Some .40 S&W loads for your enjoyment

[kevinbritvec]

I've been reloading my Glock 23 (I know, everyone warns against it). I also own a Sig 229R in .40 S&W.

5.5 grains of Power Pistol with Hornady's 200 FMJ flat point wielded 860 fps. Very similar to what a .45 ACP load. Cases were bulged more than I like. Loaded a full 100 fps slower than several manuals maximum. I consider this a maximum in a Glock barrel.

8.2 grains of Power Pistol with Sierra's 135 grain hollow point yielded 1200 fps and no belling of the case. This load is 140 fps slower than listed maximums from several sources. Most of the "hot" factory loads with this bullet weight run around 1250 fps.

I'm using CCI-500 small pistol primers and loading OAL to match the bullet maufactuer's data.

I run every .40 S&W case through Redding's G-Xr die specifically designed to remove any case belling. This resizing operation generates considerable force. Redding supplies a small tin of Imperial Resizing Die Wax, with the die good enough for 3500+ rounds. Hornady's reddish/brown case reforming wax works better in this application, cutting the resizing effort in half.

[s88mag]

Do 5.5 grains of power pistol in your 200 FMJ seem to feel like it is a really hot load? I loaded up some 180gr. with 5.6gr. and they almost feel as if they are to hot. I am going to down load some a little bit for target practice, but i have about 50 of these loaded.

[kevinbritvec]

I'm sorry I didn't ever check back on this post. My loads are 40 to 90 fps slower than maximum depending on who's manual you refer to. They are not weak by any stretch and they do leave a Glock smile on the empty cases. I would not increase it even though several sources say I have a little room to do so.

If you are shooting lead bullets you need to reduce charges compared to jacketed loads for the same weight bullets. Your bullets are 20 grains lighter and should be safe with your posted load. Without a chronograph reading you are really whistling in the dark.

I prefer lighter loads of faster burning powders when shooting lead. If you have a Glock lead isn't suppose to be shot through their barrels. I have seen extremely high velocities from a friends Glock 19 when shooting lead. The polygonal bore gets coated in lead after very few rounds fired.