180 gr or 165 gr for my .40?

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Jeff000

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I have an STI Edge, and looking at ammo to buy a couple cases I see both 180 and 165 grain.

What one do I want? I have been shooting 180, but would the 165 be easier to shoot?

Sorry I am still learning.
 
I shoot an STI Trojan in .40.
I've tried the Winchester White Box in 180 and 165.
I found the 165 a bit snappier than the 180.
So,in my case I didn,t like or find the 165gr. easier to shoot.
Now I just reload my own and use 180gr. bullets.
My vote would go to the Win. 180 over the 165 if that's the choice I had to make.
The question is which one do you and your Edge prefer.
Have you tried both types out?
 
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I havent treid both.
but I guess I really should too.

I wish it was easier to find different brands to try too. particularly the ones that are easy to get in bulk.
 
I've been shooting .40 cal guns for about 5 years now, from a G35 to an XD40 to a Vertec. I've tried 165gr, 180gr and 200gr bullets. I always go back to 180gr. Like Goldilocks and the 3 bears, it's "just right". :D
BTW...although I reload my own ammo almost exclusively, some of the most accurate factory .40 ammo I've shot was American Eagle 180gr FMJ's. ;)
 
180

ha Jeffoooo 180 in my new edge 40 is great.I just switched from 45 down to 40 and I just love it.acc. and follow up shots, just hangon and give her.
 
tobin said:
180 gr. makes major easily in IPSC.
Click to expand...

165 wont? thats good to know.

I am going to shoot a box of 165 and 180 tomorrow :)


just sucks that I cant seem to find a box of any of the ammo thats available in bulk for the best prices.
 
I fire both on a regular basis. I honestly don't find a significant enough difference to actually say I like the 180's over the 165's or vice versa. Both feed / fire equally well.

Regards,
 
Jeff000 said:
I have an STI Edge, and looking at ammo to buy a couple cases I see both 180 and 165 grain.

What one do I want? I have been shooting 180, but would the 165 be easier to shoot?

Sorry I am still learning.
Click to expand...

The rule of thumb is comp gun - light fast bullet, no comp - heavy slow bullet...but extremes on either side can be too harsh too.

165; if making major is snappier than 180s. Factory 165s usually don't make major.

I and a friend just did Eric Grauffel's course in Florida. Over two days we each shot 1400 rounds. We shot the most of the first day with Winchester white box 165s and the rest of the course with Winchester white box 180s

(My father cleaned out 4 Walmarts and a Bass Pro to get us enough ammo for the course - Our preference before we started was for 180s but he could not find enough.)

Once shooting, I found no difference in point of aim or recoil between the 165 winchesters or the 180s. Neither did my friend. We even mixed them in mags (we were loading mags like crazy.)

I was shooting an IPSC commemorative and my friend was shooting an Edge.

So for just shooting, I don't see a difference - if I have to make major - gotta be those 180s.
 
Most factory 165gr. ammo is fairly hot. Winchester FMJ runs 1050fps and Winchester BEB is 1130fps according to their website, so both do major. If you've ever shot the full house 165 JHP's you know they make major before you even pull out your chrony and calculator. Speer GDHP does 1160fps. Most 165gr. ammo will make major in .40. Exceptions are the MV loads like Federals 165gr. Hydra-Shok, which are downloaded to provide better follow-up shots for recoil shy shooters.

Factory 180gr bullets are usually loaded from 950-1000fps depending on the brand, so all will make major. Exceptions are 180gr. Ranger-T which chronies at 920fps. Most FMJ and flatpoints are loaded around 960fps, some of hotter 180gr. loads are Speer GDHP's at 1020fps. Hope this clears up any confusion.
 
gushulak said:
Most factory 165gr. ammo is fairly hot. Winchester FMJ runs 1050fps
Click to expand...
(165*1050)/1000 = 173.250 - That's tight. :eek:

You better hope you never meet a chrono or scale that is off 2% (3 gr or 21 fps) ...and make sure you shoot matches at sea level.
 
Freedom Ventures said:
Once shooting, I found no difference in point of aim or recoil between the 165 winchesters or the 180s. Neither did my friend. We even mixed them in mags
Click to expand...

I have found the same thing shooting my XD-40.
 
this is an old thread, but what do most people shooting .40 out of polymer guns use for ammo? (ie: Glock, USP Expert, etc...), as I see most people use a heavier 180gr bullet. Anyone use combat masters .40 out of their USP Expert or Glock, and if so, what gr and PF did you get,,,,??
 
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I guess the answer lies in what you are going to use the round for. I would go with the lighter rounds for two legged targets and the heavier for paper targets or bowling pins. Regards, Richard:D
 
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