I want to start reloading for my m&p 40 but have read warnings about it. Does the stock barrel fully support the cartridge inside the chamber. I am worried about bulged and ruptured cases causing a problem. Is it safe to use reloads on a stock m&p 40?
m&p 40 reloading
- Thread starter springer1
- Start date
You can reload for any gun.
You start light and gradually load heavier. Most reloading data posted by manufacturers of powder have a minimum and maximum which is safe... your gun can handle it.
Some discretion by the reloader is required. You don't want to be using super old brass that you don't know the history on to push your hottest loads - in any gun. Inspect the brass after you shoot and look how the primers look (this is the area where you'll see signs of overpressure first)
General consensus is that brass can be used 3~5 times for hot loads, then it is used many more times for target loads after wards.
The warnings you read are to void your warranty; if you make a mistake and put in a double charge then blow up your gun, S&W doesn't want to buy you a new gun because of your mistake.
You start light and gradually load heavier. Most reloading data posted by manufacturers of powder have a minimum and maximum which is safe... your gun can handle it.
Some discretion by the reloader is required. You don't want to be using super old brass that you don't know the history on to push your hottest loads - in any gun. Inspect the brass after you shoot and look how the primers look (this is the area where you'll see signs of overpressure first)
General consensus is that brass can be used 3~5 times for hot loads, then it is used many more times for target loads after wards.
The warnings you read are to void your warranty; if you make a mistake and put in a double charge then blow up your gun, S&W doesn't want to buy you a new gun because of your mistake.
Last edited:
The M&P supports the case very adequately, and the barrel is fine for shooting lead bullets. The stuff about bulged cases is a largely unfair rap on Glocks. When you're looking for a practise load you kind of have to keep a few things in mind: what am I looking for from a load and what are the consequences of achieving a load that does what I want. If you're competing in a form of 'action pistol' shooting you may be required to 'make a power factor', this may mean shortened brass life. If you're just poking holes in paper then you can ease back a little and increase brass life. Once you settle on a load thats safe, works well, and gives you the accuracy you want, it's simply a matter of repetiton. One thing that I try to do is arrange things in such a way that the load density (amount of powder in the case relative to case size) will not allow a double charge. If you're loading on a progressive press it helps you spot a potential tragedy before you lose fingers over it. Other than that, I recomend that you do reload - it gives you control over your ammunition supply and some interesting insights into shooting that I don't think you get from shooting factory ammo. Besides, tomorrow I'm going to the range with more ammo than I have time to shoot (and I'll be there all day) which is something I couldn't do if I was shooting factory stuff. I've got more than 5,000 reloads through my M&P 9, with no failures.
Last edited:
- Location
- Off the "X"
My stock m&p9 can handle any powder load I've put through it so far, whereas my other pistol can only shoot full power loads with the factory spring, or I'll get stovepipes from the lack of recoil.
I wish I could agree with you but I have seen enough bulged .40cal cases out of Glocks to know the barrels aren't fully supporting the cases. I haven't noticed the same with the 9MM out of Glocks but the .40 cal cases are a different matter.
Take Care
Bob
Aregular Lee sizing die will take the bulge out. Works for me. I get cases from Glocks and shoot them in my Tanfoglio Model "L". They all chamber just fine. Once fired in the Tanfoglio the bulge is gone forever. I don't use a FCD as I shoot lead and I don't want to resize my lead bullets by using the FCD.
Take Care
Bob
Take Care
Bob
