jschweg Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 I'm going to be starting to load 40 for the first time and plan on using Blue 180's as I've loaded tons of Blues for 9mm and love them. With 9mm, they offer a special .356 profile which I have had to use as they are far more accurate in my barrel. Enough people have preferred the .356 obviously for them to offer that alternative profile. With 40, they only have one profile in .400 which is undersized like all of their default bullets. That being said, I haven't seen any complaints on the 40 forum about this at all in comparison with the 9mm forum. Is this just not really an issue with 40? Sorry if this is dumb, I really don't know anything about this caliber yet and all the other cast bullet manufacturers typically size to .401 Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAP Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 This is going to be barrel/gun dependent. I have shot both .400” and .401” diameter bullets through my .40 cal Limited Gun. I could not tell a difference in accuracy between the diameters. These bullets are my own cast bullets so the only difference was diameter after sizing. My barrel slugged .395”. I ended up sizing to .400”.I suggest give them a try. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
858 Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 .400 is not undersized, .401 is oversized. .356 is oversized too. Unless you specifically have problems with .400 or .355 (inaccuracy or low muzzle velocity) there is no reason to use oversized bullets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
candiru Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 I'm going to be starting to load 40 for the first time and plan on using Blue 180's as I've loaded tons of Blues for 9mm and love them. With 9mm, they offer a special .356 profile which I have had to use as they are far more accurate in my barrel. Enough people have preferred the .356 obviously for them to offer that alternative profile. With 40, they only have one profile in .400 which is undersized like all of their default bullets. That being said, I haven't seen any complaints on the 40 forum about this at all in comparison with the 9mm forum. Is this just not really an issue with 40? Sorry if this is dumb, I really don't know anything about this caliber yet and all the other cast bullet manufacturers typically size to .401 Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk Buy some sample packs of .401 and test them in your gun/barrels. It may or may not make a difference for you. I tested mine with BB, Acme, and a few others and ended up going with Ibejiheads .401. Better consistency (weight, dimensions), better over the chrono (SD, ES), and more accurate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jschweg Posted January 31, 2020 Author Share Posted January 31, 2020 .400 is not undersized, .401 is oversized. .356 is oversized too. Unless you specifically have problems with .400 or .355 (inaccuracy or low muzzle velocity) there is no reason to use oversized bullets. I was always under the impression that when dealing with lead or cast bullets that generally these are oversized to seal against the barrel properly since it's a softer material.Pretty much any other manufacturer of coated bullets uses .356 and .401 for 9mm and 40 respectively.Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
candiru Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 8 minutes ago, jschweg said: I was always under the impression that when dealing with lead or cast bullets that generally these are oversized to seal against the barrel properly since it's a softer material. Pretty much any other manufacturer of coated bullets uses .356 and .401 for 9mm and 40 respectively. Yes. A number of bullet makers offer a variety of sizes precisely so you can find which one works best for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
858 Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 37 minutes ago, jschweg said: I was always under the impression that when dealing with lead or cast bullets that generally these are oversized to seal against the barrel properly since it's a softer material. Pretty much any other manufacturer of coated bullets uses .356 and .401 for 9mm and 40 respectively. Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk You're not dealing with bare lead bullets though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MNshooter Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 I bought a sample pack of .400 blue bullets and .401 ACMEs. Both we’re acceptable accuracy for our game but .401 significantly more accurate. Minor price difference so I stuck with .401 ACME Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jschweg Posted February 1, 2020 Author Share Posted February 1, 2020 I bought a sample pack of .400 blue bullets and .401 ACMEs. Both we’re acceptable accuracy for our game but .401 significantly more accurate. Minor price difference so I stuck with .401 ACMEThat's what bugs me about Blue. I love their bullets, but if you are only going to offer one size, I would think that the .401's would shoot better in the majority of guns given they are cast.Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick_shoots_fast Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 I haven’t noticed any accuracy differences with blues. I used to buy a local company bullet that’s .401 and switches to blues specifically because they have a smaller bullet. I find case gauging isn’t such a pain due to the smaller bullet diameter. Also, I found that I can use a little less powder to make PF. Yes, it’s small but every little bit tends to add up over time. They have been accurate enough for me. If I can bench the gun and hit the A zone at 50 yards with a fist size group, I’m good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glockster1 Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 Your choice requires a barrel rifling slug test. Let us know the measurement in thousands and tenths measured with a 0-1 micrometer and I'll let you know what diameter you need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superkaratemonkeyfighter Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 I Tried .400 in my tso it had ever so slight leading at the muzzle and the Accuracy was not as good when the barrel was hot. If the accuracy is the same between .400 and.401 out of a gun then I guess you don’t need the .401 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superkaratemonkeyfighter Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 But I bet that with coated lead the majority of people use .401. Could be wrong. Excluding the “ its good enough accuracy for me people “ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glockster1 Posted February 21, 2020 Share Posted February 21, 2020 8 hours ago, Superkaratemonkeyfighter said: But I bet that with coated lead the majority of people use .401. Could be wrong. Excluding the “ its good enough accuracy for me people “ They do. But it depends on the actual diameter the manufacture's sizing die produces. Slug test your barrel with a pure lead slug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlestiller Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 I’ve loaded tons of .400 blue bullets after switching from a .401 (don’t remember the other brand). I remember that I did adjust my old recipe, but I had no distinguishable difference in accuracy out of my guns.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtchevy841 Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 I use blue bullet 180gr 40 and absolutely love them. I bought sample packs of several companies and for me these were the best. my SV would not run most .401s. Blue bullets ran 100%. For my gun .400 is the only bullet that runs 100%. Now jhp Montana gold and precision delta are top notch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mcfoto Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 My XDm .40 comp is “DAYUM!” In both the accuracy and reliability with .400 blues in 180 RNFN at factory OAL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CZGeoege Posted March 14, 2020 Share Posted March 14, 2020 Blues would be awesome if they were cast .356 for 9mm and .401 for 40 DG bullets for the win Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BJB Posted March 14, 2020 Share Posted March 14, 2020 10 hours ago, CZGeoege said: Blues would be awesome if they were cast .356 for 9mm....... BTW: Blue bullets are available sized 0.356". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAP Posted March 14, 2020 Share Posted March 14, 2020 20 minutes ago, BJB said: BTW: Blue bullets are available sized 0.356". Yep, and they shoot great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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