.40 S&W bullet weight
- Thread starter DMK
- Start date
ZipTieNinja
New member
155. Why? Its all they got around here! I would use the 165, but can't find it, and figure the 155 will kill just as good, God forbid I ever have to...
Wally world had some Hydra-Shock's I think... Oh, I use Remington 155gr JHP btw....
Wally world had some Hydra-Shock's I think... Oh, I use Remington 155gr JHP btw....
150/155 grain. I'm not that worried about giving up velocity in a compact. Wtih faster burning powders, I'm not sure how much of a factor this is. Then again, I would be giving up weight for a higher velocity round. At distances of self-defense shootings, 0-25 yards, I don't think that velocity loss counts for much.
Also, I don't see the point of a sub-sonic round in a non-.45 ACP (in a semi-auto). For the same velocity, I may as well have 230 grains, and a wider entry point.
Also, I don't see the point of a sub-sonic round in a non-.45 ACP (in a semi-auto). For the same velocity, I may as well have 230 grains, and a wider entry point.
165/180gr rounds for me. Statistically speaking they penetrate better, and are less likely to fragment, than their lighter counterparts. I think 165gr is a great compromise of penetration versus expansion, though I have 180gr GoldDots in my USPc 40. There are some really good 155gr rounds out there, but they are harder to pin down than the plethora of good 165gr rounds. The Winchester 155gr Ranger series is pretty good, though the 165gr Ranger Partition Gold is the best offering out there that I've seen -- if you can find some. 155gr Hornady XTP penetrates really well, and expands well, but not as good as many of the 165gr rounds.
I don't like the 135gr "Personal Protection" rounds...
I don't like the 135gr "Personal Protection" rounds...
I prefer 165 grain Gold Dots in my P229. While I generally subscribe to the theory that heavier is better, the 180 grain bullet seems to push the pressure limits of the .40 round. It is fine in the 10mm, but the .40 S&W ain't no 10mm!
The chance for bullet setback in a CCW pistol which is repeatedly loaded and unloaded bothers me, and the added muzzle velocity you get in the 165 grain loadings probably enhances expansion with a very small (if any) sacrifice in penetration.
The chance for bullet setback in a CCW pistol which is repeatedly loaded and unloaded bothers me, and the added muzzle velocity you get in the 165 grain loadings probably enhances expansion with a very small (if any) sacrifice in penetration.
DMK,
The only complaint that I have about 40 S&W is that in 1911’s with double stacked magazines i.e. Para, Caspian, SV and STI the standard factory OAL range of 1.120 –1.136 doesn’t feed well. I have to make them at least 1.150 OAL for it to work and that’s irrespective of the bullet weight.
BTW, I have shot over 120k 40S&W rounds in 180-grain configuration, over the last 3 years and never a problem of any kind except for what I mentioned earlier. Could you expand upon your statement?
DMK states:
"I've heard some bad things about .40 180gr."
The only complaint that I have about 40 S&W is that in 1911’s with double stacked magazines i.e. Para, Caspian, SV and STI the standard factory OAL range of 1.120 –1.136 doesn’t feed well. I have to make them at least 1.150 OAL for it to work and that’s irrespective of the bullet weight.
BTW, I have shot over 120k 40S&W rounds in 180-grain configuration, over the last 3 years and never a problem of any kind except for what I mentioned earlier. Could you expand upon your statement?
DMK states:
"I've heard some bad things about .40 180gr."
Last edited:
D.W. Drang
New member
DMK said
The .40 S&W has a rep--whether earned or not I'm not prepared to state an opinion--of being especially prone to "ka-booms", especially in the 180 grain loads, and especially in Glocks, which (as I undestand it) have a partially unsupported chamber.
The theory is that the "set-back" in the 180 gr. loads is enough to increase chamber pressure radically, and in the partially unsupported chamber in Glocks, it's enough to cause a KB.
I dunno, I'm only reporting what I've heard.
And ryucasta asked:
The .40 S&W has a rep--whether earned or not I'm not prepared to state an opinion--of being especially prone to "ka-booms", especially in the 180 grain loads, and especially in Glocks, which (as I undestand it) have a partially unsupported chamber.
The theory is that the "set-back" in the 180 gr. loads is enough to increase chamber pressure radically, and in the partially unsupported chamber in Glocks, it's enough to cause a KB.
I dunno, I'm only reporting what I've heard.
Rickmeister
New member
Winchester's revised SXT is a great 180. Fact is, that was the weight the .40S&W was originally conceived upon.
Does that make it the best weight in .40S&W?
Define "best".
Does that make it the best weight in .40S&W?
Define "best".
D.W. Drang said exactly what I was thinking.
Another consideration of the 180 gr. is in some loads you start to get into the subsonic .45 velocities without having the heavy bullet to compensate. Bullets such as this 180gr. Proload seem like a worst case:
http://www.proload.com/specifications.htm
Where this much faster Federal 165 gr. EFMJ seems like a better compromise of the 9mm and .45:
http://www.ammoman.com/EPS/efmj2.jpg
(Of course that is assuming these are reliable specs)
Although more are running the 165gr. it does seem that many dismiss and legends of doom and run 180 gr. anyway. One thing I forgot to consider however, was range ammo. I know I'd be more likely to take the chance there since you chamber it then shoot it without much chance of bullet setback from rechambering multiple times.
I appreciate everyone's input. Some interesting info here.
Another consideration of the 180 gr. is in some loads you start to get into the subsonic .45 velocities without having the heavy bullet to compensate. Bullets such as this 180gr. Proload seem like a worst case:
http://www.proload.com/specifications.htm
Where this much faster Federal 165 gr. EFMJ seems like a better compromise of the 9mm and .45:
http://www.ammoman.com/EPS/efmj2.jpg
(Of course that is assuming these are reliable specs)
Although more are running the 165gr. it does seem that many dismiss and legends of doom and run 180 gr. anyway. One thing I forgot to consider however, was range ammo. I know I'd be more likely to take the chance there since you chamber it then shoot it without much chance of bullet setback from rechambering multiple times.
I appreciate everyone's input. Some interesting info here.