Does anyone have any favorite loads for their 40 S&W?

Doug, you may want to be a little more specific. There are several bullet weights available for this gun: 155, 165, 180 and 200 to name just some. What is the application? I have several 40's. Most of them shoot the 180's best (ie. most accurately) and I have some upper end loads that are also accurate. I can be more specific if you wish. I tend to favor VV N350. You may also want to search the pistol shooting forum (below).
Peter.

I can get 1,150 fps with Remington 155 grain hollow-points no problem over VV N340 in my CZ 75B. Work up slowly!

Peter probably the 165 & 180 grain pills.

Doug, my apologies, I did see where you posted details about your new gun on the Pistol Forum! Now, I would recommend that you go to the Georgia Arms web site, or call them. They are an ammo manufacturer and sell new stuff or reloads. They have 40 S&W ammo in 50 rounds bags and they have 155s, 165s, and 180s loaded for the 40 S&W. You should also buy a box of Win White Box from WalMart. I believe they are 165s but I can't remember. These should tell you what your gun shoots best, plus the White Box is just good to practice with!
Now, some of my own loads are as follows. Be aware that prudent reloading practices should be followed, ie. work up!
180 JHP 6.0 grs Unique 965 fps
180 JFP 7.4 grs. VV N350
180 5.3 Universal Clays 887 fps.
I have several different 40s and they have different preferences in terms of bullet weight. My Shorty Forty (PC) prefers the 155gr. bullets, while the my CZ 40B is somewhat recalcitrant! The much maligned S&W Sigma is quite accurate with the 180s.(10 ring accuracy at 25 yards from an MTM pistol rest).
Peter

quote:

You should also buy a box of Win White Box from WalMart. I believe they are 165s but I can't remember.

Peter I just returned from wally world with 2 of the "white boxs" 100 ct. ($29.95 ea). They are 165 grainers. Now to find a holster! so far I am looking at this one by Brigader Holsters which is made for the CZ75 Compact.



Woud you have any other suggestions?

Wink how accurate is the Remington stuff?

quote:

Originally posted by D Humbarger:
[QUOTE]

Wink how accurate is the Remington stuff?

I don't think I've ever kept a target with that load. Let me do one this Sunday and I'll post the results. I tend to shoot mostly at bowling pins and metal gongs and other stuff and don't do much accuracy testing with my reloads. I don't think I could hit anything further away than about 7 yards anyway so take whatever results I produce with a grain of salt (and a tequila chaser).

I sense a preference for leather, but here's a photo of my Blade Tech if you're wondering what the plastic ones look like:

Damn, the prices have gone up! 30 bucks each (box of 100)?
With some of my guns, the White Box will hold the black at 25 yards (from an MTM pistol rest).
Peter.

Here are the results of my "accuracy" testing of my favorite load in .40 S&W.

Before proceeding, I would like to say that I think they are without any value. This may be due to having drunk too many beers with Louis Awerbuck, but I think accuracy testing of handgun cartridges in a defensive pistol which you may believe just might possibly be used used to save your skin is of no importance whatsoever. At 1 to 3 yards the "accuracy" of your cartridge/pistol combo is so unimportant as to border on the irrelevant. Bullet type and training seem (to me at least) as far more important.

This said, my pistol is a CZ75B chambered in .40 S&W. The reloaded cartridge is with Magtech brass and uses Magtech small pistol or CCI small pistol primers. The cases I used this morning for the accuracy test were Magtech (headstamped CBC) from Brasil. But I also use Fiocchi brass (headstamp GFL) and don't see any difference in the results under normal shooting conditions. The bullets are:



The propellant is 7.2 grains of VihtaVuori N340. On average I get 1,150 fps at 18° C. Today it was -4° C so no doubt they were slower. If your pistol has a shorter barrel than the CZ75B then you will probably get a little less velocity so work up slowly.

The C.O.A.L. is incredibly variable with this bullet when using the stock RCBS bullet seater. The shorter cartridges measured around 1.115", the longer cartridges measured as long as 1.130". I have never found a way to seat these bullets at a constant C.O.A.L. I crimp with a Lee Factory Crimp die.



Here is a photo with the measured horizontal spread (1.050"):



Here is a photo of the measured vertical spread (1.270"):



This target was shot at a distance of 15 meters, or approximately 50 feet, ten shots from a ten shot magazine. My pistol has Big Dot Express Sights which may be the worst possible sights for 15 meter paper target shooting. I should probably get one of the younger pistoleros at the club whose eyes are still good to see what the pistol/load can really do. Progressive lens eyeglasses are great for everyday life (I'm 56 years old) but not the best for target shooting.

If I didn't say it before, I don't think these results mean anything to someone who uses a CZ75B in .40 S&W as a defensive pistol. Mind set and getting your pistol on target quickly are all that really count.

Wink, I would call those pretty good groups! So, anyone know where I can get these Remington 155's? I have looked and most places seem to have them "on order" or not at all. Any alternatives? I rather like the JFP configuration rather then the JHP.
Peter.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
Wink, I would call those pretty good groups!
Peter.

I was the most surprised, having never tried a target from a rest with this load. I'll bet somebody who is used to shooting a pistol from a rest and who has good eyes can get better results.

Grafs has the Rem 155 JHP.
REM 155 JHP

Doug,

Perhaps Remington changed the bullet construction, or perhaps the photograph of the bullet on the link you provided is not "contractual", but it's not the same shape as the bullets I bought a couple of years ago and used in my target test. It may not make any difference in your results of course. Every bullet/load/pistol combination is different.

I noticed that also Wink. I don't have an answer.

Any of you guys shoot lead bullets? If you are under about 1300 fps I would think that leading would not be a major problem.
Peter.

Here is a 5 shot 25 yard group shot from an MTM Pistol Rest using Georgia Arms 180 grain ammo. SafariLand holster.


Peter.

I loaded up some 180 grain FMJ Flat Points today, again with VV N340 propellent: 6.0 grains. I get an extremely consistent C.O.A.L. of 1.126" with the RCBS bullet seater with this shape of bullet. I got an average velocity of 1,007 fps at ambient temperature of 4°C. This is a very nice load; I'll have to get around to trying an accuracy test.

Wink, I like the jacketed Flat Points as well. I use VV N350 as it works very well in my 38 Super and 9x21.
Peter.

155 Gr Gold Dot over 11.2 grains of Blue Dot has long been my .40 S&W go-to load. It seems to just work in every .40 I've tried it in.

FROM THE OLD SORE ELBOW CROWD... IN KIMBERS , 546T & 610S&W... 180 CAST VALIANT OR GA. ARMS &AMMO. WITH A 14 LB. SPRING IN KIMBERS. 3.2 AA#2 IMP. THIS IS ABOUT 750 FPS IF I REMEMBER RIGHT. GA. ARMS AND AMMO HAS LOADED THIS LOAD FOR A FEW CUSTOMERS ON REQUEST. (NOW YOU KNOW WHERE THEY GOT IT ) I USE A LONGER OAL THAN DO THEY.