Looking forward to purchasing a Ruger Carbine in 40 S& W caliber. Looking for info as to which powders to try with the 180 gr. Hornady and 180 gr. cast bullet. I never loaded this cartridge before and the carbine is for my wife to plink with while I shoot the big boys. Am thinking that powders on the slow side would be best due to the longer barrel as compared to pistols chambered for this round. All info is greatly appreciated.

I`ve heard/read some where claims Power Pistol was designed for the 9mm and 40 cal in factory ammo. I don`t have a 40s&w but I think it would be a good one to to try. I use it in my 45acp for heavy loads and have been happy with it.

For carbine:
Blue Dot From 7.9 grains to 8.8 grains
Winchester WSP Primer

For handgun:
Power Pistol From 4.6 grains to 7.3 grains
Winchester WSP Primer

I doubt you will find much difference in going to slower powders. I use Vihtavouri N340 with great results in a Glock 40 S&W pistol. It just about uses all available powder space with 155-200 grain bullets. The 40 just doesn't have the case capacity to benefit much from a slow powder.

My experieces only, of course.

In a Glock 24 VV 3N37 6,5gr 180gr give power factor 175 and no max pressure.
Biga

vv N105

My Ruger carbine ( PC4 ) has really gotten along well with Hodgdon's LONGSHOT powder.
Whether under heavy or light bullets this powder works pretty well in 40 S&W in carbines anyway.

There is very little muzzle flash with a 16" barrel as opposed to when I use this powder for 45ACP or 357 Mag. pistol loads.
Just a dull orange flicker with max loads of LONGSHOT and 165 Gr.Rem. Golden Saber bullets.
This combo is NOT a reduced recoil type load.

For lighter felt recoil use a faster powder.
I have used Bullseye powder under 135 - 165 Gr. bullets in the PC4 at slightly reduced loads with pretty good results.


Travis F.

Thanks for all of your suggestions. I think I will try Blue Dot, LONGSHOT and possibly 1 or 2 of the Viht powders as I am a fan of that brand. Love the HE line of Viht powders. I can realy crank up a 7mm-08 to near 7mm Rem Mag velocities.

You might look at Hodgdon HS-6 they claim it is designed for the 40 S&W and 10mm Auto and 45LC.

So, how did you like the Blue Dot load?

I've been using 7.2 grains of Power Pistol in my Sig 226 and Sig Pro with a 180 grain Laser Cast. If my memory is correct the chronograph was at/around 1180 fps. It is a strong load but accruate.

I have tried in 40 S&W:
Power Pistol
3N37
IMR 800X -HI ShOKR
Blue Dot
N105
AA#9 = Enforcer = =H108 = WC820
Longshot
Steel

I have come to the conclusions:
1) 800X will give the highest velocity, but is a pain to measure and blows sparks.
2) Power Pistol also gives high velocities, but makes a fire ball.
3) 3N37 gives very good velocities, is easy to measure, and no fire ball, but costs allot.
4) Blue Dot is ok for SAAMI pressures, but is too bulky for hot loads. Makes a fire ball.

quote:

Originally posted by Big Stick:
Thanks for all of your suggestions. I think I will try Blue Dot, LONGSHOT and possibly 1 or 2 of the Viht powders as I am a fan of that brand. Love the HE line of Viht powders. I can realy crank up a 7mm-08 to near 7mm Rem Mag velocities.

I am curious as to the recipe you are using for those 7mm08 velocities near a 7mm mag.

It could be becuase the load books have dumbed down the 7mm mag to 7mm-08 power levels.

