40 cal S&W
 

working up a load for 40 cal. any one have a favorite? Just going to be using it out in the back yard but will be using it for home defense also. thanks

Well mrmiskin, I don't want you to think anybody is ignoring ya, and I know we have some 40 S&W shooters on here, but nobody has jumped on the thread yet so I wanted to respond to you. I don't shoot 40 S&W myself, but here's a few things I can "universally" recommend with auto-pistol reloading.

#1 Laser-Cast bullets. Very hard cast lead, won't lead your barrel, and will run you less than jacketed bullets for backyard exercises. On the plus side I have always had good accuracy with laser-cast bullets as well. http://www.laser-cast.com/4010mm.html (went ahead and pointed you to the 40 section) just remember to keep in whatever grain weight range loads via your feed ramp without a problem and you should be fine. IE if a XYZ grain won't load in a jacketed bullet, it probably won't load as a laser-cast either.

#2 Unique powder from Alliant powders. Now I am normally a hodgdon fan of powders, but for auto-pistols I have always loved the performance of unique. Follow load guidelines as listed by Alliant, and as always what works in my guns may not work in yours I assume no liability for anything you do.

#3 starline brass (assuming you don't have brass already) can't beat it IMHO for good multi-reloadable brass, and it often costs less then lesser quality brass does. If you already have brass, use what you got. I have mixed headstamp brass I reload for some of my lead launchers, and it works until it splits then it goes in the recycle bin.

Anyway hope that gives you a weee bit of a jumping off point. i won't point you at primers as well..... people get fierce about their primer loyalties. :D I have used just about every brand and I can honestly say once I have tailored a load to a primer brand/size it performs for me, and I don't worry about anything else. If I change brands I rework the load just to be on the safe and accurate side.

Good shootin' and God Bless

Richard

I reload for the .40S&W, but since I load for plinking I can't really say if it would be good for you.

I use a 165g bullet (whatever I can get in bulk cheap up here in the 'north') I would have to check on the amount, but I do use unique powder.

Now that said, one of the gun magazines just had a article on reloading the .40, but I can't remember which one, but it is a current issue.

thanks for the info I guess I will do what I always do start light and work my way up until I get what I want. Thanks again guys and or gals.

Just keep in mind that if you use reloads for home defense and you become the next Zimmerman, shooting reloads is just something else you need to defend. I always use factory loads for self defense.