180gr. bullet load in 40S&W

[songdog53]

This is my first post and if there is already a thread on this please excuse me...I am begin casting and reloading 40's after long years of 45acp casting and loading. My question is have read somewhere they recommend medium burning powders for this to keep down pressure spikes....was thinking Blue Dot...any help would be appreciated

[runfiverun]

welcome to the forum.
i actually consider blue dot to be on the slow side of pistol powders. down there with 2400/h-110.
with cast i'd think more of unique/herco to be medium burners.
and red dot/clays/bullseye/titegroup the fast end.
i don't have a 40 so i'll leave that for others.

[noylj]

I find that AA5 and 231/HP38 are very good for target loads. Competitors use some VERY fast powders with 180-200gn bullets for recoil modification, but they are in an area where a charge error could go KaBoom.
Power Pistol and AA7 are very good for performance rounds.

[firefly 1957]

Check out Hercules websight.http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/recipedetail.aspx?gtypeid=1&weight=180&shellid=29&bulletid=42

They have 8.9 grains Bluedot listed for 1018 f/s with 180 gold dot bullet.
I do not load for 40 but liked Bluedot in 45acp and 12 ga. with heavy shot loads. My notes show it has fast pressure peaks in 44 magnum and 357-44 Brain & Davis.

[fryboy]

i used WSF simply because i have so much of it and it works , medium powders would be best IMHO , one problem with the heavier boolits in the .40 is that they take up alot of case space
i used the lyman 47th data for the heavier 200 grainer ( it is usually safe to use data for a heavier projectile but never a lighter one ) and my best results were well below max @ 5.2 grains