180gr XTP?s in my 40 S&W

[Mustang Jon]

So I?m loading up some test loads in 10mm with some XTP?s. I?m working up to 9.5gr of Longshot. I was thinking I might as well work up a load for the 40 as well. So if you have a good load worked up for the 180gr XTP and longshot for the 40 and wouldn?t mind sharing your load I?d appreciate it. This way I can test both loads when I go to the range. I have to drive 35 miles one way just to go shoot and with my truck only getting 13 miles to the gallon I only want to do this once. Thanks for any help you can give. Also this is for Glocks in the G22, 23 and 27 models.

[RDub01]

Just realized I never posted this over here.. Anyway here is a study of loading 180gr in the .40;

http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/531162-sigma-40f-loading-180gr-fmj.html

Here is the short answer; Longshot is magic in the .40.. At the time I put this together Hodgdon's max for Longshot with a 180gr bullet was 8.0grs. They now list 7.5 grs.





I encountered no issues what so ever with 7.7grs. Even at 7.5grs. you will get a load that rivals many 10mm factory loads.

[Mustang Jon]

Thank you! That?s some good information and exactly what I was looking for. I?ll get some loads worked up and try to do some testing next week. Thanks again for your help.

[GFlory]

I load 180 gr XTPs with 7.9 gr of LongShot and CCI 550 primers. I have chronographed the 180 gr at 1056 ft/s from a 3.5" barrel, 1108 from a 4" bbl, 1207 from a 6" bbl, 1308 from a 16" bbl, and 1194 from a 4 5/8 in Ruger Vaquero revolver. Based on gelatin data I have seen for the XTP which suggests that expansion may be dubious below about 1150 ft/s, I only use it in the 16 inch carbine, the 6 inch longslide, and the 4 5/8 inch Ruger Vaquero. In the 3.5 and 4.0 inch barrels, I have only used and carried the load with Speer Gold Dots which seem well suited to 1100 ft/s and slower velocities.

As always, the chronograph velocities jump around a bit when spot tested, but remain pretty consistent with my original 5 or 6 shot groups. I haven't kept good data, but it appears the velocities generally remain within about +/-20 ft/s with an occasional shot variation of about +/-40 ft/s.

[John A.]

I've loaded some of those 155's with longshot.

They do in fact get into 10mm velocity territory.

They are very snappy in my 5" XD40.

I loaded with the old data.  My gun handles it, but I certainly wouldn't make a steady diet of them.  They feel more like proof loads.