It’s been years since I was into .40 S&W, but 180 Jacketed is pretty much a standard load. I did quite a few 200 grain loads for IPSC as well - less perceived recoil at the same IPSC power factor - but no doubt the 200 grain loads were high pressure. I want back to the 180s because of swelling at the web.
It was common wisdom (then) that cast bullets were a no-no in the 40 S&W, especially with Glocks. Barrel leading (IIRC) and higher (dangerous) pressures resulted with Glock/.40 S&W barrels.
And there is no doubt that cast bullets (and I assume plated/swaged lead) loads take less powder ( roughly half a grain or so) to get the same velocity as a similar jacketed load.
I suggest you use a chronograph and work up to about 160 power factor (low end of IPSC Major) - or less. This should be well under the listed book maximum velocity for a given powder. (If not, find another powder.) For a 180 grain bullet this would be a velocity of ~890 fps: [890x180/1000 = 160.2]
I find .40 to be much more pleasant when loaded to the lower end of the range with a medium or faster powder. I don’t need major PF for anything I shoot, so I have no worries in that regard. Power Pistol isn’t a bad choice for major, but as others have said, you need to work up, use a chronograph, and carefully monitor for signs of over-pressure. Even at lower to medium loads, PP is very flashy and loud, and will be difficult to judge by feel alone.
Holy cow… If we’re resurrecting this 12 year old thread (!), then I’ve switched from dirty, inefficient, and inconsistent Unique to very clean, consistent, and efficient Clays.
Also, I’m getting even less recoil and more consistent velocity with 180/185gr cast bullets, over just 3.0gr of Clays, and that load runs 100% in stock Glocks, even a long-slide G24.
I have access to a bunch of Tite Group. Not sure of the availability of any pistol powders right now, but based on this thread, I’m probably going to source some real jacketed 180 gr bullets. I’d like to be around 900 fps from a G22.
My goal isn’t super pleasant ammo, but rather a warm practice load that’s safely close to a hotter carry round.
Agreed. 9mm, which I own and shoot, has become a friggin snooze. I’m wanting to play with something different. I fired a half a box of 40 through by old G22 two weeks ago, and felt re-energized.
Ran the data for the powder I do have (Tite Group), and their starting load for 180 gr is 4.2 and already just over 900 fps. I’m not reconciling this thread with the load data.
I’d be very careful with an older Glock. (Pre-2010?) They had a large unsupported area at the feed ramp. I’d only reload lightly with that. No Tightgroup, either. It has high spikes.
Later chambers are better. Still, don’t load high with Tightgroup.
Consider coated bullets. They will launch as fast as plated / jacketed with less pressure / powder, are usually more accurate due to better obturation, and cost less. 180 gr for .10 each if you find a sale.
I was looking over the brass I made yesterday and all of it has the bulge. Almost all of it was fired in the Gen 4, so the newer Pistol’s chamber isn’t that much better than the old days.
I also realized I don’t have a caliber conversion for my Dillon. So at this point, I’m leaning towards buying a case of 40 and saving myself the whole ass ache. $75 caliber conversion, $12 single stage shell holder, and I’d still have to buy bullets. Plus the time lost that I could be loading rifle ammo. Doesn’t seem worth it.