.40 Reloads & Powder Suggestions

dfinan · May 19, 2014

Ok got my first set of .40 reloads chrono'ed

XDM 5.25 .40
Bayou Bullets 180 grain Moly Coated LFN

Powder WSF- 5 grains
COAL- 1.125
Bullet Weight- 180 grain

String 1- PF 171.1
957
962
969
914
958

String 2
978
978
Failed to go into battery
964
962

So this should be a good major power factor load, might be able to drop it down a grain or two.

A couple of questions since WSF is drying up any suggestions for a similar replacement powder? Is there enough fudge factor in the loads to allow for warmer tempratures? A final question everyone I see pretty much uses 180 grain bullets for .40 is there a specific reason 200 or 165 aren't used that much ?

Thanks for any advice

David

mikey80 · May 19, 2014

200 gr BBI is awesome. Makes 170pf at 850 fps.

dfinan · May 19, 2014

What powder are you using for you loads?

dennishoddy · May 19, 2014

Unique will work in .40.

mikey80 · May 20, 2014

dfinan said:
What powder are you using for you loads?

3N38 for 200's, N320 for 180's, some CFE Pistol with 180's for a friend, and I always used Power Pistol for 155's. I even used Blue Dot for 180's but you have to get a lot of it in the case! Lol

technetium-99m · May 20, 2014

I've personally used Unique, Solo1000, N320, and Titegroup in 40.

You've got quite a few options.

dennishoddy · May 20, 2014

Micah_Rowe said:
3N38 for 200's, N320 for 180's, some CFE Pistol with 180's for a friend, and I always used Power Pistol for 155's. I even used Blue Dot for 180's but you have to get a lot of it in the case! Lol

Blue dot gains higher pressure when cold vs hot outside temps. I've use it in the past. Summer loads were perfect. When used in the winter, they would barely eject.

UHHH, that was on practice loads only for the record......

mikey80 · May 20, 2014

dennishoddy said:
Blue dot gains higher pressure when cold vs hot outside temps. I've use it in the past. Summer loads were perfect. When used in the winter, they would barely eject.

UHHH, that was on practice loads only for the record......

Lol, Blue Dot, no matter what the charge weight, within the loading parameters of the Hornady Book, has the best recoil impulse. It's right there with the VihtaVuori stuff. Nice, soft push.

dfinan · May 20, 2014

Sounds good and thanks for the info, now to see if I can actually find some of those powders. I have been looking at using the 200 grain bullets just couldnt find a ton of info on what powders were best for this bullet, even worse what I did find was out of stock everywhere.

Goathead · May 25, 2014

AA5 is good also That I found

CBR · May 26, 2014

I've worked up a new load using CFE Pistol. Using 5.8gr @ 1.180. Have been using WST for a long time, but am tired of contending with temperature sensitivity. Might have to come up with a propane based load if powder stays scarce.