I apologize for the late update. I just recently received the Carbine and have visited the range once, two weekends back. I mounted the only scope I have that has an adjustable objective - Nightforce 12x42-56 benchrest model. Of course, I set the power to 12 for this round of testing. I also chronographed the loads to see how they compared to the Winchester white box (USA) factory loaded 180 gr. JHP that I shot to test the gun after first receiving it. I fired 5 round groups at 25 yards to start with. A bit of a change in that instead of using 180 gr. bullets like I initially stated, I opted for the Hornady 200 gr. action pistol because I got a great deal on 1000 from Widener's. I'm using Federal once fired cases & Federal small pistol magnum match primers. I opted for magnum because I decided to try some of the slower burning pistol powders and match type because the were the same price as the standards at the place I purchased them from. As to the powders I tried, I stuck to three - Blue Dot, 2400 and No. 9. I will try the better loads at 50 and 100 yards at a latter date. Here are my results at 25 yards:

WIN Factory 180 gr. JHP--1104 fps avg--no group info.

7.2 gr. Blue Dot--1033 fps avg--1.065" group

7.7 gr. Blue Dot--1111 fps avg--0.794" group

7.8 gr. 2400--829 fps avg--0.693" group

8.3 gr. 2400--895 fps avg--0.527" group

8.5 gr. No. 9--766 fps avg--0.958" group

9.0 gr. No. 9--828 fps avg--no group info

All group sizes are for 4 shots even though I fired 5 rounds. In all groups, the first shot was low and quite distant from the group. 2400 might perform better if I weren't using magnum primers as I have heard it doesn't like them. I don't know how much of a difference there is between small pistol and small pistol magnum primers. I still want to try Longshot and maybe some No. 7 in the future. I currently don't own either of these two powders. I thank all of those who gave me suggestions and will update you on my next range visit once it stops snowing and warms up here in CO.

ricciardelli -- Blue Dot gave the highest velocities but the worst groups. Don't worry, I haven't given up on it, I want to try increasing the charge slightly and see what happens.

Dwight-- As to the 7-08 load that gives me 7mm Rem Mag velocities, there are a few items I should point out. First, the barrel on the 7-08 is 26" long, not the typical 22" for 7-08 or the typical 24" found on most factory 7mm Rem Mag's. Second, I'm using moly coated bullets. But to satisfy your curiosity, here is the load:

Lapua 308 case necked down, Rem 9 1/2 primer, Nosler 140 gr. Ballistic Tip moly coated, 50 gr. Viht. N-550--3110 fps avg--3 shot group size of 0.668" at 100 yards.

The gun is a custom built on a Sako action with a Lilja barrel. Let me know if you have any other questions about this load. Accurate Arms 4064 also works well with 3 shot groups hovering around 1/2" but with a lower velocity average of 2910 fps. 50 gr. of N-550 is about the most powder that I can get into the case and still seat a bullet and it doesn't appear to be max. - no sticky bolt, no ejector marks on the cases, etc.

Carbine: Blue Dot or Vihta Vouri 3N38

Handgun: VV 3N37 or Ramshot Silhouette (formerly Winchester WAP)

You are only 200 fps ahead of me and I shoot a 20 " tube Remington Varmint. Still good numbers though.

clays just clays not all clays just clays dont forget the 10 mil has a 220 lead load out for hunting yeah i know for hunting yep does just fine

This is out of the Hodgdon Annual manual.
There is a warning for the 40S&W inregard to a case being fully supported.

this the 180 GR load chart based on a 4" BBL. 1 in 16 twist Hornady case Win SP Primers trim length .845"

Bullet 180GR HDY HP/XTP .400 DIA 1.125 COL
HS-6 6.1 876 25000PSI to 6.9 976 32500PSI
Universal 5.0 973 26500PSI to 5.8 1046 33400PSI
HP-38 4.1 797 23800PSI 5.0 947 32900PSI
Titegroup 4.2 877 26500PSI to 4.7 978 33300PSI
Clays 3.0 727 26000PSI to 3.5 847 34300PSI

This is provided to give you one sourse of info.

After have loaded several thousand rounds of 40 for my sons competion gun I can highly recommend that you use V/V N-320 for 180gr cast bullets. The bullet I use is a 180/185gr Precision (also called the black bullet because of its color)to make a power factor of 171 on the IPSC scale. this should make your carbine work.
Another good powder is titegroup.
Larry