40 s&w ww231

Grizzlypeg

Grizzlypeg

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
80   0   0
Location
Winnipeg
What's a good accuracy load for an M&P 40 shooting 180 grain round nose cast bullets using WW231 powder? I don't need to make any power factor, I'm just shooting at paper at 20 yards and want maximum accuracy and for the action to cycle reliably.

3.5-4.0 grains 231 a good starting point?

I also have Bullseye and Accurate #2 on hand.
 
That load seems light for W231. My Lyman manual lists start charge of 4.3 gr. of 231 for a 175 gr cast bullet and max charge of 5.8 gr.'s. I usually shoot 5.2-5.3 gr.'s of 231 with 165 gr. plated bullets. It gives me good accuarcy and managable recoil.
 
My minor factor load is a 180 grain lead truncated cone with 3.8 of 231 I used to use 3.6 but it was a little slow and accuracy suffered past 15 yards.

I beleive the best accuracy is in the 3.8-4.0 range so you are probably good to go.

BTW this is in my M&P40.

If i do my part the 3.8 load will shoot 2.5 - 3" at 25 yards. The 3.6 load was like a .22 for recoil and it would drop the brass at my feet but it would group 1" at 12 yards but at 25 was all over the map. ie 10" plus groups. Only thing i can figure was it was going too slow to stabilize properly.

Hope this helps

The only bad thing as this 231 and a low power load it burns pretty dirty. I clean every 200-300 rounds no biggy for me but don't say I didn't warn you.

Andy

PS a really nice major load was the same bullet with 5.9 of Power pistol
 
Last edited:
When you've exhausted your present supply selection, try 3.5 grains of TiteGroup for a bit more than 850 fps. I think you'll be very surprised with many aspects of this load, not just accuracy. :) One being that you will load 2000 rounds with one pound.

I use 180 grain truncated cone lead bullets in my 40's and use TiteGroup in 45ACP as well. Snappy, but fast and accurate for both and quite clean burning if I may say so.

If the Bullseye you have on hand is from an earlier lot, it's just as dirty as 231 and smokier I think, but doable in several pistol calibers. I won't buy it anymore, but FREE, gets me rolling with it no problem.

Another very clean burning powder I really like in 40's is Clays Universal. Doesn't meter very well, but it's my second choice after TiteGroup for that caliber.
 
I used to shoot light loads of 231 in my 45acp, 5.6 grains with a 200 grain bullet. I can't remember having any problems with excessive powder residue. But that's probably not a light load for 45acp.

Anyone try Accurate No.2?
 
ampegor said:
The only bad thing as this 231 and a low power load it burns pretty dirty. I clean every 200-300 rounds no biggy for me but don't say I didn't warn you.
Click to expand...

231 is only clean burning when you use it for max pressure rounds.

As suggested above, try Titegroup, or if you are an experienced loader and are ONLY shooting light loads, then you can use Clays.

Clays is MUCH faster than Titegroup (and faster than Bullseye), loads are tiny, and very easy to double charge. But it is a very clean burning powder because you don't use much and it will develop high peak pressure, even in light loads.

Note that especially when using fast burning powders in pistol cartridges, OAL is VERY important. Small decreases in OAL can significantly raise pressure.
 
How critical is the OAL? I see in the reloading data that 1.135 is max. I measured my Wolf brand reloads and they come in at 1.132, so that's what I loaded these round noses to. I'd think round nose should feed superbly. Loaded some up with 4.0 grains of 231 and will see how they shoot Monday.
 
Grizzlypeg said:
How critical is the OAL? I see in the reloading data that 1.135 is max. I measured my Wolf brand reloads and they come in at 1.132, so that's what I loaded these round noses to. I'd think round nose should feed superbly. Loaded some up with 4.0 grains of 231 and will see how they shoot Monday.
Click to expand...

It depends on what you mean by "critical". It can be very critical if you are using a max pressure load. Shortening the OAL even slight amounts (say 0.05) can significantly increase peak pressure.

The other factor is what your gun will feed. I regularly load 1.2" for a 1911 in 40 S&W, yet this round won't even fit in a Glock magazine.
 
Pressure concerns won't be an issue with the target loads I'm putting together. My only concern was feeding. I'll find out tonight.
 
Grizzlypeg said:
Pressure concerns won't be an issue with the target loads I'm putting together. My only concern was feeding. I'll find out tonight.
Click to expand...

You would be very surprised what a 0.1 to 0.15 setback can do to pressures. Even with some "target" loads that much of a setback can double peak pressure. Same thing if you drop a round and the bullet gets pushed in a bit, don't fire it.
 
SandRoad said:
231 is only clean burning when you use it for max pressure rounds.

As suggested above, try Titegroup, or if you are an experienced loader and are ONLY shooting light loads, then you can use Clays.

Clays is MUCH faster than Titegroup (and faster than Bullseye), loads are tiny, and very easy to double charge. But it is a very clean burning powder because you don't use much and it will develop high peak pressure, even in light loads
Click to expand...
He could try Universal Clays...it burns very clean and fills the case better than Clays....5.0grs is a good load for my grenade, err, I mean Glock 22, 180gr bullet, 1.190 OAL....
 
Tried out the load this evening. 4.0g of 231 pushing a 180 gr RN cast bullet. I got a 10 shot group of 3.5" at 20 yards, shooting the S&W M&P40 off a rest. I'm not terribly impressed with that. I can shoot a better group than that freehand with my revolver. Even factory ammo groups just so so with this gun. Its not tackdriver, but its nice handling.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom