.40S&W recipe for reloading newbs?

CanuckShooter

CanuckShooter

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My dad finally completed his .40S&W setup on his DillonXL650. He could reload .40S&W before, but had to keep recalibrating the powder measure and powder check between .38spl and .40S&W. He now he has the separate dies, conversion kit, powder measure, and powder check for a dedicated/permanent .40S&W setup.

Can you guys recommend some good .40S&W recipes for us to try? He has the Lyman manual, but I would really like to try some loads that you found you liked. Just looking for an all around solid performer that is SAFE, that isn't on the hot side, but isn't too underpowered either. A nice middle of the road/balanced recipe that some newbies can try out, and stick with hopefully.

One question though, we do have access to a reasonable amount of brass fired through a Glock 22. My dad had the Dillon Carbide 3 Die set. Will this take the bulge out of the Glock fired .40S&W cases? If not, what die would you recommend buying that will remove this bulge?

We are just recreational shooters, so we don't need a competition or IPSC load (whatever the difference would be), and the gun it will be fired in is a S&W 4006 with an aftermarket barrel.

Any input would be appreciated!
 
First question is what gun are you going to use to shoot the .40 brass in?

I use a Lee .40cal resizng die that seems to go deeper down the case than the Dillon. I gets most of the Glock bulge. If your gun is anything other than a Glock, and your pistol has a fully supported chamber, you might want to resize a couple of cases with your Dillon die and see how they feed. If they feed OK using your Dillon dies then you should be good to go. Once your reloaded cartridges are shot in a fully supported chamber the Glock bulge will be gone. Might save you the cost of a die.

If you shoot lead bullets 2.8 gr of Titegroup under a 180 gr LSWC is a great load for shooting IDPA with a PF of 130ish in my Tanfoglio.

Take Care

Bob
 
That gun has a fully supported chamber so IF you reisze with the Dillon die and load a few rounds and they chamber you should be good to go. Once you fire them in your gun the "Glock" bulge will be gone. If they don't chamber due to the bulge (Highly unlikely) then get yourself a Lee sizing die.

Take Care

Bob
 
Thanks guys! We will try the 4.4gr titegroup and 180 fmj over the next few weeks. Is tightgroup a good powder for reloading 9mm as well? Where is the best place to buy bullets? Is Higginsons in Ontario priced competitively?

Thanks
 
Bullseye because I use it in 45acp 44 mag and 40 S&W... tight group is excellent too. Dabbled with W231 X700 X800 and Unique and stuck with Bullseye.

For the cost a of lee sizing die no bench should be without I run all my ammo threw there factory sizing die, it works in anything even my picky STI's
 
Newbie Question

msg.drew said:
Bullseye because I use it in 45acp 44 mag and 40 S&W... tight group is excellent too. Dabbled with W231 X700 X800 and Unique and stuck with Bullseye.

For the cost a of lee sizing die no bench should be without I run all my ammo threw there factory sizing die, it works in anything even my picky STI's
Click to expand...

Newbie question...

I'm just starting to reload and have a Lee pro-1000...if the 1000 only has a 3 hole plate, where would the resizing die fit?

I'm also reloading .40SW for a 1911...
 
the lee pro 1000 has been setup to use three dies in this order... a depriming/sizing die in the first hole by the handle then rotating to the right a expander die with powder drop and the third hole is your bullet seating die.

5 hole presses are better because;
1 deprimeing
2 powder/expander
3 powder cop
4 bullet seating die
5 factory crimp.
 
So would Titegroup be a good powder for .38spl and 9mm as well?

My dad currently uses Clay's powder for reloading. I found out he is using an aftermarket Bar-Sto barrel on his 4006 if that makes any difference.
 
Titegroup is a very versatile powder. You will find it produces excellent results in 9mm thru 45acp even in magnums(not optimal but very good). Its clean, accurate and inexpensive!
dB
 
Since you have Bullseye anyway, try 4.0 grains with a 180 gr. .40 plated bullet. I tried some lighter loads of Bullseye in my Glocks but they would not run 100% until I upped the charge to 4 grains and this load is very accurate. But I would not use the Bullseye for a Major load, it may be too fast. Try Titegroup or 231 for that.
 
CanuckShooter said:
So would Titegroup be a good powder for .38spl and 9mm as well?

My dad currently uses Clay's powder for reloading. I found out he is using an aftermarket Bar-Sto barrel on his 4006 if that makes any difference.
Click to expand...

Yes. I use TG for .38 Spec as well.

Another 40 S&W Vote for 4.4gr TiteGroup behind ANY 180gr (Jacketed/plated/lead)

I used to load 4.3gr of Universal Clays behind 180, but found TG was a much nicer with the jacketed/plated rounds (Cleaner). Every barrel and gun shoots slightly different. Many of us like 4.4gr, but yours personal favourite could like +- 0.2gr from that. Depends on the tolerances, sharpness of rifling, surface finish of the lands, etc...
 
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