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.40 S&W target loads

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10sandxs
musky
Caster3845
rreid
LenV
PhotoEscape
Sevens
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.40 S&W target loads Empty .40 S&W target loads

Post by Sevens Mon Feb 10, 2020 10:51 pm

Okay, don't laugh MUCH! Wink

I love this forum because you folks shoot at a level that impresses me and though I'll never be a Bullseye competitor, I have a mountain of respect for exactly this kind of handgun shooting. To that end, the guns I own that I love the most are more capable than your average tupperware bullet hoses.

Two of those "better than average" pistols are in .40 S&W caliber and if anyone has some specifically accurate/consistent loads for the .40cal, I'd like to hear about them. While I've made many thousands of basic plated and FMJ range fodder for average .40's for a number of years, I would like to build some specifically accurate and also soft-shooting target specific ammo.

I don't happen to have much cast .40 on hand and I have nothing in coated .40cal lead. In other .40, I have plated and jacketed and I also have a pretty good supply of 180 grain HST component bullets and wonder (hope?) that I could make some accurate fodder with these slugs.

5.2 grains of Bullseye under the 180gr HST gave me about 1,015fps average from a 5.23" barreled CZ Tac Sport. My other "capable" pistol is a Smith & Wesson Performance Center 4006 Limited. If you aren't familiar, think PC 845 Limited... but a double-stack .40cal. This is not a well-known pistol but I'm a fan of these guns. I also have a moon clip .40cal S&W revolver, a Model 646.

I would love to run a load that runs much less speed, especially if it will print eye-poppingly small groups on paper. I'm not against going to a lighter recoil spring to ensure function. .40cal at normal spec is a little snotty for a target pistol.

I'll enjoy hearing any thoughts you're willing to share.

Sevens

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Post by PhotoEscape Mon Feb 10, 2020 11:16 pm

Here is the one you can try.  Tested velocity was sub-900fps.  Bullet - Berry's plated 180gr RNFP.  AP

PowderChargePrimerOALCrimpCrimp Dia.
Accurate #56.3 grCCI 5001.120"Taper0.420"
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Post by LenV Mon Feb 10, 2020 11:46 pm

I love the 40 cal. I have a Kimber Gold Match II that has a trigger job by Toyota. It is set just a little over 2.5 lbs. I did the whole gauntlet 135gr-180 gr. I have some nice loads for Nosler 135gr JHP for the long line and some light recoil loads with 160 and 180gr Truncated Cone (TC). I will dig that info out for you tomorrow. I have to dig because the only loads I am using now are the 135gr in my M&P Shield and full power loads in my XDM. I have about 1000 target rounds loaded up but have not been shooting them. I found for the cost of a good barrel and a couple of magazines I was able to convert it to a 38 Super. That opened up a whole new area of match loads. I ordered a Ruger PC-40 to shoot up all the stored stuff...

Len

Good luck with the 4006. Mine would not print
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Post by rreid Tue Feb 11, 2020 12:03 am

Some guys in my club built 40 cal wadguns to use for centerfire. I think they're using 175gr cast bullets and 3.0gr of bullseye.
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Post by Sevens Tue Feb 11, 2020 12:10 am

Sub-900 sounds good! Was there any image attached that failed to load for me? What’s the powder and charge weight?

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Post by PhotoEscape Tue Feb 11, 2020 12:12 am

Not sure why table with information didn't post.  So here it is:
Accurate #5, 6.3gr with CCI500 primer, COL - 1.120", taper crimped to 0.420".

Shoots nicely from CZ 75 TS, and SIG P226-X5L1

AP
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Post by Caster3845 Tue Feb 11, 2020 1:20 am

Sevens: I am one of those guys in Ralph's club that shoots a 40 S&W. I load 3.0gr of bullseye under a 175gr H&G cast bullet. The gun is a single stack 1911. It is mild to shoot and gives one hole groups at 25 yards and 10 ring groups at 50 yards and is home built. The best that I have done with it was at a 3-gun 1800 several years ago when I shot a 595 out of a possible 600. After that match I had a guy offer to buy it on the spot. I don't shoot it very often, though. I prefer the 45.
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Post by Sevens Tue Feb 11, 2020 10:47 am

Gentlemen, I think there is a chance that I might actually have some 175gr cast tucked away somewhere in my cave... I would have bought these in the 1990’s! I’ll have to laugh if I find them but either way, I hope to update this thread with some progress.

