Dano

I'm thinking of buying a 40 caliber semi auto. I currently reload for 9mm, 38/357, and 45 colt.

My question is, how have any of you worked up light loads for the 40 that reliably cycles the action?
Is it better to go with a lighter or heavier bullet?
This will not be a glock. Have you all had success cycling lead bullets?
Are there short cuts?

Any thoughts on powder and bullet of choice is appreciated as well.

Thanks for your response. I really enjoy this reloading forum. A lot of nice people.

Dan

robertbank

2.8 gr of Titegroup under Lyman's 401638 175 gr boolit makes IDPA PF out of my 5" tanfoglio. This is very light recoiling and runs the Tanfoglio well. Vel is 750 fps.

Take Care

Bob

dmeador

I like 6.0gr of AA#5 pushing a 180 gr. Berry's plated FP. About 900 fps, relatively inexpensive, cycles well, recoil is light and accuracy is good from my S&W M&P .40.

Ceapea

Don't have the exact numbers in front of me just now, but I have had no problems with either of my two 40's cycling the action while using any load from the light or starting load recommendations in any of my manuals.

Good luck.

Wee Hooker

No powder loads to share but I can tell you that my three S&W M&P pistols are not finiky about what they shoot. They will take some pretty light loads and gobble lead without a hitch. Worth putting on your "gotta look at " list.
As for bullets, look at missouri bullet co. Their bullets tend to lead and smoke less than most that I've found. Great prices too.
hth

shoot44

I don't load my 40 'light', so can't help you with any recipes. Can tell you that I've worked up a lot of different loads - from 'starting' to 'max' with various bullets and have never had a problem with cycling regardless of the load. I'm shooting a Beretta Px4 Storm; full size model.

Recommendation: when you reload, crimp heavily; then take some of your reloads, measure the OAL, cycle them through the action by hand, (don't fire them), and then measure OAL again. If it has decreased any significant amount, you may have a problem. Either the sizing die is not making the cases small enough, or your crimp is insufficiently strong. When the cartridge slams into the feed ramp, a poorly seated bullet CAN move back.

This is important, because IF the bullet moves back into the case during feeding, the pressure increase that causes could be serious. The 40 case is not large, and any significant decrease in OAL can bump up the pressure quite a bit.

Nathan Detroit

Ask, and ye shall receive. The link below is for an article that appeared in Handguns magazine specifically on .40 Lite


.40 S&W Lite Recoil Loads

This should at least get you started