 Clays with a Berrys 180 - PF 129.2 3.0 Clays with a Berrys 180 - PF 133 - 137 (different batches) 3.1 Clays with a Berrys 180 - PF 139 I prefer Clays to TG for minor, TG gets very sooty cases at minor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifeislarge Posted November 5, 2014 Author Share Posted November 5, 2014 Thanks, I'll try that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob01 Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 3.2grns of TG with the 180 plated or FMJ. I went down to 3grns but the 3.2 shot better and is around 135PF. Feels very soft. I loaded them to 1.145" OAL so if you are going 1.180" then maybe try 3.3 or 3.4 as well. I used a 10# recoil spring with it. 3grns and the 200grns works well too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b1gcountry Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 What length barrel are you using? I like my minor load for WST. Oal 1.135, 165gr coated, 4.2gr wst, or 180gr, 3.7gr WST. In a 4" bbl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bayougump Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 2.9 grains of TG behind 180g Bayou Bullet shot very soft and was around 129PF give or take out of my Tanfo Stock III Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob01 Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 I am using a 5" STI Trojan and Eagle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifeislarge Posted November 5, 2014 Author Share Posted November 5, 2014 I'm shooting my 5" STI Edge. I think I have a 10 or 11lb spring in the gun but I'm not sure anymore. Feels really loose compared to a 14lb spring. I don't want to mess with OAL as my gun likes 'em long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b1gcountry Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 The loads I noted above work reliably in a trojan, but they give 135+ pf. Anything lower, and the velocity starts fluctuating more than I like. Those loads cycle most guns, so I stick with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tac_driver Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 Firearm: Glock 23 PF: 147 LO: 822 HI: 916 AVG: 889 ES: 93.71 SD: 26.47 15 - 25yd. Acc: 1.8 Powder: Clays Max: 3.7/888 Weight: 3.8 Bullet: S&S Casting Type: CLFP Weight: 165Grs. Weather: mostly sunny Temp: 79 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzt Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 I use e3 powder for my 40 S&W loads. I'm very pleased with the results. I load to 1.126" OAL because I shoot them in my CZ TS. You may have to bump the powder charge a little because you are loading longer. Anyway, here are my pet minor loads. 5.5" barrel, 1.126" OAL, 180gr lead truncated cone bullet: 2.8gr e3, CCI 500 primer: 773fps, 139 PF, SD 6.75 (20 shot string) 3.1gr e3, CCI 500 primer: 844fps, 151 PF, SD 8.88 (10 shot string) I know it isn't on your list, but e3 gives me sub 10 SDs with 175gr LSWC and 180gr LTC bullets loaded from 139PF to past major. I just got a selection of Xtreme HPCB bullets and plan to run them over the chrono shortly. I expect very similar results, except I'll need more powder for the same PF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salsantini Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 If you use WST try 3.5gr over a 180gr Lead bullet. Very little recoil out of a 5" S&W M&P. 130PF. At 3.7gr of WST over the same bullet it is 150pf running 840fps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RigPig Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 My minor load is 3.2gr of TG behind a 165gr Berry's FP plated and CCI 500 or Win SPP at 1.17 OAL. Shoots really flat and soft. Use this in both a 5" and 6" 2011. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjohn Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 If you are using a 180 grain, then I have heard that you can change to a 165 grain. Then you can leave all your dies unchanged and just load the lighter bullet and you will now make minor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b1gcountry Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 If you use WST try 3.5gr over a 180gr Lead bullet. Very little recoil out of a 5" S&W M&P. 130PF. At 3.7gr of WST over the same bullet it is 150pf running 840fps120 fps difference when going from 3.5 to 3.7? That sounds pretty high compared to what I'm seeing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckstur Posted November 30, 2014 Share Posted November 30, 2014 I basically concur with b1gcountry. Similar results in my Eagle @ 1.7" COAL except my velocities are slightly higher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RePete Posted November 30, 2014 Share Posted November 30, 2014 My IDPA load is 180 Frontier Plated Bullets 3.6gr/TiteGroup OAL = 1.135" This runs at 150PF so that I can use my STI Trojan without changing springs. 3.3gr/TiteGroup got me 137PF but wouldn't cycle my Trojan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougCarden Posted November 30, 2014 Share Posted November 30, 2014 3.2 grains of CLAYS or CLAYDOT at 1.125 will run most stock sprung guns and is close to 140PF with a 180gr bullet. Same POI as major loads and soft.... DougC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RePete Posted November 30, 2014 Share Posted November 30, 2014 Thanks Doug, but I've never been a fan of Clays since it came out, I tried it for PPC but went back to Bullseye. Never tried ClayDot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob01 Posted November 30, 2014 Share Posted November 30, 2014 3.3gr/TiteGroup got me 137PF but wouldn't cycle my Trojan. Try it with a 10 pound recoil spring. Works great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougCarden Posted November 30, 2014 Share Posted November 30, 2014 They are pretty much identical....except CLAYDOT is available....sigh..... I love CLAYS for major 45 and minor 40....that is about it.... DougC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RePete Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 3.3gr/TiteGroup got me 137PF but wouldn't cycle my Trojan. Try it with a 10 pound recoil spring. Works great. Thanks Rob, but that's what I wanted to avoid. I have a 10# spring, so I might try it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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