Hey. I'm looking for a recipe for the mentioned powders and bullet for the 40 S&W. new gun.. Any one have one, or do I need a new powder?
40 S&W? Tite group or Unique for 180gr. plated?
- Thread starter JoshcBoucher
- Start date
I have been using unique with all my .40S&W loads using Lyman's 49th data. Only reason I use unique is because it is versatile (also use it for 12 Ga field loads and .44RM) and until recently it was available. It is dirty, but I can clean the guns. The plated bullets IME are a little slippery and I had trouble getting the crimp tight enough to keep the bullet from sliding in the case in the mag while loose enough not to cave the bullet. I also had problems with that crimp and possibly the velocity causing the plated bullets to tumble in flight as well. So I have since moved to casting my own 175g BBTC for practice ammo, which has turned out to be cheaper and a ton more consistent in terms of group size and piece of mind. I always worried about the plated ones slipping far enough into the case to cause pressure spikes. YMMV. The common advice that I found is to use cast data for plated bullets, and you might get away with the data for 175g lead, start low and test up from there.
Lyman data for cast 175:
Unique 4.7 - 5.8g
OAL 1.100"
Winchester WSP
Lyman data for cast 175:
Unique 4.7 - 5.8g
OAL 1.100"
Winchester WSP
I've been using Titegroup with 165gr with outstanding accuracy. Also Really like this powder for 45 acp. I use Hodgdon's listed max loads.
Also, it's super clean burning.
Also, it's super clean burning.
I'm using right around 4.2gr Unique with a 180gr plated bullet to make major and its been doing well so far. Its a little dirtier, but like said above, I don't mind cleaning the pistol.
Tite group is scary for 40 and 180s. They're ok slow but try getting any velocity out of it at standard 40 length and you can have major issues quickly. Vv N320 is great if you can afford it.
What? I have shot thousands of them and never once seen anything "sacry".
Try the 180 JFP with 4.5 to 4.6 grains of Titegroup.
My go to 40 load with 180s is 3.0 of TG, any brass, any primer, 1.130coal comes out at 740fps, my Glock 35 needed a 15lb recoil spring to make it 100%, heavy bullets and super fast powder make for a soft accurate pistol round.
Thanks, guys. That will give me something to start with. I wanted to work with what I have. Finding Viht is impossible, here, though I like to use it. Some of you may relate to this: I bought the gun because I had so many range Pickens. About 2-3 thousand. Thanks again.
Don't agree with that at all. I use Titegroup with 180 HAPs and it's a great combo. Easily at 175 PF for USPSA for my STIs and Glock 35. I use 4.5grns. Min is 4.2grns and max is 4.7grns per Hodgdon. I also use 3grns as a great minor load and a 130pf.
Major PF load out of my STI is 5.0gr Titegroup and a 180 JHP loaded to 1.180. Minor PF 3gun load is about 4.0gr with the same bullet. As stated above, if you can find some N320 you'll probably like it better. I've switched my 40 and 9 both over to it as it uses almost the same charges as Titegroup.