Thanks for the starting point!

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Post by musky Tue Feb 11, 2020 12:17 pm

Made up some mild practice loads for a Dan Wesson .40 SSC back when I got it, and they actually shot quite well. Used what I had on hand, and probably would have done better with jacketed, but X Treme 165 gr plated is what I had at the time. Load used was 5.6 gr WSF. Was going to try some WST, but this load worked so well, that I never got around to trying a new work up. This was right about 1 1/16", shot off bags on my bench at about 24 yards, if I remember correctly. I really would like to try some good jacketed heads sometime. I have 5 Wessons, 1-9, 2-40's, 2-45's, with two of them being customs, and they all are quite accurate. If I remember right, velocity was about 970 fps.
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Post by 10sandxs Tue Feb 11, 2020 3:06 pm

4.5gr tite group 180 gr cast lubed or coated. Shoots very well in all 40's I build. Copper washed/Plated bullets are typically pretty inconsistent sometimes the shoot ok, sometimes, not okay all. Decent cast shoot well, better than good plated IMHO

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Post by LenV Tue Feb 11, 2020 9:15 pm

Besides this batch I have about 400 of the 180gr TC loaded with 4.7gr of Tite Group another 300 of the 135s with 6.4gr PP and some "hot" 180 and 155 XTP with CFE Pistol. I was doing a lot of searching before I settled on the 4.7 Tite Group and 6.4 Power Pistol loads. It looks like you have some other loads to try first.

.40 S&W target loads 20200217


This is the very first 8 rds out of my XDM with 135 gr Noslers. The fiber optics fell out of the front sight on 8th shot. It had potential. It has a solid front sight now.

.40 S&W target loads 40_xdm10
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Post by kashaV Wed Feb 12, 2020 3:33 am

This is my easy shooting 40 cal load.
150gr. cast swc. Accurate Molds
4.1 gr. WST
CZ 75 SA

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Post by Sevens Thu Feb 13, 2020 4:43 pm

Thanks for the ideas everyone.

This is the Smith & Wesson that I'll be working these loads over for:
.40 S&W target loads C9-AF777-D-D1-D8-4659-8-CC0-E45-CD3-C50-F38

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Post by Outthere Thu Feb 13, 2020 6:44 pm

Sevens wrote:Thanks for the ideas everyone.

This is the Smith & Wesson that I'll be working these loads over for:
.40 S&W target loads C9-AF777-D-D1-D8-4659-8-CC0-E45-CD3-C50-F38
Nice. VERY nice.
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Post by JIMPGOV Thu Feb 13, 2020 9:11 pm

I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PC40 LIMITED.
200GR XTP 3.4 GR WST VERY ACCURATE AT 50YDS.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T REMEMBER THE ORIGINAL 40S&W FACTORY ROUND BY FEDERAL WAS A 200GR LEAD FLAT POINT. ALMOST A TRUNCATED CONE. EVERYBODY IS HYPED UP ON LOW WEIGHT, HIGH VELOCITY IN 40 TODAY.

BEAR CREEK SUPPLY HAS A NICE LOOKING 190GR T/C SWAGED BULLET. IF THE BASES ARE GOOD AND SQUARE THEY SHOULD BE AN AWESOME BULLEYE BULLET IN LEAD.

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Post by troystaten Thu Feb 13, 2020 10:32 pm

Bayou bullets make a 175 Grain SWC, I use their 185 grain .45 swc bullets and they work well.

Good luck

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Post by LenV Thu Feb 13, 2020 10:41 pm

This was shot with my 40 using 180 gr L-TC. Not a great target but it is like the poster child for the difference two different magazines can make. Also shows that scoping between shots could be important. I had no idea my group moved up and left on the mag change (grip change?)

.40 S&W target loads Dscf0319
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