40 s&w

[Bush pilot]

Hey all!

I am planning to shoot a lot more this year. I have recently aquired a SIG 226 in 40S&W and am looking for the most economical way of shooting 180 grain loads. What has everyone's experience been? I have been looking at the hard cast lead bullets from the bullet barn or copper washed also seem like a viable option from other manufactures. What is everyone using? Are cast lead bullets ok in a SIG? I am not shooting IPSC or any other pistol competitions but if the opertunity presents itself I just may. Any recommendations for loads, powders or bullets (where to buy them too) is greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Bush pilot

 

[captainmike]

for cheap bullet look at Campro

 

[HIGHRPM]

OR, like a lot of us do, reload. In all of my research only Glock Polygon barrels have an issue with lead bullets, depending on lead hardness. All gun makers say they don't want you to run reloads, but hell, tons of people do, without any issues. This way you really get to understand the ammo and your gun. If you don't want to go that route, there is Berrys bullets, Campro. A great deal of lead bullet suppliers are now selling bullets that are extremely hard, and hardness should be tailored to pressure needed to properly seal the barrel. All lead bullets will shoot, but well sealing lead bullets shoot faster ! Lots to learn if you want too ! IMHO

 

[Ganderite]

Add your location to your profile, so we can give you better advice.

I shoot DRG cast lead bullets in my Sig 226 40S&W. They cost about $35/500.

 

[bigedp51]

Make Right With a “.40 Lite”
http://www.handgunsmag.com/ammo/ammunition_40lite_091806/

Below my .40 Glock and .40 lite loads with Rainier plated bullets, here in the States only plated bullets can be shot indoors so I never bothered with cast bullets.

And remember Google is your best friend for finding information.

 

[BCRider]

Since you mentioned Bullet Barn bullets I'm assuming that you're in BC or at least in western Canada.

Either Berry or Campro plated bullets are cheaper by a little than the cast Bullet Barn stuff.

A couple of years back a buddy had an issue with plated bullets from his .40S&W Glock. It was shedding the plating. I don't recall the name of the bullets but I know it wasn't Berry's. And even if it was Campro I'm thinking that they would have gotten things right since that time.

So all in all I'd suggest buying either option from Budget Shooter's Supply. Henry is a top notch guy as I and many others have found out.

If you're shooting lots work up loads for any sort of suitable powder. My preference is Titegroup because it tends to not be as sensitive to temperature changes as some other powders. But these days with the sketchy supply issue of handgun powders beggars can't be choosers. So be prepared to use whatever you find and that is listed as suitable for that bullet weight in .40S&W data.

The big thing is that you'll find that you want to make up small test batches with each new to you powder to find out which power level will cycle the gun reliably without being too much power and beating the gun up. So start close to the minimum starting load with 10 rounds, 10 more at two other levels between that first load and the max. If the first lower power 10 run well and lock back consistently at the last shot then this or the next load up is the way to go. To test this I'd load only two or three rounds per magazine to get the most testing from the 10 rounds. Have someone also watch the ejection path to ensure that they are not just barely dribbling out of the gun. You want to see the rounds arcing over a good two feet to the side before they fall below the level of the gun to ensure you don't get into stovepipe jamming issues from too light a slide kick. Weak ejection combined with failure to slide lock at the last shot is a good indicator of future stovepipe jamming issues.

But it's just as bad to jump right to max power if the gun doesn't need that much to cycle strongly. The excess ends up slamming the slide into the travel stop which then kicks down into your hands and upsets your aim for rapid shooting. So you want enough to cycle well but no more to get the smoothest and consistently reliable gun you can.

If you're planning on shooting that much I also imagine that you either already have a progressive press or are planning on getting a progressive. You'll want to go that route for the sort of volume you're suggesting.

 

[bigedp51]

A couple of years back a buddy had an issue with plated bullets from his .40S&W Glock. It was shedding the plating. I don't recall the name of the bullets but I know it wasn't Berry's. And even if it was Campro I'm thinking that they would have gotten things right since that time.

If you over crimp a plated bullet it will shed the plating, you only need a very light taper crimp .002 to .003 smaller than case diameter below the crimp. I shoot plated bullets out of my .44 magnum and only use a light taper crimp.

Squeeze Play: How to Properly Crimp Ammunition
http://www.handgunsmag.com/handguns/squeeze-play-how-to-properly-crimp-ammunition/

Below over crimping and improper seating.

Lyman

The Lyman type M die helps seat the bullets straighter in the case, the patent expired and many die manufactures are using this design.

Below Redding pistol dies with the type M expander. (center)

I even use the type M die expander for my jacketed bullets in my .223/5.56 AR15.

 

[Bush pilot]

Great info guys! Thanks a ton! I have found lots of information on the net but none of it was Canadian. Most of he bullets referenced were only available in the states or were cast at home.

BCrider, your info came at a most opertune time. I was at TNT gunworks in regina and they had boxes of 1000 185grain Round nose bullets from Campro. I grabbed a box of them. I will work up a load and see if I can find that sweet spot for the 226. Again this board has proven to be an incredible source of information.

As far as powders go, I have a descent supply of 700-x, the books shows a load of 5-5.5 grains. I hear it is a little dirty but the price was right. I am also thinking of trying to source some Vhitavohri powder given my excellent results with long range rifle.

My friend and I were thinking we would just sit side by side and run our single stage presses with my wife in the middle with a lee primer and the RCBS powder thrower but I got a good deal on a used Ln'L so I will have to learn the ins and outs of that when it arrives.

Also a quick thought, I have the opertunity to shoot a 226 at work except it is in 9mm. Is there any way of making the .40 handle more like the 9mm? I have read some articles on 40 light. Basically a 165 grain bullet with just enough powder to function the slide. I was under the impression that the ballistics of that load and a full 9mm round would be significantly different. Should I just put my name on the list for a x-change kit and get into 9mm too?

Cheers!
Bush pilot

 

[Ganderite]

Great info guys! Thanks a ton! I have found lots of information on the net but none of it was Canadian. Most of he bullets referenced were only available in the states or were cast at home.

BCrider, your info came at a most opertune time. I was at TNT gunworks in regina and they had boxes of 1000 185grain Round nose bullets from Campro. I grabbed a box of them. I will work up a load and see if I can find that sweet spot for the 226. Again this board has proven to be an incredible source of information.

As far as powders go, I have a descent supply of 700-x, the books shows a load of 5-5.5 grains. I hear it is a little dirty but the price was right. I am also thinking of trying to source some Vhitavohri powder given my excellent results with long range rifle.

My friend and I were thinking we would just sit side by side and run our single stage presses with my wife in the middle with a lee primer and the RCBS powder thrower but I got a good deal on a used Ln'L so I will have to learn the ins and outs of that when it arrives.

Also a quick thought, I have the opportunity to shoot a 226 at work except it is in 9mm. Is there any way of making the .40 handle more like the 9mm? I have read some articles on 40 light. Basically a 165 grain bullet with just enough powder to function the slide. I was under the impression that the ballistics of that load and a full 9mm round would be significantly different. Should I just put my name on the list for a x-change kit and get into 9mm too?

Cheers!
Bush pilot

If you want an accurate and soft shooting load, try loading 10 rounds starting with 3.5gr of 700x, and up, in 0.3 gr increments. I have done this and found that the most accurate load was a very mild one. Feels softer than a 9mm.